In recent addition to Aimee Bender’s wonderful book of short stories, this is her first novel, the story of Mona Gray. Mona is a math genius, and a runner, and she is really sort of messed up. It is one of those stories of the strange leading the strange, but it is quite lovely – though not as good as the short stories – and you can read it if you want.

Right after I purchased this book, which is the last book I purchased from Vertigo Books down in Maryland, I went to Noodles, which is like my favourite restaurant in Maryland, which is in the same plaza as the bookstore. I proceeded to read at least the first three stories. To fall in love with the book. And also to lose the dust jacket. At least, I think I lost it there, I haven’t seen it since, and I probably took it off and put it on the table as soon as I started.

These stories are marvelous, they are witty, inspired and conceptual. They range from situations that are nearly realistic to people with pumpkin-heads. Each is told with such an amazingly clear and deliberate voice – you believe every-word she writes.

When I got home for Thanksgiving Break, and I was sad, I would read these stories to my friends, because they made such good stories for telling. They are storytelling stories. They flow. And when I ran out, I wanted more, so I went and got Ms. Bender’s book from the public library (An Invisible Mark of My Own).