First published 1998
A father smiles at his daughter while harboring thoughts that disturb him. A woman sits next to a stranger on an airplane and wonders what connection might form between them. A dental appointment becomes something more complicated than either patient or practitioner expected. Gaitskill places her characters in moments where want collides with judgment, where attraction mingles with revulsion. Her men and women navigate relationships that refuse simple categories. They make choices that surprise even themselves. A blanket carries meaning beyond warmth. An orchid represents more than beauty. Each story in this collection from the author of Bad Behavior captures people at crossroads between impulse and restraint. The characters process their experiences, seeking respect and comfort while confronting the wrong things they have done or considered doing. Gaitskill writes about the complexity of human desire without offering easy answers or moral clarity.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, relationships
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, moral-ambiguity
Period: 21st-Century
256 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: sexual-content