LOVE. I'd start with "Bad Behavior." Or, whatever is available in the library - my system doesn't carry her. No, the content is not easily ignored. Amy Hemple. She exculsively writes short stories that are absolute jewels, and has a very distinctive style.

I read Gaitskill's novel Two Girls, Fat and Thin about ten years ago and enjoyed it well enough. If you are looking for a fairly funny takedown of Objectivism, the novel is worth a read. I read Because They Wanted To around that time as well, and I remember liking it, but nothing specific about the content stuck in my memory.

I love Hempel's short stories, probably more than Gaitskill's, if I went back to look--they tend to be quick, but yield up more meaning on re-reading. (And there's a certain sharp-tongued nastiness in Gaitskill's writing that uniquely defines her for me, and that's fine if I'm in the mood for it, while Hempel is more gentle with her barbs). There's a complete collection of Hempel's work that's easy to find.

I asked because she is on the cover of this month's Poets & Writers, and she gave an interesting interview. You two have convinced me to buy her short story collection because I think she could teach me a few things about writing style. She sounds a bit like Chuck Pahluniak but with the subtlety of an icepick in the back.

Let me know what you think.