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Listening to class discussion of Binh's description -- which I thought was of Stein, not of Toklas -- my thought is that Truong's elaboration of Binh's perceptions is the author's way of immersing us in her character. This is a book about a cook, a chef, one whose life is enveloped in sensual experience -- a student (Abby?) has just now said this, too, so I concur.

I am interested that this book verges on fanfic, in that it expands on an existing work and, while Truong may be a professional author now, she may have become so with this book -- I have a friend who has been "published" in NPR essays more than once, and she is not economically, at least, a professional writer. I try to avoid looking at Truong's photo,which suggests to me, yes, a spoiled and calculating young woman. So if Anne's critic sees the book as "bloodless" I may, by the time I finish reading it, concur there, as well. At this point, I am enjoying the book, have twice laughed aloud with it.

As previously noted, I once wrote for myself a few pages in emulation of Judith Thurman's Colette. The result was very sensual, certainly erotic, maybe only lightly so. I thought I'd done well but dismissed it somewhat as too easy to do, not something to sustain booklength.

I've never cared to write much fiction myself, because I am not a natural storyteller, I am repulsed by the negativity of modern fiction, and I love writing essays. But I am thinking about writing a "story" that consists solely of character exposition -- no action. I would not be the first to explore it, but explore I would, as the mode/strategy does appeal to me. I like descending into the character of another (something like figuring out why a person has reacted in a certain way, and then figuring out why I respond differently, to paraphrase, I think, Flora); writing it would allow me to go further, with practical consequeneces for me but no lecture for another person!