Garvey, Hugh. “Writers on the Verge: Aimee Bender.” The Village Voice 43 (June 2, 1998): 79-80. This is a profile of Aimee Bender with some helpful insight into her overall themes and influences.

Johnson, Rhonda. “Books: The Week.” Entertainment Weekly, July 28, 2000. This review of An Invisible Sign of My Own describes the novel as a well-written fairy tale about dealing with difficult psychological illnesses.

Lewis, William Henry. “Tales of Sexual Zealots.” The Washington Post, October 18, 1998, p. X10. Aimee Bender’s initial offering defies expectations of the typical first novel/anthology. This collection describes what fables can do when used as social tools. A variety of narrative methods are displayed, and the author concentrates on the conflict between the modern and the old-fashioned, between nonsectarian and Jew. In addition, she concentrates on the trade-off of power and sex between men and women.

Luis, Fiona. “Bender Evokes Laughter Subdued by Absurdity.” Boston Globe, August 11, 1998, p. E2. Bender’s stories would be hilarious except for the way they evoke a certain sympathy in the reader. She carefully dissects the seasick soul in a fashion that leaves the reader with a sense of loss and grief. Each story both repels and compels the reader to finish it and, in the end, find a certain comfort there.

McLellen, Dennis. “Making a Myth in the Space of a Short Story.” The Los Angeles Times, September 9, 1998, p. 1. Aimee Bender started writing as a young girl in Santa Monica. She expanded her writing expertise in the University of California at Irvine writing program and has returned to her roots in the city to publish her first collection.

Mifflin, Margot. “Books: The Week.” Entertainment Weekly, July 10, 1998. This is a brief review of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt. In it, Mifflin compares Bender’s style to those of other aggressive women writers.