Books: Double Image Group Sex

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Arensberg's first novel, Sister Wolf (1980), was a darker work of spooky psychological chill. If Group Sex is slightly less successful, the reason is that Frances is not quite clearly drawn. At one point we are told that she never blushes, but she already has, on an earlier page. There are in fact two Franceses, and only one of them blushes. The other one, spunky and with a rich sense of irony, is too smart to fall for a one-man traveling circus like Paul Treat. But comedy is a tough taskmaster, and it seems that Arensberg, like her heroine, settles for a prayer to St. Francis de Sales, who protects editors.