The Celibacy Club

by Janice Eidus

In "Gypsy Lore," one of 19 stories in Janice Eidus's new collection, The Celibacy Club , 15-year-old Anna asks a fortune teller about sex. "He comes in, he goes out. He comes in, he goes out. That's all," the gypsy replies. The gypsy's evident ennui about sex might apply just as easily to this collection itself, in which a lot happens but nothing much matters. In the title story, Nancy joins a celibacy club where everyone talks about why they're not having sex. Then she has sex with one of the club members, quits the club and buys a condo in the Bronx. In "Making Love, Making Movies" screenwriter Jeff inexplicably starts cheating on his wife of ten years, an actress obsessed with Sigourney Weaver. During each affair he casts himself as a different Hollywood actor, while each encounter becomes a scenario for yet another trite film cliché in his hackneyed mind. Ms. Eidus's tales are often amusing, but she tends to substitute pop culture references for character development, and high concept ideas, i.e., a Barbie doll goes to group therapy, for theme. Still, readers who enjoy this type of ultra-hip urban story-telling may well find The Celibacy Club entertaining reading. "Balancing humor and depth, the 19 short stories in this collection reflect the quirky voice, at once cynical and sincere, that has made Eidus a two-time winner of the O. Henry Award. In their funniest moments, Eidus's stories have serious subtexts of isolation, addiction, abuse and despair." ― Publishers Weekly "Janice Eidus is more entertaining than the Marquis de Sade in a dress. Her juxtaposition of emotion-from the brazenly wicked to the ardently tender- will leave the reader breathless. The Celibacy Club is definitely a club you will want to join." ―Lucinda Ebersole and Richard Peabody, co-editors of Mondo Barbie "Eidus' powerful stories about men and women waging silent was against the culture have the eerie effect of waking us up even though we didn't know we were sleeping." ―Hal Sirowitz, Author of Mother Said Janice Eidus, winner of two O. Henry Prizes, is the author of a novel Faithful Rebecca , and the short story collections Vito Loves Geraldine , and The Celibacy Club . She lives in New York City.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of short stories reminded me of how some music albums are constructed: the book started with two good stories, then hit its stride with 5 excellent short stories in a row, then was pretty mixed after.

I really liked "Pandora's Box"," Mermaid of Orchard Beach", Making Love, Making Movies", "The Murder of Juanita Appel", and "Cruise Control".

[Nik Maack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eidus' essay in the book "How Does That Make You Feel?" (essays by therapists and people in therapy) was, by far, the best of the bunch. Her simple, matter of fact style is what I crave. So I picked up this book, looking for more writing by her. Some of these stories are really great, moving, and very cleanly written. A few only suffer because they are so short.

I like the blend of ordinary real life with elements of fantasy. It's that Kafka way of drawing out more by adding a crazy element of the surreal. For example, this opening sentence of one tale:

"Claudia was in love -- deeply, passionately in love -- with the Leg Press machine at her health club."

That totally sucked me in. And yes, the story more than lives up to that opening.

I've already ordered two novels by this same author, to see what her long form work is like. Eidus is fun. Her vicious sense of humour, her clean prose, and her willingness to be cruel all add up to enjoyable reading.

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up way back in grad school when the 90s were not that far behind us. Only now did I finally read it. And it felt so very 90s. Some of that retro feel was wonderful and reminded me of things I aspired to in my own writing of the time. Some of the pieces reminded me that I often don't miss the 90s.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one thing I took away from this basically silly novel was that if you've been having relationship troubles, maybe you just need a break. Very good advice. Not that great for a long novel.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

At its best, this book can be playful and irreverant. At its worst, it's obvious and juvenile. And it's usually at its worst. Reading this was a punishment.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

semi-cool sexy stories of the 90's. how did we survive them?