Scan barcode
A review by blchandler9000
Don't Cry by Mary Gaitskill
3.0
Mary Gaitskill is one of my favorite writers. Her ability to realistically plumb the human soul and its motives is astonishing. She also can do some lovely writing, turning phrases and metaphors that feel fresh and exact. So, I was excited that this book was out, and after hearing her read from "Mirror Ball" on KCRW's Bookworm, I knew I couldn't wait for paperback.
There are some excellent stories in this collection—stories that individually warrant more than the 3 star rating I gave the book. (The best being "The Agonized Face," "Description," and the aforementioned "Mirror Ball" which has an uncharacteristic-for-Gaitskill magical-realism bent to it.) The other stories—and there are 10 total—are good, but not great. The weakest was "College Town, 1980" which it turns out is a very old story of hers revamped and set out to pasture.
Still, though, "Agonized Face" and "Mirror Ball" were so good, they're still knocking around in my head. And it's not even really the scenes or ideas from the story, but just shades of feelings and tone that I'm retaining.
There are some excellent stories in this collection—stories that individually warrant more than the 3 star rating I gave the book. (The best being "The Agonized Face," "Description," and the aforementioned "Mirror Ball" which has an uncharacteristic-for-Gaitskill magical-realism bent to it.) The other stories—and there are 10 total—are good, but not great. The weakest was "College Town, 1980" which it turns out is a very old story of hers revamped and set out to pasture.
Still, though, "Agonized Face" and "Mirror Ball" were so good, they're still knocking around in my head. And it's not even really the scenes or ideas from the story, but just shades of feelings and tone that I'm retaining.