The short story Prisoner of War by Muna Fadhil speaks to me in a past becoming you future way and is my favorite. The use of visual imagery gives an in depth look at what the character is actually seeing. And the use of metaphors give it another prospective of something to compare what she is thinking and visualizing to. I also like the fact that it showcase that sometimes when you are a prisoner those same restrictions can follow you once free and you become a prisoner in the free world as well.
Hello everyone, the short story that I liked best was, Late for Dinner by Jim Crace. This story spoke to me because I just really enjoyed the setup and the flow of the story. I liked the visual imagery the author used as he was describing the scenery he drove by as he was taking his time being late to dinner, because I seriously felt as if I was in the car with him. It also spoke to me because, although it is a short story, it is very relatable. We have all been late to a family gathering, or a dinner with friends, however, I never thought of my tardiness as a “great pleasure” as the author described it. His selfish view, helped me see my tardiness in a new view. I have also been on the hostess’s side, so I can also relate to the feeling she had, wondering if he was ok or if he had decided to not come.
Bruce Holland Rogers's short story Aglaglagl was absolutely amazing. He used defamiliarization so well to bring to light the peace of a infant's mind: the phrase aglaglagl is all a baby needs to know to be able understand the world around him, and Bruce uses examples like the dog's nose or wanting milk to show how adept a baby's understanding is. It's an interesting thought because we like to think that expanding our vocabulary is always increasing our ability for communication (and of course it does), but Bruce makes a good point in saying that this baby language is perfect. There is also the allusion to Buddha, which aids in the idea that babies are in a zen state of mind before we 'corrupt' them. This story speaks to me because it causes a definite level of cognitive dissonance, where I enjoy the thought of reaching that zen like state by being only aware without understanding your surroundings (ignorance is bliss), but then I also love the sciences and idea of gaining deeper knowledge of the world. So it's interesting how this story was able to poke at the thought.
The short story that I liked was called Finished Symphony by Augusto Monterroso. I liked it because it talks about Guatemala. I am half Mexican and half Guatemala. I could picture what the author was talking about because I have actually been there. This story talks about an unfinished symphony from a famous writer Augusto had found. No one believed him so he was devoted to prove them wrong. I can imagine the anger he is going through, throughout this short story. This story just speaks to me and feeling the anger of Augusto.
The short story that I really enjoyed was Farewell, I Love You, and Goodbye by James Tate. This short story really spoke to me because it talks about how difficult it is to adjust to a new home. This short story mentions the reasons for starting over and the troubles that come along with it. I really enjoyed this short story because I have moved a few times in my life and it can be very frustrating. My favorite part is the ending because the man meets a woman and begins to feel a little hope for a new life that he can enjoy.
The short story I really enjoyed was Honor Killing, by Kim Young-Ha. It is a particularly short story with not a lot of surface substance, but underneath there are multiple layers that really make you think. The story is about a young lady who is hired as a receptionist because she is beautiful but due to a skin irritation she eventually commits suicide before being promptly replaced by another beautiful woman. The story leaves you feeling depressed and a little angry at the characters, but you don't really know where to direct the anger. The boss knows how the world works, attractive people are considered to be more trustworthy so how can you get mad that he is using beauty to his advantage. Do you get mad at the girl for taking her own life because she was no longer beautiful? Or is that more society's fault for putting beauty on such a pedestal? At the end of the day society is merely a reflection of ourselves, the good and the bad. This story peels those layers on yourself and makes you realize you're just as bad as those people in the story.
I like "Honor Killing" by Kim Young Ha. The story originates in South Korea and I know that that particular country is very obsessed with beauty. The Koreans have a specific type of person that they consider beautiful. In the story there is a woman who has a beautiful and glowing skin. Again Korea is obsessed with how their skin tone looks and the young woman embodies what the stereotypical beautiful Korean is supposed to look like. However the beautiful girl gets a pimple and as more people begin to notice the pimple, her face gets worse. Eventually she commits suicide because no on likes her anymore and she is replaced with an even more beautiful girl. The story reflects the standard of beauty in that country and show an exaggerated version of discrimination. --Rayna Gomez
I liked several stories in this book but I really enjoyed "Love" by Edgar Omar Aviles. It's probably the shortest story however, it carries a heavy message. I liked it because it started off sweet with an innocent, young girl telling her mother that God is great, but it then took an unexpected turn when her mother stabbed her. Ten times. The reason being that the girl is innocent and "still without sin" Her mother, however, is a prostitute begging for her body to be sold on the streets. The mother knew she was sinful but didn't want the same fate for her daughter. So she killed her. This story discretely acknowledges the poverty in Mexico (and other parts of the world). A family in poverty is most likely to stay in poverty. The mother didn't want that same fate for her daughter. And it gets to the point where there is nothing else one can do. It's a terrible truth.
The short story I liked was called "An Ugly Man" by Marcela Fuentes, I liked this story because it makes it seem like the guy she starts dating in the end is physically ugly, but then you come to realize the guy she was left was the true "ugly guy" on the inside he was a jerk. and she decided not to put up with it anymore and left him for someone better. This spoke to me because i know how hard it can be to recognize an ugly guy and kick him to the curb.
The short story I enjoyed the most in "Flash Fiction" was "Idolatry" by Sherman Alexie. It is a short short story and it really just describes a typical American Idol audition. The contestant goes to sing her heart out when the judge immediately stops her and tells her she's bad. I just found humor in this because she pleas and tells the judge that her family thinks she is good and he replies back with "they lied". Then she goes back into the green room crying. The story ends with this line "in this world, we must love the liars or go unloved". This is the overall theme and as much as I enjoyed this scene that was created; I disagree with it. Some times in life you need tough love to handle the harsh realities. I still really enjoyed it.
In Yasunari Kawabata's short story "Sleeping Habit", he describes a couple's twisted sleeping habit. It began with the use of tactile imagery such as the pain she feels when she is awoken by the pulling of her hair at night. As the story continues, the speaker explains that the hair wrapped around her lover's neck was used to keep him from leaving her during the middle of the night. The story creates a sense of irony because the first paragraph portrayed a psychotic woman who is too clingy towards her partner. Lovers do not normally wrap their other half with their hair around their neck. In a way, the story is sweet because the woman truly loves the man, yet lewd because her ways of keeping him are strange. The hair wrapped around the man's neck may symbolize his wanting to leave the relationship, but she refuses to lets him go and grounds him. He gets into the habit of conforming to her wants and needs and is ultimately trapped in the relationship. I love this story for its ambiguity. Depending on the readers mood, it may come off as a nice couple adjusting to each other or it may be a man trapped by a woman.
