Summary

Chapter 1

The book opens with the nameless protagonist musing to herself about some of her experiences traveling abroad. She reveals that she’s very interested in philosophy, becoming fascinated with the way that a teacher speaks to her about the education process. The protagonist is also very self-conscious, recounts a time where at a restaurant she and her date didn’t like the steak they ordered. She pretended to eat it anyway though because she was afraid that the restaurant staff would judge or make fun of her. The chapter ends with her feeling alone in her Brooklyn apartment; hiding under her blanket hoping that would make her feel less afraid, but it doesn’t work.

Chapter 2

The main character discusses her job as a writer. She started out as a fact checker for a scientific magazine, but went on to write her...