Red Convertible

The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich is an excerpt from her book Love Medicine, about being raised in North Dakota on an Indian reservation. The short story is about Lyman Lamartine, a hardworking young man and his older brother Henry. The story explains the relationship between the two brothers with detail that catches a readers’ attention. The story starts when Lyman receives a check from the government, and he buys a red convertible with Henry. The two don’t hesitate to spend the money and put the car to good use. Once they drive up to Alaska and spend the summer with a their friend Susy and her family, Henry receives life-changing news. I was hooked when I read about their journey to Alaska with their newfound friend Susy; I wanted to be apart of it. As I read further I realized that the Alaska trip wasn’t even part of the conflict, that is when I knew I needed to read it all. The boys’ adventure is cut short when Henry hears that he has been drafted to the military. Like many families at this time in US history, the Lamartine’s were devastated and Lyman was affected the most. The main character is clearly Lyman, we read of his struggle to finish maturing without his brother. The reservation is described in great detail that just adds to the sadness of the story. I definitely advise that you read this story, once you start you’ll want to read it all and read the whole book. The conflict is very apparent when Henry leaves, and you’ll just wonder whether he is to return. The story develops really well and I felt a connection to Lyman and his family. The end of the story is very satisfying but you feel sympathetic for the people of the reservation. It comes together beautifully and now I want to read the whole book. The reoccurring theme of the story is overcoming problems in brotherhood and family. There are many bumps in the road for this family, but they live through them. Lyman has to stay string in the absence of his brother, living his days hoping to see him again. The fact that Lyman kept balance in his work life and family while Henry was gone really stood out to me. This is the most inspiring short story I’ve ever read, I definitely recommend it. I think you will most enjoy the friendship between Lyman and Henry, and hoe they overcome the struggles of brotherhood.

A Clean Well-Lighted Place

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Earnest Hemingway is a striking short story about an old man trying drink away his feelings in the back of a café and two waiters preparing for the end of the evening. He was sorrowful, and deaf; therefore the waiters complained about him while he was present. The feeble man bothered one of the waiters; he had stayed late every night that week and they wanted to go home. When one of them said they were closing up before the usual time, the other was very upset because that old man had the right to a clean, well-lighted place to drink. At the beginning of the story, Hemingway introduces the old man without giving any physical descriptions. Instead of boring us with an exact narration of who this man was and why he was depressed, Hemingway tells us the more important, attention grabbing detail. The waiters are not given names, one is simply called older and the other younger. I was hooked when the younger waiter said that the man had tried to commit suicide just a week before. The waiter explains that the man had nothing to be in despair about because he had plenty of money. The older waiter is more sympathetic and accepting of other people, which is made very clear in the story. It is not clear which of the waiters is the main character, but they both express their opinions that differentiate from each other. A Clean Well-Lighted Place develops when the younger waiter decides to kick the old man out so he can get home to his family. The older waiter is the antagonist because he is opposed to the younger waiters pitiful ethics and struggles to not feel sorry for the old man. The conflict isn’t very clear at the beginning of the story, but it is made apparent when the waiters begin to argue about closing up the café. After reading the story, I agree with the older waiter because he is more patient and caring to those around him. He recognizes that some people need a clean, well-lighted place, and that a bar does not suffice. At the end of the story you learn why the older waiter felt so strongly about closing time, and the whole story is quite satisfying. The story has a genuine theme that stands out from any other short story I’ve read. Although it doesn’t have any action or drama, it expresses true feelings that people can relate to from both waiters’ perspectives. This story sets itself apart from others because of its ability to be understood and related to after almost a century. I have read some stories that lose their meaning and importance after that much time, but Hemingway’s writing is timeless. When I first read this, I thought of John Updike’s story “A&P”. The story is also about staff members quarreling about their customers right to be in the establishment. Readers will enjoy the conflict between the two waiters, and hopefully find as much meaning as I did.

