Reviews

Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill

dosflores's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

baileyra's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Bad Behavior is my favorite collection of short stories that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Mary Gaitskill's ability to capture the complicated, winding feelings associated with love, sex, and human dis/connection is something special. Her characters are invigorated with true-to-life mannerisms that speak on behalf of those whom we have met and been deeply affected by, especially as we fall into and out of each other's lives. Through her storytelling, it is evident that Gaitskill is a voyeur of the world, observing people's movements and interactions with a brilliant, keen eye, and it is truly stunning. As a young woman in my early twenties, I feel forever changed by this book. 

aalliisshhaa's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sharanyasarathy's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

mcwat's review

I much preferred the second half of this collection to the first. I felt that some of the subject matter was gratuitous (BDSM, prostitution, etc.) which would've been fine with me if the protagonists of these stories had been more believable. I don't know. When it comes to sadistic businessmen or whatever, I'm willing to go there, but there has to be some exposition about the motivations behind their behavior. I just never felt like I understood why some of these characters did what they did, and I didn't feel like they did, either—and not always in a human-nature-is-so-confusing-what-are-we-to-do way. I loved "Connection" and "Heaven," though. Definitely two stories I'll return to.

msmalitingz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

traitorjoes's review against another edition

5.0

read

lsparrow's review against another edition

2.0

I found the style of these short stories off putting. I find the insistant use of past tense in the writing annoying after a while and the characters felt medeocre at best.

jasbennett's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

karthikskorner's review

3.5

Read for my internship.