krystal444's review against another edition
5.0
the only collection of short stories i’ve read that gets better as you progress- each one being richer and dreamier and darker than the last. they were all extremely intricate and complicated, but “heaven”, the final story, was undoubtedly my favourite. mary gaitskill (and simone de beauvoir, my love) have officially converted me into a short story lover. (also sa trigger warning- i didn’t see a single other person mention this but SLIGHT SPOILER humiliation, coercion, bdsm and abuse are big themes throughout many of the stories)
magsmaya's review against another edition
3.0
Read it for book club. Still unsure how to score this book.
mohammad_almehmeed's review against another edition
2.0
"I think it's because you feel estranged from people. You want something extreme to happen so you can show that you love them, and that you deserve love from them."
Erotic short story collection. Feels very repetitive, using the same character molds with different names.
”See. I told you. You're not a masochist."
"Shit! That wasn't erotic in the least. I don't come when I stub my toe either."
Erotic short story collection. Feels very repetitive, using the same character molds with different names.
”See. I told you. You're not a masochist."
"Shit! That wasn't erotic in the least. I don't come when I stub my toe either."
lenasch's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
awellreadwitch's review against another edition
3.0
I feel as though I may have liked this book more if I had read it in college. Or maybe high school. A time when I was more impressionable maybe. I appreciate the sentiment but it felt so pretentious I hated many of the characters... and I do enjoy unlikable narrators. Also... I hate saying this but the movie Secretary was better than the original source.
michislibris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jannyslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
My toxic trait is that I like unlikable female narrators.
eliseyyyyyyy's review against another edition
4.0
"Daisy's Valentine" - 4.5
"A Romantic Weekend" - 3.75
"Something Nice" - 4
"An Affair, Edited" - 3.75
"Connection" - 3.75
"Trying to Be" - 4
"Secretary" - 4.25
"Other Factors" - 4
"Heaven - 3.75
"A Romantic Weekend" - 3.75
"Something Nice" - 4
"An Affair, Edited" - 3.75
"Connection" - 3.75
"Trying to Be" - 4
"Secretary" - 4.25
"Other Factors" - 4
"Heaven - 3.75