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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Mary Gaitskill writes about the emotional complexity of sex and dysfunctional relationships with aplomb, diving deep into her characters' psyches without being heavy-handed. I really enjoyed her writing but by the time I reached the end of the book, I had trouble remembering which story was what. They all seemed to bleed together into one long tale of despondency, regret, and uncertainty. Perhaps this was the intent, but I had to take it in small depressing doses, like visiting a dying grandparent. My favorite stories were Other Factors and Heaven, which rounded out the collection with vignettes about the intricacies of female relationships.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
short stories filled with abusive, misogynistic men doing abusive, misogynistic things. the stories that focus more on female friendships definitely are better, but most female characters still feel like mean spirited caricatures who are desperate, vulnerable, but still sexily submissive.
i think some stories hold their own, especially connection, but many blended together with so many focusing of the theme of sexual violence, yet none ever reaching a satisfying criticism
i think some stories hold their own, especially connection, but many blended together with so many focusing of the theme of sexual violence, yet none ever reaching a satisfying criticism
Maybe part of the problem was that I was excited to read this for years. I loved one story, about the sex worker who agrees with her therapist that she's very normal. But the others were about unlikable people doing average things. I think some people like that because it feels true, but it doesn't to me. These stories named distasteful qualities and called that depth when really, that barely skims the surface of what it is to be a human being.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 cos some were great and some were meh. Classic short story collection problems.
challenging
dark
reflective
Short stories covering a range of relationships (platonic, romantic, familial, strangers) and the ways love and power intersect !! v much everything is about sex except sex which is about power coded
this is my first time reading gaitskill but not my last