The Girl in the Flammable Skirt, By Aimee Bender
Paperback reviews of the week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Aimee Bender's last book, the best-selling novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, toed the line between cynicism and cutesiness. This reissued story collection has a darker, erotic edge: in "Quiet Please" a grieving librarian seeks anonymous sex with patrons; in "Call My Name" a bored and affluent young woman "auditions" men on the subway before following them home.
Often there is some sort of magical realist element: in "The Rememberer" a man turns into a turtle in a process of "reverse evolution"; in "The Healer" two young "mutants" seek to come to terms with their powers. But you never feel that Bender is indulging in weirdness for weirdness's sake; she seems to be working towards new ways to write about emotional distress. None of these brief tales outstays its welcome; each of them lingers in the mind.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments