This Is Pleasure

Mary Gaitskill, renowned for her searing honesty on gender relations, delves into the complexities of the #MeToo era with "This Is Pleasure." The novella centers on Quin, a successful New York book editor and arts scene fixture, who faces accusations of severe transgressions against women. While the public and many in his orbit condemn him, his friend Margot questions the clarity of his wrongdoing and the nature of forgiveness. Gaitskill masterfully alternates between Quin’s and Margot’s perspectives, crafting a nuanced tragicomedy that resists easy answers. Her characters, though often infuriating, are rendered with profound humanity—hurtful and hurting, deeply recognizable in their flaws and virtues. Gaitskill asserts that only fiction could tackle such an emotionally faceted subject, offering readers an unvarnished look into the human condition and challenging them to understand even those they might not admire.