Mary Gaitskill
Author of Bad Behavior
About the Author
Mary Gaitskill was born in Lexington, Kentucky on November 11, 1954. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. She is a novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Her novels include Veronica, The Mare, and Two Girls, Fat and Thin. Her collections of short stories include show more Bad Behavior, Because They Wanted To, and Don't Cry. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Joe Gaffney
Works by Mary Gaitskill
The Other Place 4 copies
Mirrorball 1 copy
Tiny, Smiling Daddy 1 copy
Associated Works
Object Lessons: The Paris Review Presents the Art of the Short Story (2012) — Introduction — 218 copies
Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process (2017) — Contributor — 132 copies
An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Harper's Magazine (2000) — Contributor — 129 copies
Tasting Life Twice: Literary Lesbian Fiction by New American Writers (1995) — Contributor — 121 copies
More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women (2004) — Contributor — 63 copies
Take My Advice: Letters to the Next Generation from People Who Know a Thing or Two (2002) — Contributor — 45 copies
The Second Gates of Paradise: The Anthology of Erotic Short Fiction (1997) — Contributor — 37 copies
Out of Line: Women on the Verge of a Breakthrough — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1954-11-11
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Places of residence
- Rhinebeck, New York, USA
New York, New York, USA
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
San Francisco, California, USA
Marin County, California, USA - Education
- University of Michigan (BA)
- Occupations
- essayist
short story writer
novelist - Relationships
- Trachtenberg, Peter (husband, separated)
- Awards and honors
- Hopwood Award
Guggenheim Fellowship (2002)
Members
Reviews
A small little book about a huge issue (sexual misconduct and its power dynamics) which ultimately leaves readers in a bemused state of empathy.
Huh. I think I may have read this too close to [b:The Robber Bride|17650|The Robber Bride|Margaret Atwood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320478077s/17650.jpg|1119196] to properly appreciate it. Both books have women carefully selected to contrast each other. Both focus on their childhood, their adolescence and then their adulthood, starting with adulthood then going back to childhood and working their way forward. Both grapple with dark themes and child abuse.
In contrast, Two Girls, Fat and Thin has beautifully vivid writing, particularly in the chapters narrated by Dorothy where her imagination roams free, but less substantial characterization.… (more)
In contrast, Two Girls, Fat and Thin has beautifully vivid writing, particularly in the chapters narrated by Dorothy where her imagination roams free, but less substantial characterization.… (more)
I'm a big fan of Mary Gaitskill's thoughtful, always interesting writing. I loved this book and actually delayed reading it on occasion so I could make it last longer.
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 25
- Also by
- 37
- Members
- 4,488
- Popularity
- #5,582
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 120
- ISBNs
- 116
- Languages
- 10
- Favorited
- 17
- Touchstones
- 111
As I put in the title, I just couldn't connect with this. There are two stories here, and from the beginning the author hops back and forth between the two. Sometimes that can work, but when you're halfway through it and there is still no apparent connection, it gets annoying. Particularly when neither has any apparent point by halfway through.