Cathedral is a collection of short stories. In the title story, a blind man, Robert, comes to visit the narrator and his wife. The narrator is unsure about Robert and a bit jealous of the man's relationship with his wife, who worked with Robert as a reader years ago. Loneliness is a prevailing theme in the title story and in others in the collection, as is the impact of drinking alcohol. Another story, "Where I'm Calling From," examines alcoholism and the impact of storytelling on people's lives.
Dandelion Wine is the story of the summer of Douglas Spaulding recounted in a series of vignettes that form a loose mosaic story. The titular drink, brewed by Spaulding's grandfather, comes to serve as a representation of packing all of summer's memories, sorrows, and joys into a single bottle. Each story focuses on a different facet of Douglas's summer experience, with themes ranging from young love to the power of imagination.