Former Virgin

by Cris Mazza

In this collection of stories, critically acclaimed writer Cris Mazza shines a kleig light on the dark underside of relationships in a disturbing look at the ambiguous nature of our own desires. From women who foster their own abusive relationships, to failed suicide attempts, to furtive -- and horribly violent -- encounters in steamy basements, Mazza's stories cut to the heart of doomed human relationships, landing squarely in the murky territory between desire and despair, between freedom and loss of control.

Genres: Short Stories

145 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1997

About the author

Cris Mazza is the author of a dozen books of fiction, mostly recently Waterbaby (Soft Skull Press 2007). Her other titles include the critically acclaimed Is It Sexual Harassment Yet?, and the PEN Nelson Algren Award winning How to Leave a Country. She also has a collection of personal essays, Indigenous: Growing Up Californian. Mazza has been the recipient of an NEA Fellowship and three Illinois Arts Council literary awards. A native of Southern California, Mazza grew up in San Diego County. Currently she lives 50 miles west of Chicago. She is a professor in the Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago "

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long a fan of Cris Mazza it was a pleasure to reread this collection (and I'm in the process of rereading several of her collections) and to be reminded what smart, edgy fiction, looks like. Not as much formal experimentation in this one as some of the other collections, although the first story, "The Cram-It-In Method," does so hilariously; one of the best roommate stories I've read.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and compelling short stories, several of which left me awe-struck. "The Cram-It-In Method", "The Career", "The Something Bad", and "Hesitation" were my favorites.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mazza writes memorable and resonant characters. The book reminded me of "Sex and the City" before the HBO series came to be.