From "Flash Fiction", I liked the short story "Trilogy", by Antonio Lopez Ortega. This short story talks about a mother with three sons, all by different fathers. None of the fathers are in the sons' lives anymore, and she is raising them on her own, with the help of her mother. She explains that she sees a part of their fathers in each of the boys, and that her past is continually running around in her backyard, making her long for days gone by. This story is proving that your past is always with you, and you will always live with the consequences, or results, of your decisions. I liked this story because the point was very clear and very applicable to everyday life.
I skimmed Flash Fiction for short time and settled on a piece called "The Attraction of Asphalt" by Stefani Nellen (of Germany). It's story about a mother and daughter driving on winding roads to fetch fresh spring water. The story constantly builds tension and the ominous presence of danger. I really enjoyed this because contrary to most stories there was no climax; through to the end there was no relief, and the last few lines almost promise to you that the tension wont ever stop.
I enjoyed reading the short story "The Lord of the Flies", by Marco Denevi, because it defamiliarized the idea of God and Heaven, and I found that extremely interesting. This short story is basically about flies and how their God, or the Lord of the Flies, is as unique as the Gods we are all used to. The speaker claims that this God "buzzed constantly, and for other he was mute". This contradiction stook out to me because I think the author is pointing out that flies believe in different Gods, like how we, humans do. All in all, I think the point that the author is trying to make is that we are flies. I don't agree with the message, but I think he is trying to say that our lives are all meaningless in the eyes of the entirety of the Universe and that we believe in the afterlife in order to make ourselves feel better.
I enjoyed the short story “Love” by Edgar Omar Avilés, as it presents two completely contrasting views of life – that of the little girl and that of the mom. The little girl’s childlike faith in God is typically something that is praised by adults; however, her mother’s notion that her daughter would soon be “selling her body” on the streets causes her to put an end to this pure faith. Her act of stabbing her daughter – whether it is metaphorical or real – following her revelation is an unexpected act for a parent, but the author provides legitimate reasoning for this act. The closing statement of the short story also presents a sense of ambiguity, as it is unclear as to whether the mother is “driving the knife in for the tenth time” as in she has just stabbed her daughter ten times, or this is the tenth time she has said something that has killed her daughter’s hopes/dreams.
I enjoyed “The Snake” by Eric Rugara because of the way the story shows the killing of a snake. Although this short story is from Kenya and there are most likely cultural differences, I found the hyperbole of the act amusing. When I was younger my own dad killed snakes I would find in our backyard and it was never something as exciting as this story portrays. The killing is rather morbid in its description but in the end it amounts to what is essentially a family event. I found this interesting since in my own experiences snakes are more of a nuisance and a chore to get rid of than exciting. -Michael Harp
The story I enjoyed most from the book was "Please Hold Me the Forgotten Way," by H. J. Shepard. This one stood out to me at first because the title drew me in. It made me think "hey, this sounds like a love story!" I am a complete and utter sap for love stories so I really couldn't resist. Lo and behold, it WAS a story about love. Though, it wasn't any cliched and over-beautified love story. As well written and vivid as Shepard's imagery was, I was not prepared for the ending. Most of the story was highlighted with pretty things but at the end, when the woman the narrator is speaking about, looks into the mirror and sees her and her love reflected with the florescent lights, the imagery is more dark, sad, and less love like.
The story that I decided to read is from Bolivia. Its by Edmundo Paz Soldan. The title of the story is called Barnes. The story is about a man named Barnes that admits to several crimes that he did not commit. He is sitting in an interrogation room and he feel so worthless and useless that he decides to admit to killing several people, one of which was the former president of Bolivia. In the end he is put to death by firing squad. I decided to look at this story because I thought it would be interesting to read and think about the value of life, and what it means to be the one taking away that life. The way this story is written makes the reader think about crime and punishment in a very interesting way.
My favorite poem form flash fiction international was called Honor Killing by Kim Young-ha. This poem spoke to me because its speaks about using people for a mean to our end. The poem speaks of a beautiful receptionist that increased patients in the dermatology office only based on beauty. Later, the lady starts to break out and no longer meets her expectations. It conveyed irony when the doctor seemed to have no effect on the conditions of the lady. Overall the poem explains that how we use people only to our benefits.
The story i enjoyed most was The Baby because it reminded me of my dog, last week he laid to rest and it was hard for me to comprehend. The poet even describes the distance of her baby and even though i know he is in a better place now i still feel sad. My other dog has lost his brother and is now so distant by he is to my baby.
My favorite short story so far is "Three-Second Angels" by Judd Hampton. I liked the ambiguity of it, how the subject was talked about in metaphors. The speakers point of view was interesting. They kind of understood why the group behaved a certain way but still disliked them. The story is more sad as it goes on. The jumpers are free for only a few moments before they have to go back to their lives. If they make it back. The "Remember Avery ... remember Charlene" makes me think that there may be a chance the jumpers may not make it and it makes the ending more open.
The story that I liked the most from Flash Fiction is "Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera. I liked this story more than a few others that I read because of the fact that it was something I could relate to at first. It seemed like a very simple but mysterious story line, and then all of a sudden it ends with the man loading a revolver and blowing his brains out. I was caught way off guard, but it really made the story very surprising and it wow'd me. The story's tone, however, was never once sad or grim before then, which for some reason made the story really funny and amusing to me.
A story that stood out to me from Flash Fiction was “Butterfly Forever”. I found it interesting at how throughout the short story the writer compares the character named Yingzi to a butterfly. The reason for the comparison was also interesting as the character’s death resembled a butterfly trying to fly. Not only does the comparison demonstrate a different approach but the end of the short story brings the reader to understand the feelings going inside the first-person narrator as he replays the events that occurred. The events seem to have been significant to the narrator as he describes it as the “biggest rain in my entire life” and continues to question as to why he had brought only one umbrella. This story demonstrates both regret and sadness as simple daily acts can create great change to one’s life.
