On "The Idea of Marcel" by Marie-Helene Bertino (3679 words) *****

Another great story from Bertino's marvelous collection, this one involves a former couple going out with new people: their ideal others. Tired of dating that woman who is slightly overweight? Date her again, but this time, she's height-weight proportionate and exercises regularly. Tired of your man's bad taste in music and clothes? Date him again, but have him the way you want him. Bertino's story suggests that we don't always really want what we say we want, that ideal is more a dream that we like to have as just that, and that our unhappiness often stems from the fact that the dream always always always comes to an end. Read the story here at the Common.