Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Feb 09

23

Short Story Monday: Jon by George Saunders

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on February 23, 2009
Posted in Short Story Read in 2009  | 5 Comments

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!

Also reviewed at:

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Feb 09

9

Short Story Monday: A & P by John Updike

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on February 9, 2009
Posted in John Updikie • Short Story Read in 2009  | 10 Comments

Last week, John of Book Mine Set reviewed this story. His review peeked my curiosity. I read one thing by Updike in Jr. High School. I can’t even remember what it was and haven’t read anything since.

Sammy, the narrator of the story is a 18 year old check-out clerk at A & P Grocery Store. One summer day three teenage girls walk into the store with nothing but bathing suits on. No cover-up and no shoes. As he observes them, as any teenage boy would, he finds it hard to concentrate on ringing out a customer’s purchases. Did he ring in the Hi Ho crackers already?

Sammy describes the girls in detail. I could picture how he might tell his friends about what happened. Toward the end of the story the manger comes to Sammy’s check out, where the girls end up and tells them that they must be dressed to come into the store. He allows them to make their purchase but is quite insistent that they will not be able to shop there again if they are not fully clothed.

Sammy disagrees with the manager and tells him so after the girls leave. He takes action but also think about the consequences of that action after.

Not a lot happens in this short story but it is quite engaging. This is a really nice coming-of-age story with the theme of consequences to one’s choices. I think it is also about anti-establishment. This story was originally written back in the 60’s when the younger generation were starting to question the establishment and authority.

4/5

Also reviewed by:
The Book Mine Set

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Jan 09

27

Short Story Monday: The Visitor by Marisa Silver

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 27, 2009
Posted in Marisa Silver • Short Story Read in 2009  | 4 Comments

Dysfunctional People

Candy lost her mother Sylvie due to a drug overdose, at the young age of eleven. She lived with her grandmother, Marjorie throughout her childhood and into adulthood. Before she died Sylvie would show up every once in awhile, mostly to steal things.

Candy became a nurse’s aide at a V.A. hospital but continued to live with Marjorie. It took her income and her grandmother’s, from dressmaking, to survive. Also, almost every night Marjorie would wake to some noise, usually the tap running in the bathroom. She would start yelling at the ghost that she accused of doing this and wake Candy.

One day a new soldier was admitted to the hospital with a missing arm and he would not speak. Candy would spend time with him, not saying a word. She would stare at him and he would look angry but never said a word.

This was a very odd story. All of the people in it were clearly dysfunctional. The part with Candy’s mother and grandmother made sense to me, but I couldn’t really figure out how the solder tied in except for the anger the Candy obviously had that he also had.
That said, I did find it worthwhile.

3.5/5

You can read The Visitor for free at The New Yorker website, here. If you do, please come back and tell me how you think the soldier fits into the story.

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

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