The story I chose from Flash fiction was "The Baby" by Maria Negroni from Argentina. This story is very short compared to others but it made me feel sad in a way. Because she sees her baby but in my mind the baby is actually the ghost of her baby that died but she still sees it everyday as if it never happened. The pain of something like that will never truly really leave someone and they have to live with it for all their life. It is a sad story but very well written for anyone who reads it to understand it.
One of the short stories that I enjoyed most from "Flash Fiction International" was "An Ugly Man" by Marcela Fuentes. It was one of my favorites because I believe it talks about inner beauty is always going to win over outer beauty. The author has this young women with a man who is rude and very mean and she leaves him for the "ugliest man in the county". I believe that this story is a great example that no matter how beautiful or handsome someone can be, in the end it means nothing if their personality does not match. It spoke to me because although the "ugly man" is described as physically ugly, it does not compare to the other mans hideous personality.
Amongst the many great stories available within the book, "The Gutter" by Ethel Rohan really stood out to me. I was able to relate to the main character within the short story because as a child my parents would always try to influence and instruct all aspects of my life. Understandably, parents are expected to determine what is best for their own child, still the short represents the comedic events of a younger child. While reading this short story I managed to reminiscent about the better days when I was a worry free college student.
My favorite short story was by James Tate, Farewell, I love you, and Goodbye. I really enjoyed it because moving to a new place can be hard and well just change in general is hard. We live in an area so long that when we leave it's a fresh start, it can be difficult, or it can become the best decision of our lives. No one knows anything about you and that in itself can be a great thing, you can lie about your background or stay truthful it all depends on the person and well I'd say the story was about adjusting and trying to make the most of the new place cause you never know what you might run into. -Crystal Magana
My favorite short story was Please Hold Me The Forgotten Way by H.J. Sheperd.I love the soft and romantic tone that it gives. I also love the imagery that is used in the short story, it made me want the story longer because it kind of just ended, but it gives the reader room to imagine the ending different from other readers. It also did have some defamiliarization about love which was interesting.
My favorite short story was Fire. Water. by Avital Gad-Cykman. I really liked this short story because of the way it was structured and how it was presented. Each paragraph has multiple sentences either starting with "The daughter..." and "The son..." while ending the paragraph with the two same sentences about what the father and mother were doing. This short story reminded me of how crazy my home used to be with five brothers and sisters, and how sometimes it would be hard to get a hold of my parents to stop the situation. The parents are almost completely absent from the setting of the story while the siblings are fighting and reeking havoc on each other. While the parents were performing familiar household tasks, the kids bring defamiliarization to the story by going above and beyond what the average siblings do.
My favorite short story from Flash Fiction is Idolatry by Sherman Alexie. I think this story is really interesting because its length is so short, yet it tells a story of so many dreamers. Marie, the man character, tells of her “American Idol” experience and how she gets rejected after years of people telling her how great of a singer she is. I think the subject matter of this story is so universal; the idea of a shattered dream by a complete stranger is one of the most embarrassing.
I like the short fiction piece of "The Baby" by Maria Negroni because of the extended metaphor of the parent and child dynamic. The baby keeps disappearing and is delighted by the parents confusion and irritation. "The game is dazzling and lasts a lifetime," reinforces that this dynamic continues for the rest of their lives.
My favorite short story was "Late for dinner" by Jim Crace. The reason this was my favorite story is because I too am always late for dinner and I take more pleasure in my drive home than actually having to sit at the table and socialize with my family. Jim Crace used a lot of imagery in his short and I actually felt like I was right there with him when it started to rain and he had to put the windshield wipers to the max because he couldn't see. The main reason why this story spoke to me is because I'm always late to dinner and I can relate to the character.
So far, my favorite story from Flash Fiction has been The Past by Juan Carlos Botero. I enjoyed this story because of the message it has to offer; one word or phrase from someone you care for can change everything as you know it. This story deals with a man finding out his lover has been cheating on him and in turn, all his memories from the past are altered. He no longer sees the innocence in her long nights at the office and her weekend trips to her mothers. His past was transformed by a single sentence and I feel that many people can relate to this situation. This story really made me think.
My favorite short fiction piece from Flash Fiction International is "Fire. Water." by Avital Gad Cykman because of the chemistry between the two children of the family, the brother and sister, and it made me laugh. The two are total opposites of each other and unlike some siblings in real life, who seem to hate each other, get along pretty well despite the "antagonizing" behavior, they're exhibiting, one might view it as. The two siblings are just playing around and having fun as children should. I also like the use of repetition the author uses for the mother washing the dishes and the father walking dog outside because it shows that a routine's been established in the household, and it doesn't change no matter what, just like they know that their two children are doing fine and are not at each other's throats. I believe that's the only reason why they do not react to their daughter's shout.
A short story that I felt spoke to me was "Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera. He writes how having insomnia truly is. Nowadays, saying that you have insomnia is like not having to sleep because you got stuck doing homework at 2am or didn't sleep for 2 days. I truly believe having insomnia is terrible because you daydream of sleeping but simply cannot. I relate to this because I used to suffer from sleep deprivation a few years ago. And there were so many days I daydreamed about going to sleep. And the more I didn't sleep, the more I wanted to blow my head because it was too much suffering for my mind. Not being able to sleep makes a person feel insane. When Pinera writes, "this time he goes to see the doctor... in the end the man cannot manage to sleep... the man is dead," is how I truly felt. I felt dead. And during that time, I wished I was. Thankfully, the medication my doctor gave me worked and I was able to sleep around the time old people slept.
"Idolatry" by Sherman Alexie really got to me, because it makes me wonder about my own ambitions of a musical career. In this story, Marie is auditioning for a show like The Voice because her whole life people have been telling her she has the talent to make it. But a few bars into the song, the judge stops her and, on national TV, tells her she sucks and to just stop singing completely! Everyone who encouraged her, "The lied." I wonder if I'm good enough to make it in the music biz, because from this story it makes it seem like a long shot.
I really enjoyed the story " Trilogy" by Antonio Lopez Ortega. The story speaks about the speaker who has three sons from three different fathers all with different ethnic backgrounds. She discusses how each of her sons has a little bit of their father in them which reminds her of all her failed relationships but also highlights the love she has for her sons. "The oldest, the green eyes and height of the Kurd; the middle one, the straight hair and the indifference of the Belgian; the third, the distant self-absorption of the Chilean" emphasizes her memories that she has of her past lovers. "What a shame that with such a great variety no man wants me now" alludes to how many men tend to shy away from women with children from a previous relationship. "It's like having my past flesh running around the house" leads the reader to question if she's fully moved on from the relationships or if she is just merely lonely but feels as though she is in a sense blacklisted from dating. I really enjoy this story because it evokes feelings of empathy and sympathy for the woman. I enjoyed reading about her efforts to keep her family whole and together despite the sensitive past each brother has. I liked reading that in the end they grew up to be young men that she says she can be proud of.
In the novel Flash Fiction there are many types of interesting short stories. There was a story that was not even a page long but its last line was very strong. The story is by Sherman Alexie called Idolatry and it was about an Indian girl who was trying out for an audition to sing. After waiting patiently for her turn, the moment she gets on the stage and sings the first verse, she was stopped by the judges. She was told how horrible she was and to never sing again. I thought that was very mean but sometimes we have to learn how to face reality and she had already accept any humiliations. In the beginning, I thought this story would end nicely but not all stories have happy endings. Even though it was short but something about it tells the readers the truth about life and how we are not all perfect but perfect in the eyes of our parents. This girls’ mother would tell her how great of a singer she is to make her feel happy about her self. The last line in the story quotes, “In this world, we must love the liars or go unloved.” I felt like this line spoke to those who appreciate us the most and care. The liars in this line emphasizes the person who chooses not to tell the truth because sometimes the truth hurts but still has love for that other person.
The short story that interested me was "Lost" by Alberto Fuguet. This story stuck out to me because it reminded me of "Into the Wild". It's about a guy who seems like he loses his ways and decides to try to find himself. He leaves everything he has behind to see if anyone will come looking for him. He has a great time traveling the massive world and getting to experience life, while wondering if anyone is looking for him. It is a very bittersweet short story. It is very similar to Chris McCandless and his situation. These men are trying to do some heavy soul searching with themselves.
"Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera was especially insightful to read. Insomnia is one of those conditions that often gets exploited by overly dramatic statements. Some individuals claim to have "insomnia" and the result is an injustice. Insomnia is in fact a real disorder that some people suffer from and similar to O.C.D. and A.D.D. it gets misrepresented. Reading about insomnia from the author's perspective enlightened me on the condition. -Alee Gonzalez
Although the story is sad, I loved the concept of "The Past" by Juan Carlos Botero. The story is about a man who finds out that his significant other has been cheating on him. As the story progresses, the news just pulls at the reader's heartstrings while we think "poor guy" or sympathize, but the ending of the story is what intrigued me. We always think that the future is the thing that can change and is susceptible to change, never the past. We see the past as a story and in some cases, something to move on from rather than hold on to. The story still manages to show that the past can also change, just not in the way we'd expect it to. When the man hears the news, his whole happy past turns upside down and the quote "Just one phrase, he realized, could alter the whole past" just captures the feelings that the character feels in a new way of thinking. I am not really one for sad stories but this story greatly impressed me.
"The Interpreter for the Tribunal" by Tony Eprile (pg 184) is a confusing and gruesome piece. Although I don't normally gravitate towards works that depict violence, this short story shed light on the roles every person takes on as both the destroyer and destroyed. Eprile exhibits this idea through his use of alternations between the viewpoint of a person getting beat up and the viewpoint of the aggressor. Both viewpoints, however, are jumbled together, and it can be hard to tell which character is narrating the story, since both use first person. While reading the story, the use of "I" relates me to both characters. The confusing transitions emphasize the confusion in my mind as I realize it is not always clear who I am as a person, a person with the capability to build up but also the capability to destroy.
I really liked "The Vending Machine at the End of the World" by Josephine Rowe. It has strong themes of nostalgia and sentimentality, which are probably my own biggest weaknesses. In the story, an alcohol-dependent man is living in a dumpy hotel in a bad neighborhood. He longs for the days and the freedom of his youth, before he made the mistakes that led him down the path he's on now. He imagines pushing the unlabeled button on a soda vending machine and wonders what will come out, but he hopes it's a Tab - a drink which has somehow intertwined in his memory with the summertime of his adolescence, when he had his whole life ahead of him. Stories like this really speak to me, as someone obsessed with "the good old days," in the general sense. Too often I fall into the trap of reliving old memories, getting less and less grounded in reality the further I get away from that time.
The story I really liked was, "The Waterfall," by Alberto Chimal. The story was about a group of names bearing witness to a child's baptism, all of them hoping that they will be the name chosen as the child's given name. I really liked the personification that Chimal uses to describe the names personality. He gives them negative emotions such as spite and envy when it is revealed that none of them were chosen to be the child's christian name. They jealously gossip about the names that were chosen, and say that the child will be unlucky because of the parents bad choice. I think that even though these names are inanimate, these negative traits give them a layer of realism, and it makes the reader pity them and their misfortune at being rejected by the parents. I also liked how the imagery of water connected directly with the allusion to the baptism.
I chose "The Past" by Juan Carlos Botero because in this short story he captures the biggest thing in life. That is that, at any moment our lives can completely change. Whether, in this story's case, you find something out that makes you realize that everything you once believed to be true is actually not. Not just that but that every single moment in our lives changes us in more ways than one. The people we meet, the places we go, the things we do, see, hear, etc. they all move us. Some events or people change us drastically and others very minimally but nonetheless, we all evolve one way or another everyday of our lives.
A story that i really enjoyed in Flash Fiction was A Sailor by Ronda Jarrar. I love how she showed how crazy love can be. Sometimes the same thing that drives you insane about the person youre in a relationship can also be the same thing that drives you mad. Relationships and love is all about give and take and learning to compromise. its also about forgiveness. Sometimes its okay to be childish for payback haha Alicia Martin
The short story Prisoner of War by Muna Fadhil speaks to me in a past becoming you future way and is my favorite. The use of visual imagery gives an in depth look at what the character is actually seeing. And the use of metaphors give it another prospective of something to compare what she is thinking and visualizing to. I also like the fact that it showcase that sometimes when you are a prisoner those same restrictions can follow you once free and you become a prisoner in the free world as well.
ReplyDeleteMarqualla Thomas
Hello everyone, the short story that I liked best was, Late for Dinner by Jim Crace. This story spoke to me because I just really enjoyed the setup and the flow of the story. I liked the visual imagery the author used as he was describing the scenery he drove by as he was taking his time being late to dinner, because I seriously felt as if I was in the car with him. It also spoke to me because, although it is a short story, it is very relatable. We have all been late to a family gathering, or a dinner with friends, however, I never thought of my tardiness as a “great pleasure” as the author described it. His selfish view, helped me see my tardiness in a new view. I have also been on the hostess’s side, so I can also relate to the feeling she had, wondering if he was ok or if he had decided to not come.
ReplyDeleteBruce Holland Rogers's short story Aglaglagl was absolutely amazing. He used defamiliarization so well to bring to light the peace of a infant's mind: the phrase aglaglagl is all a baby needs to know to be able understand the world around him, and Bruce uses examples like the dog's nose or wanting milk to show how adept a baby's understanding is. It's an interesting thought because we like to think that expanding our vocabulary is always increasing our ability for communication (and of course it does), but Bruce makes a good point in saying that this baby language is perfect. There is also the allusion to Buddha, which aids in the idea that babies are in a zen state of mind before we 'corrupt' them. This story speaks to me because it causes a definite level of cognitive dissonance, where I enjoy the thought of reaching that zen like state by being only aware without understanding your surroundings (ignorance is bliss), but then I also love the sciences and idea of gaining deeper knowledge of the world. So it's interesting how this story was able to poke at the thought.
ReplyDeleteThe short story that I liked was called Finished Symphony by Augusto Monterroso. I liked it because it talks about Guatemala. I am half Mexican and half Guatemala. I could picture what the author was talking about because I have actually been there. This story talks about an unfinished symphony from a famous writer Augusto had found. No one believed him so he was devoted to prove them wrong. I can imagine the anger he is going through, throughout this short story. This story just speaks to me and feeling the anger of Augusto.
ReplyDeleteThe short story that I really enjoyed was Farewell, I Love You, and Goodbye by James Tate. This short story really spoke to me because it talks about how difficult it is to adjust to a new home. This short story mentions the reasons for starting over and the troubles that come along with it. I really enjoyed this short story because I have moved a few times in my life and it can be very frustrating. My favorite part is the ending because the man meets a woman and begins to feel a little hope for a new life that he can enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThe short story I really enjoyed was Honor Killing, by Kim Young-Ha. It is a particularly short story with not a lot of surface substance, but underneath there are multiple layers that really make you think. The story is about a young lady who is hired as a receptionist because she is beautiful but due to a skin irritation she eventually commits suicide before being promptly replaced by another beautiful woman. The story leaves you feeling depressed and a little angry at the characters, but you don't really know where to direct the anger. The boss knows how the world works, attractive people are considered to be more trustworthy so how can you get mad that he is using beauty to his advantage. Do you get mad at the girl for taking her own life because she was no longer beautiful? Or is that more society's fault for putting beauty on such a pedestal? At the end of the day society is merely a reflection of ourselves, the good and the bad. This story peels those layers on yourself and makes you realize you're just as bad as those people in the story.
ReplyDeleteI like "Honor Killing" by Kim Young Ha. The story originates in South Korea and I know that that particular country is very obsessed with beauty. The Koreans have a specific type of person that they consider beautiful. In the story there is a woman who has a beautiful and glowing skin. Again Korea is obsessed with how their skin tone looks and the young woman embodies what the stereotypical beautiful Korean is supposed to look like. However the beautiful girl gets a pimple and as more people begin to notice the pimple, her face gets worse. Eventually she commits suicide because no on likes her anymore and she is replaced with an even more beautiful girl. The story reflects the standard of beauty in that country and show an exaggerated version of discrimination.
ReplyDelete--Rayna Gomez
I liked several stories in this book but I really enjoyed "Love" by Edgar Omar Aviles. It's probably the shortest story however, it carries a heavy message. I liked it because it started off sweet with an innocent, young girl telling her mother that God is great, but it then took an unexpected turn when her mother stabbed her. Ten times. The reason being that the girl is innocent and "still without sin" Her mother, however, is a prostitute begging for her body to be sold on the streets. The mother knew she was sinful but didn't want the same fate for her daughter. So she killed her.
ReplyDeleteThis story discretely acknowledges the poverty in Mexico (and other parts of the world). A family in poverty is most likely to stay in poverty. The mother didn't want that same fate for her daughter. And it gets to the point where there is nothing else one can do. It's a terrible truth.
The short story I liked was called "An Ugly Man" by Marcela Fuentes, I liked this story because it makes it seem like the guy she starts dating in the end is physically ugly, but then you come to realize the guy she was left was the true "ugly guy" on the inside he was a jerk. and she decided not to put up with it anymore and left him for someone better. This spoke to me because i know how hard it can be to recognize an ugly guy and kick him to the curb.
ReplyDelete^^^--Ranay Knight
DeleteThe short story I enjoyed the most in "Flash Fiction" was "Idolatry" by Sherman Alexie. It is a short short story and it really just describes a typical American Idol audition. The contestant goes to sing her heart out when the judge immediately stops her and tells her she's bad. I just found humor in this because she pleas and tells the judge that her family thinks she is good and he replies back with "they lied". Then she goes back into the green room crying. The story ends with this line "in this world, we must love the liars or go unloved". This is the overall theme and as much as I enjoyed this scene that was created; I disagree with it. Some times in life you need tough love to handle the harsh realities. I still really enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete-Pablo Casas
In Yasunari Kawabata's short story "Sleeping Habit", he describes a couple's twisted sleeping habit. It began with the use of tactile imagery such as the pain she feels when she is awoken by the pulling of her hair at night. As the story continues, the speaker explains that the hair wrapped around her lover's neck was used to keep him from leaving her during the middle of the night. The story creates a sense of irony because the first paragraph portrayed a psychotic woman who is too clingy towards her partner. Lovers do not normally wrap their other half with their hair around their neck. In a way, the story is sweet because the woman truly loves the man, yet lewd because her ways of keeping him are strange. The hair wrapped around the man's neck may symbolize his wanting to leave the relationship, but she refuses to lets him go and grounds him. He gets into the habit of conforming to her wants and needs and is ultimately trapped in the relationship. I love this story for its ambiguity. Depending on the readers mood, it may come off as a nice couple adjusting to each other or it may be a man trapped by a woman.
