I saw the editor and three of the writers speak in San Francisco earlier this month. The panel was so interesting that I chose the book for my book group and we just met to discuss the book and it was one of the most thought provoking discussions we've had. We had 12 people at our meeting ranging in age from 27-63 and what was interesting was that each member had different favorite stories (the stories were all good, but we each related to different ones). If you are part of a book club, I enthusiastically reccomend this book for a great evening of discussion. It really stirs things up.

Molly Jong Fast, daughter of Erica Jong who wrote Fear of Flying, wrote one of the funniest esays I've ever read in my life for this book. She writes about how all of her therapists become obsessed with her mother writing sexual novels and how they try to get her to talk about how much her mom traumatized her. Instead of feeling guilt about it, she decides to only agree with her shrinks if they give her candy. Freakin' hysterical.

The other essay I LOVED was by Aimee Bender (who wrote "The Girl in the Flammable Skirt"). As a Highly Assimilated Jew myself I completely 100% saw myself in her story. I don't feel particularly religious, but always feel a spooky air of superstition around me, a fear of an "evil eye" if things are going too well--if I'm too happy, I'm screwed.

I read the book over several lunch breaks at work and found it a fun way to take myself out of my day.