Danielewski's eerie tale, a ghost story of sorts, is not only an excellent, disarming novella but also a pleasure as a physical object: the text is interspersed with stitched illustrations from Atelier Z. The creepy pricks of so many needles serve to heighten the tension at an awkward dinner party, interrupted by a Story Teller who weaves through his narrative for a group of orphans in attendance.
mark z danielewski
