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Table of Contents
About The Book
By turns electrifying and haunting, the stories in Nelly Reifler's debut collection, now available in paperback, imagine a world where the emotional logic of dreams and childhood fantasies rules our actions.
In the title story, an educated young woman sits behind the glass of a talk booth in a peep show and becomes a different girl for each man who visits. "The Splinter" posits a thorn in a little girl's scalp as the physical locus for a father's wrenching grief and helplessness following his wife's desertion. In "Teeny," an awkward, pubescent girl can't bring herself to perform the simple task of feeding the vacationing neighbors' cats. In "Baby," an infant asks his mother existential questions that are impossible to answer.
Exploring her characters' psyches with the precision of an anthropologist, Reifler illuminates physical urges, crippling fears, stark isolation, and overwhelming, often transgressive desires. Through it all, the author plumbs the deep chasm between expectation and reality with boundless hope, warmth, and wisdom.
In the title story, an educated young woman sits behind the glass of a talk booth in a peep show and becomes a different girl for each man who visits. "The Splinter" posits a thorn in a little girl's scalp as the physical locus for a father's wrenching grief and helplessness following his wife's desertion. In "Teeny," an awkward, pubescent girl can't bring herself to perform the simple task of feeding the vacationing neighbors' cats. In "Baby," an infant asks his mother existential questions that are impossible to answer.
Exploring her characters' psyches with the precision of an anthropologist, Reifler illuminates physical urges, crippling fears, stark isolation, and overwhelming, often transgressive desires. Through it all, the author plumbs the deep chasm between expectation and reality with boundless hope, warmth, and wisdom.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 19, 2006)
- Length: 160 pages
- ISBN13: 9780743261500
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Raves and Reviews
"She writes cunningly...with a commanding, spirited voice."
-- The Boston Globe
"Spring-loaded miniatures that flirt with the surreal edges of childhood and adolescence...You're astonished at her daring, her craft and her flair for narrative mischief."
-- Los Angeles Times
"With unflinching precision, Reifler's debut collection examines young protagonists negotiating adult-governed worlds...A writer to watch."
-- Publishers Weekly
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): See Through Trade Paperback 9780743261500
- Author Photo (jpg): Nelly Reifler Photo Credit:(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit