Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Jan 12

30

This is All the Orientation You Are Gonna Get by John Jodzio

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 30, 2012
Posted in Short Story Read in 2012  | 1 Comment

Back in October, Kinna Reads reviewed this interesting titled short.  The title itself, grabbed my attention, which is unusual for me. 

The title is an apt description of what the short story is, a job orientation.  However, we find out right away it is for a new employee of a nail salon.  The new person is told to be sure to tell the customers that they have pretty hands, even if they don’t.  There are some funny parts in the orientation too.


“Good breath means good tips. If you get sad, go into the break room and stick your head in the pickle bucket filled with the Mexican nail polish and you’ll get happy real quick.”  When a customer tells you a story about her dead husband that reminds you of your dead husband, use the bucket. When a customer asks you to add a decal of a bomb on her middle finger to compliment her road rage, use the bucket. When the diabetic with the missing toes comes in for a pedicure say “Back in one sec,” and bury your head in the bucket.”

There is actually an entire list of things that are explained that you would expect to get for an orientation to a new job as well.  We also learn that the new person has suffered a loss in her life.  It is implied that the other workers have had problems as well.


I could tell from reading the story that the boss, Charles, can be an ass.  This 500 word story is so well written.  It had me laughing out loud and feel for the new employee.  I just wish it would have been longer to get some of the other back stories of the other employees in the salon.  I will be seeking out more by John Jodzio.  This is short fiction at its finest and freshest!  You can read it here.

John Jodzio is a winner of the Loft-McKnight Fellowship. His stories have appeared in One Story, Barrelhouse, Opium, and various other places in print and online. A collection of his short stories, “If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home” is available from Replacement Press. His collection, Get In If You Want To Live is forthcoming. More details can be found here: http://www.paperdarts.org/independent-book-publisher/. He lives in Minneapolis. Find out more atwww.johnjodzio.net.


Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.


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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 12

23

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 23, 2012
Posted in Short Story Read in 2012  | 5 Comments

When I was in high school I read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gable.  As in both of those novels, the Puritan religions plays a crucial role.
Young Goodman Brown’s wife Faith did not want him to leave her at home alone that night.  She was frightened of something, though could not say of what.  He left her anyway for some “important business.”  
“Poor little Faith!” thought he, for his heart smote him. “What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too. Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight. But no, no; ‘t would kill her to think it.”
He meets up with a strange man and together they proceed to walk through the forest on their “devil’s errand”.  As they get near to their destination, they meet up with other’s from the town, including Goodman Browns wife, Faith.  
What Brown witnessed at this meeting is really hard to say, except that it’s was a statement on Puritan religion and sin.  It was written as a dream like sequence and Brown isn’t sure himself, if it was real or a dream.
I think Hawthorne, in all of his literature that I have read is trying to say that nothing is cut and dried and to be judged too harshly.  Those who practiced the puritan religion, like other organized religions judge others harshly.  Is it sin to believe in something different?  You can read the story here.
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Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

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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 12

16

The Scavengers Mary Hunter Austin

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 16, 2012
Posted in Short Story Read in 2012 

The Scavengers is another short story that I received in my inbox from The Library of America Story of the Week.  They send a link to a free short story every week.  I received a link to this story quite awhile ago and finally got around to reading it.

The unknown narrator described the drought they had in the region for over three year and how the scavengers appeared in droves, patiently waiting for their meal.

” but the scavengers make few mistakes. One stoops to the quarry and the flock follows.  Cattle once down may be days in dying. They stretch out their necks along the ground, and roll up their slow eyes at longer intervals. The buzzards have all the time, and no beak is dropped or talon struck until the breath is wholly passed. It is doubtless the economy of nature to have the scavengers by to clean up the carrion, but a wolf at the throat would be a shorter agony than the long stalking and sometime perchings of these loathsome watchers.”

This didn’t seem as much as a story to me as on overview of wildlife scavengers and their usefulness in drought conditions.  It seemed like more of an environmental commentary.  Scavengers have been viewed by many as no good nuisances but really we need them to clean up after us and other animals. Ms. Austin made her point well.  

This story would appeal to people who are curious about the creatures we call scavengers and people interested in the environment.  As you can see from the short quote above, it’s not for those with a weak stomach. 

Did you review this story?  Please leave your link in the comments.
Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

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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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