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"The Wonders of the Invisible World"
These brooding, crushingly accurate stories are as forgiving as they come.
By Austin Bunn
[06/30/99]

The free market or your soul
Two conservative pundits play a game of moral Twister trying to reconcile consumerism and traditional values.
By Gavin McNett
[06/29/99]

Dear Mr. Blue
For love or money?
I have sleepless nights wondering how my poor musician boyfriend can provide me with a summer house on the shore filled with big books. Am I confused?
By Garrison Keillor
[06/29/99]

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"Saint Augustine"
The newest title in the Penguin Lives series is swift, invigorating and disappointing.
By Allen Barra
[06/29/99]

Book Bag
Hard boiled
Five great noir novels from the post-Chandler generations.
By David Bowman
[06/28/99]

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"Oonie, I'll be there in a jif," Tiffany said, trying to enunciate each word as clearly as possible, even though she knew she didn't sound as perky as usual and possibly couldn't be understood at all. "I'm just putting my face on."

"Tiff, are you okay?" Brandy sang out from the kitchenette. "Can I get you a lowfat yogurt?"

Although formerly it had been her favorite food and as hungry as she was, Tiffany strangely found herself recoiling from the very thought of yogurt and wishing that she could have some raw fish instead. Maybe on the way to the seaplane she and Unalik could pick up some sushi.

More determined than ever to reach her beloved Oonie, who would surely clasp her in his arms, cover her upturned muzzle with passionate kisses and make everything right again, Tiffany seized the resistant doorknob in her mouth and turned with all her considerable might. She could feel one of her long front incisors snap as she did so, but she paid no heed to her bruised and bloody jaw as the door sprang open.

Absorbed in maneuvering her bulk around it, she heard Unalik utter a loud "Oh!" -- it sounded like the wind howling over the Arctic tundra. He had been standing close to the door; now, pressing his hand against his open mouth, he stepped slowly backward as if driven by some invisible force.

Brandy -- still in her shortie sleep set from the previous night -- looked imploringly at Unalik and then collapsed to the floor.

Unalik didn't stand still for a minute, but, keeping his eyes locked on Tiffany, he retreated toward the front door very gradually, as if under a secret prohibition against leaving the room.

Tiffany's only thought was to stop him from leaving until she could explain herself. She reared up on her hind legs, bumping her head against the chandelier as she did so, and gave chase.

Brandy, who had seemed lost to the world, suddenly revived and began shrieking hysterically, upsetting the latte she had been making all over the wall-to-wall.

But Tiffany had no time for her; Unalik was already on the staircase. Tiffany felt her heart sink within her as the man she loved began to flee, perhaps forever. She put on a spurt of energy, to be sure of catching up to him; but he jumped down several steps at once and disappeared, still shouting "Aaaah!" The sound filled the whole stairwell.

"Commitment-phobe!" muttered Tiffany to herself.
salon.com | June 30, 1999

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