Heart Pounding Read

Reminiscent of Margret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake, and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Jon is about a group of teenagers raised from infancy, in a building for the purpose of assessing products for consumers. They only see outdoors through a window, never experiencing the wonder of nature first hand.
The story primarily focuses on Jon and Carol. After sneaking into Carol’s sleeping quarters ” privacy tarp”, Carol is pregnant. They marry, even though it is technically not allowed. Carol decided that she wants to leave the safety of the group to go to the unknown, outside. Jon isn’t sure.
It is not clear if this story is set in the present day or in the future but it certainly has a futuristic feel to it. Saunders really packs a punch with this story. It is a sad commentary on the emphasis we put on possessions as a society. We are living in a plastic age and this story shows the lengths that some advertisers could go to sell product.
My heart raced as I read this story. If rang true to me, like it could really happen. This is an excellent example of brilliant short story writing!
Highly recommended!
5/5
This short story appeared in The New Yorker Magazine. To read it go here. I would love to know what you think!

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