ReplyDeleteFrom "Flash Fiction", I liked the short story "Trilogy", by Antonio Lopez Ortega. This short story talks about a mother with three sons, all by different fathers. None of the fathers are in the sons' lives anymore, and she is raising them on her own, with the help of her mother. She explains that she sees a part of their fathers in each of the boys, and that her past is continually running around in her backyard, making her long for days gone by. This story is proving that your past is always with you, and you will always live with the consequences, or results, of your decisions. I liked this story because the point was very clear and very applicable to everyday life.
ReplyDelete-- Sarana McDaniel
I skimmed Flash Fiction for short time and settled on a piece called "The Attraction of Asphalt" by Stefani Nellen (of Germany). It's story about a mother and daughter driving on winding roads to fetch fresh spring water. The story constantly builds tension and the ominous presence of danger. I really enjoyed this because contrary to most stories there was no climax; through to the end there was no relief, and the last few lines almost promise to you that the tension wont ever stop.
ReplyDelete- Andrew Van Bindsbergen
I enjoyed reading the short story "The Lord of the Flies", by Marco Denevi, because it defamiliarized the idea of God and Heaven, and I found that extremely interesting. This short story is basically about flies and how their God, or the Lord of the Flies, is as unique as the Gods we are all used to. The speaker claims that this God "buzzed constantly, and for other he was mute". This contradiction stook out to me because I think the author is pointing out that flies believe in different Gods, like how we, humans do. All in all, I think the point that the author is trying to make is that we are flies. I don't agree with the message, but I think he is trying to say that our lives are all meaningless in the eyes of the entirety of the Universe and that we believe in the afterlife in order to make ourselves feel better.
ReplyDelete- Jeff Ice
I enjoyed the short story “Love” by Edgar Omar Avilés, as it presents two completely contrasting views of life – that of the little girl and that of the mom. The little girl’s childlike faith in God is typically something that is praised by adults; however, her mother’s notion that her daughter would soon be “selling her body” on the streets causes her to put an end to this pure faith. Her act of stabbing her daughter – whether it is metaphorical or real – following her revelation is an unexpected act for a parent, but the author provides legitimate reasoning for this act. The closing statement of the short story also presents a sense of ambiguity, as it is unclear as to whether the mother is “driving the knife in for the tenth time” as in she has just stabbed her daughter ten times, or this is the tenth time she has said something that has killed her daughter’s hopes/dreams.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed “The Snake” by Eric Rugara because of the way the story shows the killing of a snake. Although this short story is from Kenya and there are most likely cultural differences, I found the hyperbole of the act amusing. When I was younger my own dad killed snakes I would find in our backyard and it was never something as exciting as this story portrays. The killing is rather morbid in its description but in the end it amounts to what is essentially a family event. I found this interesting since in my own experiences snakes are more of a nuisance and a chore to get rid of than exciting.
ReplyDelete-Michael Harp
The story I enjoyed most from the book was "Please Hold Me the Forgotten Way," by H. J. Shepard. This one stood out to me at first because the title drew me in. It made me think "hey, this sounds like a love story!" I am a complete and utter sap for love stories so I really couldn't resist. Lo and behold, it WAS a story about love. Though, it wasn't any cliched and over-beautified love story. As well written and vivid as Shepard's imagery was, I was not prepared for the ending. Most of the story was highlighted with pretty things but at the end, when the woman the narrator is speaking about, looks into the mirror and sees her and her love reflected with the florescent lights, the imagery is more dark, sad, and less love like.
ReplyDelete-Kristin Galetano
The story that I decided to read is from Bolivia. Its by Edmundo Paz Soldan. The title of the story is called Barnes. The story is about a man named Barnes that admits to several crimes that he did not commit. He is sitting in an interrogation room and he feel so worthless and useless that he decides to admit to killing several people, one of which was the former president of Bolivia. In the end he is put to death by firing squad. I decided to look at this story because I thought it would be interesting to read and think about the value of life, and what it means to be the one taking away that life. The way this story is written makes the reader think about crime and punishment in a very interesting way.
ReplyDelete-Ivori Holson
My favorite poem form flash fiction international was called Honor Killing by Kim Young-ha. This poem spoke to me because its speaks about using people for a mean to our end. The poem speaks of a beautiful receptionist that increased patients in the dermatology office only based on beauty. Later, the lady starts to break out and no longer meets her expectations. It conveyed irony when the doctor seemed to have no effect on the conditions of the lady. Overall the poem explains that how we use people only to our benefits.
ReplyDelete- Gerson Bello
The story i enjoyed most was The Baby because it reminded me of my dog, last week he laid to rest and it was hard for me to comprehend. The poet even describes the distance of her baby and even though i know he is in a better place now i still feel sad. My other dog has lost his brother and is now so distant by he is to my baby.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story so far is "Three-Second Angels" by Judd Hampton. I liked the ambiguity of it, how the subject was talked about in metaphors. The speakers point of view was interesting. They kind of understood why the group behaved a certain way but still disliked them. The story is more sad as it goes on. The jumpers are free for only a few moments before they have to go back to their lives. If they make it back. The "Remember Avery ... remember Charlene" makes me think that there may be a chance the jumpers may not make it and it makes the ending more open.
ReplyDelete-Iesha Clouden
The story that I liked the most from Flash Fiction is "Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera. I liked this story more than a few others that I read because of the fact that it was something I could relate to at first. It seemed like a very simple but mysterious story line, and then all of a sudden it ends with the man loading a revolver and blowing his brains out. I was caught way off guard, but it really made the story very surprising and it wow'd me. The story's tone, however, was never once sad or grim before then, which for some reason made the story really funny and amusing to me.
ReplyDeleteA story that stood out to me from Flash Fiction was “Butterfly Forever”. I found it interesting at how throughout the short story the writer compares the character named Yingzi to a butterfly. The reason for the comparison was also interesting as the character’s death resembled a butterfly trying to fly. Not only does the comparison demonstrate a different approach but the end of the short story brings the reader to understand the feelings going inside the first-person narrator as he replays the events that occurred. The events seem to have been significant to the narrator as he describes it as the “biggest rain in my entire life” and continues to question as to why he had brought only one umbrella. This story demonstrates both regret and sadness as simple daily acts can create great change to one’s life.
