The fact that this story mirrors a similar event in author John Gardner’s childhood lends credibility to the feelings and emotions portrayed. When a twelve-year-old boy kills his seven-year-old brother in a horrific farm accident, he and his family are devastated. His father falls apart, womanizing and disappearing for days at a time, while his mother and five-year-old sister grieve privately, putting their faith in God. The boy, knowing the accident was preventable, relives it every day and even gets to the point of considering suicide. Themes: grief, religion, community, guilt, art (in this case music) as a redemptive force. More…
All posts by shortsonline
Parallel Universes
The title of this Etgar Keret story describes his writing, which takes readers on humorous, often shocking journeys to worlds so absurd they could only exist outside our own. Keret developed a special interest in parallel universe theory when told that thinking about them helped his father get through the privations of Jewish persecution in World War 2 Europe. Although Parallel Universes fits the Keret mould in terms of the absurd contrasts between the described worlds, it is also a poignant love story that ends: I enjoy knowing there’s one place … where I’m falling asleep happy. More…
Stop the Sun
This story by Gary Paulsen focuses on an adolescent boy’s efforts to understand his father’s unusual behavioral lapses, which his mother describes as “Vietnam Syndrome”. He is uncomfortable with the behavior at home and embarrassed when it manifests itself in public. Initially, he tries to research the condition at the library and by asking teachers. When this doesn’t work, he has the courage to ask his father. What he learns brings a measure of understanding, and gives him the strength to be more tolerant. Themes: father-son relationships, the brutality of war and its after-effects on veterans, communication, understanding and tolerance. More…
The Price of Eggs in China
Major themes of this story by Don Lee are love, art and rivalry. Set in California, a Japanese-American furniture artisan is caught-up in rivalry between his girlfriend and a female customer. Both women are poets. Although once good friends, they fell-out after their first books got very different reviews. The girlfriend, whose work was rated poorly, believes the other woman is trying to ruin her life. Things take a dark turn when she reports receiving threatening phone calls. Readers are left wondering whether these are real, or contrived to destroy her rival. Other themes include self-image, insecurity, paranoia, and sacrifice. More…
Bears Discover Fire
This story from Terry Bisson includes several important themes. Although bears may be thousands of years behind man in discovering fire, they are portrayed as being well ahead of us in terms of consideration, compassion, sharing and inclusiveness. The major theme is the effect of our modern lifestyle on families. Sixty-one-year-old Bobby does his best for his dying mother who, with only the TV for company at her nursing home, has given up on life. His brother is too busy “ministering” and selling real-estate to make time for her, or even pay attention to the needs of his growing son. More…