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[Melissa]

Aimee Bender rocks my face off.

OK... third time trying to rewrite this. She is so good that everything I try to say about it makes it sound much less good than it actually is.

Willful Creatures is a collection of short stories about bizarre people who couldn't possibly exist, but you still find yourself relating to them and understanding their weirdness and almost accepting it as normal. And for once I've read a book that is good for its writing. It's just amazing. And I love that it doesn't take her any time to warm up. The first sentences of each story are amazing. Some examples:

"The man went to the pet store to buy himself a little man to keep him company."

"At the party I make a goal and it is to kiss three men: one with black hair, one with red hair, the third blond."

"The motherf***er arrived at the West Coast from the Midwest."

"Here is my opinion of the emergency room: it's bad."

"The pumpkinhead couple got married."

"God put a gun to the writers head."

"The boy was born with fingers shaped like keys."

Don't you want to read about these people? They're all amazing, interesting and for as strange as they all are, they're very real. You must read this book.

[jeffp]

With a recommendation like "Aimee Bender rocks my face off" and those opening lines, I think I will have to try this one.

And I note that she has other books out too. Interesting.

Thanks for the referral Melissa. I'll have to find a copy of this somewhere.

--jeffp

[shaw]

I started reading it today.
I really need to grade papers but I can't put it down.

Thank you.

[Bea]

Must have - *must have* *must must must have*

thank you for enticing me!
_________________
I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

[jeffp]

No look what you've started, Melissa!
--jeffp