ReplyDelete-Mariela Andrade
The story I chose from Flash fiction was "The Baby" by Maria Negroni from Argentina. This story is very short compared to others but it made me feel sad in a way. Because she sees her baby but in my mind the baby is actually the ghost of her baby that died but she still sees it everyday as if it never happened. The pain of something like that will never truly really leave someone and they have to live with it for all their life. It is a sad story but very well written for anyone who reads it to understand it.
ReplyDelete-Armando Contreras
One of the short stories that I enjoyed most from "Flash Fiction International" was "An Ugly Man" by Marcela Fuentes. It was one of my favorites because I believe it talks about inner beauty is always going to win over outer beauty. The author has this young women with a man who is rude and very mean and she leaves him for the "ugliest man in the county". I believe that this story is a great example that no matter how beautiful or handsome someone can be, in the end it means nothing if their personality does not match. It spoke to me because although the "ugly man" is described as physically ugly, it does not compare to the other mans hideous personality.
ReplyDelete- Arcely Ramos
Amongst the many great stories available within the book, "The Gutter" by Ethel Rohan really stood out to me. I was able to relate to the main character within the short story because as a child my parents would always try to influence and instruct all aspects of my life. Understandably, parents are expected to determine what is best for their own child, still the short represents the comedic events of a younger child. While reading this short story I managed to reminiscent about the better days when I was a worry free college student.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story was by James Tate, Farewell, I love you, and Goodbye. I really enjoyed it because moving to a new place can be hard and well just change in general is hard. We live in an area so long that when we leave it's a fresh start, it can be difficult, or it can become the best decision of our lives. No one knows anything about you and that in itself can be a great thing, you can lie about your background or stay truthful it all depends on the person and well I'd say the story was about adjusting and trying to make the most of the new place cause you never know what you might run into.
ReplyDelete-Crystal Magana
My favorite short story was Please Hold Me The Forgotten Way by H.J. Sheperd.I love the soft and romantic tone that it gives. I also love the imagery that is used in the short story, it made me want the story longer because it kind of just ended, but it gives the reader room to imagine the ending different from other readers. It also did have some defamiliarization about love which was interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story was Fire. Water. by Avital Gad-Cykman. I really liked this short story because of the way it was structured and how it was presented. Each paragraph has multiple sentences either starting with "The daughter..." and "The son..." while ending the paragraph with the two same sentences about what the father and mother were doing. This short story reminded me of how crazy my home used to be with five brothers and sisters, and how sometimes it would be hard to get a hold of my parents to stop the situation. The parents are almost completely absent from the setting of the story while the siblings are fighting and reeking havoc on each other. While the parents were performing familiar household tasks, the kids bring defamiliarization to the story by going above and beyond what the average siblings do.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story from Flash Fiction is Idolatry by Sherman Alexie. I think this story is really interesting because its length is so short, yet it tells a story of so many dreamers. Marie, the man character, tells of her “American Idol” experience and how she gets rejected after years of people telling her how great of a singer she is. I think the subject matter of this story is so universal; the idea of a shattered dream by a complete stranger is one of the most embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteI like the short fiction piece of "The Baby" by Maria Negroni because of the extended metaphor of the parent and child dynamic. The baby keeps disappearing and is delighted by the parents confusion and irritation. "The game is dazzling and lasts a lifetime," reinforces that this dynamic continues for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDelete-- Kinlynn Austin
My favorite short story was "Late for dinner" by Jim Crace. The reason this was my favorite story is because I too am always late for dinner and I take more pleasure in my drive home than actually having to sit at the table and socialize with my family. Jim Crace used a lot of imagery in his short and I actually felt like I was right there with him when it started to rain and he had to put the windshield wipers to the max because he couldn't see. The main reason why this story spoke to me is because I'm always late to dinner and I can relate to the character.
ReplyDeleteSo far, my favorite story from Flash Fiction has been The Past by Juan Carlos Botero. I enjoyed this story because of the message it has to offer; one word or phrase from someone you care for can change everything as you know it. This story deals with a man finding out his lover has been cheating on him and in turn, all his memories from the past are altered. He no longer sees the innocence in her long nights at the office and her weekend trips to her mothers. His past was transformed by a single sentence and I feel that many people can relate to this situation. This story really made me think.
ReplyDelete--Ashlee DeMalade
My favorite short fiction piece from Flash Fiction International is "Fire. Water." by Avital Gad Cykman because of the chemistry between the two children of the family, the brother and sister, and it made me laugh. The two are total opposites of each other and unlike some siblings in real life, who seem to hate each other, get along pretty well despite the "antagonizing" behavior, they're exhibiting, one might view it as. The two siblings are just playing around and having fun as children should. I also like the use of repetition the author uses for the mother washing the dishes and the father walking dog outside because it shows that a routine's been established in the household, and it doesn't change no matter what, just like they know that their two children are doing fine and are not at each other's throats. I believe that's the only reason why they do not react to their daughter's shout.
ReplyDelete-- Ashley Green
A short story that I felt spoke to me was "Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera. He writes how having insomnia truly is. Nowadays, saying that you have insomnia is like not having to sleep because you got stuck doing homework at 2am or didn't sleep for 2 days. I truly believe having insomnia is terrible because you daydream of sleeping but simply cannot. I relate to this because I used to suffer from sleep deprivation a few years ago. And there were so many days I daydreamed about going to sleep. And the more I didn't sleep, the more I wanted to blow my head because it was too much suffering for my mind. Not being able to sleep makes a person feel insane. When Pinera writes, "this time he goes to see the doctor... in the end the man cannot manage to sleep... the man is dead," is how I truly felt. I felt dead. And during that time, I wished I was. Thankfully, the medication my doctor gave me worked and I was able to sleep around the time old people slept.
