Bad Behavior

Bad Behavior is a collection of nine short stories published in 1988. The narratives follow characters in and around New York City during the 1970s and 1980s. Most stories center on young women navigating relationships, sexuality, and urban life. The characters work various jobs - secretaries, models, sex workers - while pursuing creative aspirations and connection. The stories examine power dynamics between men and women, exploring intimacy, dominance, and vulnerability. Physical and emotional sadomasochism appears as both literal practice and metaphor throughout the collection. These tales map the internal terrain where desire meets fear, and where the need for human contact collides with the instinct for self-preservation. Through stark prose and unflinching observation, Gaitskill illuminates the complex psychology behind seemingly simple interactions.

Readers view Bad Behavior as a raw, unflinching look at relationships and sexuality. The book maintains a 3.9/5 rating on Goodreads from 14,000+ ratings and 3.8/5 on Amazon from 300+ reviews. Readers appreciate: - Direct, precise prose style - Complex portrayal of female characters - Honest depiction of power dynamics - Ability to make uncomfortable situations compelling "Her writing cuts like a knife" notes one Goodreads reviewer Common criticisms: - Characters feel cold and detached - Stories can be too dark or depressing - Some sexual content feels gratuitous - Endings often leave plots unresolved "The characters remain at arm's length" comments an Amazon reviewer The title story "Secretary" receives the most attention in reviews, with readers split on whether its portrayal of BDSM themes holds up today. Several reviewers note the collection feels dated in its 1980s Manhattan setting but relevant in its emotional insights.

Close Range by Annie Proulx Stories of raw human connections and harsh realities unfold across the Wyoming landscape, delving into damaged characters and their complex emotional and physical entanglements.

The Safety of Objects by A. M. Homes Characters navigate suburban life through dark undercurrents of desire, power, and transgression while grappling with their own psychological boundaries.

You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon Tales of military spouses reveal the hidden costs of war through intimate relationships and personal violations within the confines of an army base.

Venus Drive by Sam Lipsyte Characters on society's margins pursue connections through sex, drugs, and desperation in urban settings that mirror their internal wastelands.

Eleven Kinds of Loneliness by Richard Yates Stories expose the quiet desperation of ordinary people in mid-century America as they struggle with failed relationships and thwarted desires.

🔹 "Bad Behavior" was Mary Gaitskill's debut work, published in 1988, and remains her most well-known book despite her later success with novels like "Veronica" and "The Mare." 🔹 The story "Secretary" from this collection was adapted into a 2002 film starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, though the movie's tone is significantly lighter than the original story. 🔹 Gaitskill drew from her own experiences working as a stripper and call girl in her twenties to create the raw, unflinching portraits of characters in these stories. 🔹 The book challenged literary conventions of the 1980s by portraying female sexuality and BDSM relationships with unprecedented frankness, helping pave the way for future explorations of these themes in literary fiction. 🔹 Despite its controversial subject matter, the collection received immediate critical acclaim, with The New York Times praising Gaitskill's "radar-perfect detail" and "nearly flawless control" over her material.