Turkey Hash's Reviews > Because They Wanted To: Stories

I read this straight through almost, not counting the three first-person stories at the end. Love the minute attention to interactions and power dynamics. It was so compelling and generously written. A few readers point out that Gaitskill is a bit repetitive with her themes and set-ups (assault/violence, couples/not-couples, adult child with difficult parent) but I sort of like the super-exposure to her obsessions. The third person is used so expertly here. The first person stories were not controlled or maybe distinctive enough in their voice.

This collection is much more like Bad Behaviour in its compelling and realist nature than Don’t Cry, the third collection, where the writer takes her abstract tendencies to an extreme. Would recommend this as the sweet spot between old and newish MG.