Mary Gaitskill is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Esquire, The Best American Short Stories, and The O. Henry Prize Stories. Her books include the short story collection Bad Behavior (1988) and Veronica (2005), which was nominated for both the National Book Award for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.
Original publication
2026
Average rating
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Total reads logged
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Opening Excerpt
From the storyShe didn’t remember what she’d said, only that it had gone on for the whole hour, and that he’d said, “I’m lonely,” and “Please,” and “Give me a chance.”
Story Vibe & Style Profile
Emotional Weight
3.8 / 5
Bittersweet
Narrative Pacing
1.9 / 5
Contemplative
Literary Style
1.7 / 5
Direct & Minimalist
Speculative / Reality
1.3 / 5
Realistic / Mimetic
Appearances
The New Yorker
The New Yorker March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
About the Author
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