ReplyDelete"Idolatry" by Sherman Alexie really got to me, because it makes me wonder about my own ambitions of a musical career. In this story, Marie is auditioning for a show like The Voice because her whole life people have been telling her she has the talent to make it. But a few bars into the song, the judge stops her and, on national TV, tells her she sucks and to just stop singing completely! Everyone who encouraged her, "The lied." I wonder if I'm good enough to make it in the music biz, because from this story it makes it seem like a long shot.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the story " Trilogy" by Antonio Lopez Ortega. The story speaks about the speaker who has three sons from three different fathers all with different ethnic backgrounds. She discusses how each of her sons has a little bit of their father in them which reminds her of all her failed relationships but also highlights the love she has for her sons. "The oldest, the green eyes and height of the Kurd; the middle one, the straight hair and the indifference of the Belgian; the third, the distant self-absorption of the Chilean" emphasizes her memories that she has of her past lovers. "What a shame that with such a great variety no man wants me now" alludes to how many men tend to shy away from women with children from a previous relationship. "It's like having my past flesh running around the house" leads the reader to question if she's fully moved on from the relationships or if she is just merely lonely but feels as though she is in a sense blacklisted from dating. I really enjoy this story because it evokes feelings of empathy and sympathy for the woman. I enjoyed reading about her efforts to keep her family whole and together despite the sensitive past each brother has. I liked reading that in the end they grew up to be young men that she says she can be proud of.
ReplyDeleteIn my version of the story, it's 2past fresh', not 'past flesh' :-)
DeleteIn the novel Flash Fiction there are many types of interesting short stories. There was a story that was not even a page long but its last line was very strong. The story is by Sherman Alexie called Idolatry and it was about an Indian girl who was trying out for an audition to sing. After waiting patiently for her turn, the moment she gets on the stage and sings the first verse, she was stopped by the judges. She was told how horrible she was and to never sing again. I thought that was very mean but sometimes we have to learn how to face reality and she had already accept any humiliations. In the beginning, I thought this story would end nicely but not all stories have happy endings. Even though it was short but something about it tells the readers the truth about life and how we are not all perfect but perfect in the eyes of our parents. This girls’ mother would tell her how great of a singer she is to make her feel happy about her self. The last line in the story quotes, “In this world, we must love the liars or go unloved.” I felt like this line spoke to those who appreciate us the most and care. The liars in this line emphasizes the person who chooses not to tell the truth because sometimes the truth hurts but still has love for that other person.
ReplyDelete-Ahlam Khalid
The short story that interested me was "Lost" by Alberto Fuguet. This story stuck out to me because it reminded me of "Into the Wild". It's about a guy who seems like he loses his ways and decides to try to find himself. He leaves everything he has behind to see if anyone will come looking for him. He has a great time traveling the massive world and getting to experience life, while wondering if anyone is looking for him. It is a very bittersweet short story. It is very similar to Chris McCandless and his situation. These men are trying to do some heavy soul searching with themselves.
ReplyDelete"Insomnia" by Virgilio Pinera was especially insightful to read. Insomnia is one of those conditions that often gets exploited by overly dramatic statements. Some individuals claim to have "insomnia" and the result is an injustice. Insomnia is in fact a real disorder that some people suffer from and similar to O.C.D. and A.D.D. it gets misrepresented. Reading about insomnia from the author's perspective enlightened me on the condition.
ReplyDelete-Alee Gonzalez
Although the story is sad, I loved the concept of "The Past" by Juan Carlos Botero. The story is about a man who finds out that his significant other has been cheating on him. As the story progresses, the news just pulls at the reader's heartstrings while we think "poor guy" or sympathize, but the ending of the story is what intrigued me. We always think that the future is the thing that can change and is susceptible to change, never the past. We see the past as a story and in some cases, something to move on from rather than hold on to. The story still manages to show that the past can also change, just not in the way we'd expect it to. When the man hears the news, his whole happy past turns upside down and the quote "Just one phrase, he realized, could alter the whole past" just captures the feelings that the character feels in a new way of thinking. I am not really one for sad stories but this story greatly impressed me.
ReplyDelete-James Dy
"The Interpreter for the Tribunal" by Tony Eprile (pg 184) is a confusing and gruesome piece. Although I don't normally gravitate towards works that depict violence, this short story shed light on the roles every person takes on as both the destroyer and destroyed. Eprile exhibits this idea through his use of alternations between the viewpoint of a person getting beat up and the viewpoint of the aggressor. Both viewpoints, however, are jumbled together, and it can be hard to tell which character is narrating the story, since both use first person. While reading the story, the use of "I" relates me to both characters. The confusing transitions emphasize the confusion in my mind as I realize it is not always clear who I am as a person, a person with the capability to build up but also the capability to destroy.
ReplyDelete-Allie Darling
I really liked "The Vending Machine at the End of the World" by Josephine Rowe. It has strong themes of nostalgia and sentimentality, which are probably my own biggest weaknesses. In the story, an alcohol-dependent man is living in a dumpy hotel in a bad neighborhood. He longs for the days and the freedom of his youth, before he made the mistakes that led him down the path he's on now. He imagines pushing the unlabeled button on a soda vending machine and wonders what will come out, but he hopes it's a Tab - a drink which has somehow intertwined in his memory with the summertime of his adolescence, when he had his whole life ahead of him. Stories like this really speak to me, as someone obsessed with "the good old days," in the general sense. Too often I fall into the trap of reliving old memories, getting less and less grounded in reality the further I get away from that time.
ReplyDeleteThe story I really liked was, "The Waterfall," by Alberto Chimal. The story was about a group of names bearing witness to a child's baptism, all of them hoping that they will be the name chosen as the child's given name. I really liked the personification that Chimal uses to describe the names personality. He gives them negative emotions such as spite and envy when it is revealed that none of them were chosen to be the child's christian name. They jealously gossip about the names that were chosen, and say that the child will be unlucky because of the parents bad choice. I think that even though these names are inanimate, these negative traits give them a layer of realism, and it makes the reader pity them and their misfortune at being rejected by the parents. I also liked how the imagery of water connected directly with the allusion to the baptism.
ReplyDelete- Stephanie Borges
I chose "The Past" by Juan Carlos Botero because in this short story he captures the biggest thing in life. That is that, at any moment our lives can completely change. Whether, in this story's case, you find something out that makes you realize that everything you once believed to be true is actually not. Not just that but that every single moment in our lives changes us in more ways than one. The people we meet, the places we go, the things we do, see, hear, etc. they all move us. Some events or people change us drastically and others very minimally but nonetheless, we all evolve one way or another everyday of our lives.
ReplyDeleteA story that i really enjoyed in Flash Fiction was A Sailor by Ronda Jarrar. I love how she showed how crazy love can be. Sometimes the same thing that drives you insane about the person youre in a relationship can also be the same thing that drives you mad. Relationships and love is all about give and take and learning to compromise. its also about forgiveness. Sometimes its okay to be childish for payback haha
ReplyDeleteAlicia Martin