The Littlest Hitler

My blogger account doesn't let me make paragraphs so I'm numbering. 1) My initial reaction to "The Littlest Hitler" by Ryan Boudinot was me being shocked by the way this child went to school on Halloween. At first I thought it was very offensive but I realized that it was a different time and place, and they were pretty white trash. Little Davy went to school on Halloween in 4th grade dressed as Hitler. He was supported by his dad who thought it was a great costume. His dad clearly had some parenting issues (after all, he was teaching his son to roll joints at the age of 9). Reading this, I was also wondering where the hell he grew up because his dad is socially accepted and Davy doesn't even get kicked out of school for his costume, because there's only one Jewish family in town. If a kid at Parker showed up on Halloween dressed as Hitler he'd be sent home, it would be talked about in advisories, and Mr Rosenbluth would send a note to all of the parents which usually just brings more attention to the incident. 2)Once I had gotten used to the fact that Davy was dressed as Hitler and the teacher accepted it, I found the story hysterical. My favorite part was when Davy realized that Lisette, one of the smart girls, was dressed as Anne Frank. This obviously caused some controversy in the fourth grade classroom. By recess Davy knew he needed to have an outfit change, and for the Halloween parade he grabbed a gray wig and said he was a piece of lint. That night at the Harvest Carnival, Davy came as Frankenstein because his dad felt bad for all the tormenting he experienced at school that day. I was mildly thrown off by Cyndy Dartmouth, the slutty seventh grader dressed as a hooker. I guess you could say Davy's adventure through the haunted tunnel with her made up for his awful day. Davy recognizes the fact that he never should have dressed as Hitler and probably felt very stupid. 3) I've definitely had experiences in my childhood where I did something prematurely or inappropriate without knowing. When I was about 10 I participated in the Ice Show at the Saddle and Cycle where the theme was "Born in the USA" Each skater had to choose a song about the USA, a landmark, city, or state. I always had a hard time choosing a song for the ice show, and this was the worst one yet. At the time I was a Rihanna fan (I'm not sure why) and I requested to skate to "California King Bed" a provocative song about Rihanna and her California King. It was awkward when my coach had to explain to me why that was not acceptable. I ended up skating to "All American Girl" by Carrie Underwood. Ugh.

A Good Man is Hard to Find

I just read "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor. It is a short story that aims to define what it is to be a good person. I really liked this story because of it's descriptive details and funny lines. I was very surprised at the end though. I am still not sure what to think of the Misfit, one of the central characters. The Misfit murdered the Grandmother, another main character, and her family. When I first read it I thought the Grandmother was definitely good and pure, but by the end it was a little more complicated than that. After all, she is pretty rude and only sees flaws in other people, but that doesn't mean the Misfit should have killed her. The grandmother doesn't realize that she is not perfect, but the Misfit knows he isn't. There is a lot of significance in the title because the whole story has an underlying meaning of determined who is "good". It is hard to find a good man because as good as the Grandmother seemed, she was somewhat self centered and rude. The Misfit clearly wasn't good, because of murder, but he seemed wiser and more understanding. The grandmother made racey jokes and rude remarks with her family, she never seemed kind. She may have been lovable like any Grandmother, but not enough for O'Connor to consider her "good"

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

I just read "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates that was dedicated to Bob Dylan because she was inspired to write the short story after hearing his song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". The story is about a mischievous teenager named Connie who sneaks around with her friends and ends up getting herself into trouble. She is at home alone one day when a guy that saw her one night when she was out shows up in his car. His name is Arnold Friend and he insists that she gets in and they "take a ride". Connie gets scared and backs into her house and tries to call the cops but he stops her. At the end she gets in with him because he threatens to hurt her family. It is unknown where they go, or if she returns safely. I looked up "rapey songs" and "creepy songs about teenage girls" and what I found was mostly country songs about having sex in a chevy or blurred lines by robin thicke. I definitely imagined this guy to be like that, in a creepy pedophile-like way.

A+P

I just read A+P by John Updike, a somewhat controversial story about respect and sensitivity. Three girls walk into a store wearing bikinis, which is disrespectful because it is showing that they don't think the store matters. The kid at the counter took note of the girls and didn't appreciate how they were dressed, but he kept it to himself. The manager came out and got really offended because he thinks his store deserves more respect. The store isn't in a tourist town, or by a beach so their bikinis are inappropriate. Sammy, the cashier, gives each girl a name based on the way they look or act around their friends. Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goonie Goonie are scanning through the store and leave very embarrassed. The manager, Lengel, comes out and scolds them for their behavior and they leave in a hurry. At the end of the story, Sammy quits because he is appalled by the way the manager reacted. I was surprised by the way Lengel reacted, because it's business no matter who the consumer is. I do agree that Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goonie Goonie are disrespectful to the store because it's not that type of town. My favorite part of the story was when Sammy described the girls and their bathing suits. "There was a chunky one, with the two piece- it was bright green and the seems on the bra were still sharp and her belly was still pretty pale so I guessed that she just got it (the suit)." He notices specific detail and describes it very well. I found humor in this story, I really enjoyed it.

A Very Old Many With Enormous Wings

I just read "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a very intriguing short story about a vivid imagination of an angel... but it is unclear what it is exactly. At the end of the story, I still couldn't figure out exactly what had happened, but I enjoyed it. At the beginning they said a man was an angel, he had come to take a sick child. The people enjoyed the company of the angel and appreciated his "supernatural virtue" 3 Questions I would as the author- 1. Why did the angel have that affect on the people and how did you get the idea/inspiration of the angel? 2. Why did the people think that the angel came for the sick child? Was it an answered prayer? 3. Why did the "angel" stay around for the child's life?