Customer Reviews

Former Virgin

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I had to pick one phrase to describe the collection of short fiction stories in Cris Mazza's Former Virgin, it would have to be cutting edge. Some of the descriptions and dialogue were a tad shocking at first, but I loved it. It reminded me of "Sex in the City," only it was written before HBO aired the hit series. Former Virgin has an array of stories, some told in first person point of view, others in third person point of view. The vivid descriptions and details immediately capture the reader. I felt as if I was there watching the story take place. What I really liked most about her stories were the characters. In almost every story I read I could relate, either personally or through someone I know, to how the character felt or what he or she was going through. They were realistic and raw. Mazza manages to capture human behavior and experience in unique and new ways. She's not afraid to write what we all say and do behind closed doors. My only pet peeve was that some of the stories ended too abruptly or without a real ending. Kudos to Cris. ...

Former Virgin, written in 1997 is a collection of short stories written by Cris Mazza. These stories all take very interesting points of view, and are not typical by any means. My favorites of this collection are the stories that have a crazy twist at the end, and before that, the story builds and builds, you think its going one place, but then the plots goes another way. Hesitation begins with describing the characters, this guy and his punk rock girlfriend, and building up the relationship that they’re having. As the story went on, I realized that this guy was still married, and the wife walks in on her husband and the punk rock girl video-taping a sex fantasy. (spoiler)
Let’s Play doctor is similar to Hesitation in that the story starts one way and ends up somewhere you never thought it would. Dee, the main character, has an operation done to remove a cyst. Then she falls asleep and has this horrifying dream about the doctor, and the bookstore, and the smell of baked things, all things she was talking to the nurse about right before she passed out during the operation. The descriptions in the dream are vivid and surreal(very much like an actual dream), especially the way Mazza describes the doctor reaching up inside her and feeling her insides, along with her smelling the bread. It’s really amazing, but terrifying at the same time. Then in the end she wakes up, and just starts crying. I was surprised and entertained by the second half of the story.
To be honest, I haven’t read very much fiction like this. Compared to the books that I normally read this was way out there. It’s obviously important to read all different kinds of fiction to really grasp what’s out there, and know what you like. So many people are just stuck on one genre, like science fiction or mystery and romance. I enjoyed Former Virgin, because it opened my eyes to other types of stories, and now I know that I can like anything as long as its written well.

These gripping, harrowing stories will stay with you a long time. Once again, Mazza deconstructs sexual and gender politics and lays her characters bare before her readers. "The Something Bad," is a particularly strong story, evocative and painful. Mazza manages a rare feat in this book: she writes memorable and resonant characters without compromising the book's edgy experimentalism, and she experiments with formal choices without compromising the depth of her characters. A great study for fiction writers, a great read for everyone.

Cris Mazza's short story collection is filled with real life occurances, but not everyday occurances. She writes with excellant quaility about the sort of things women hide and gossip about to only their close friends, about things people love and hate at the same time. I was captivated by Mazza's talent, her ability to so accurately express things that sometime go through everyones mind, crazy and yet unnoticed thoughts. I saw Mazza read at the college I attend and her attitude was great. She is friendly, smart and very confident in her talents.