Recommendations

Here are two short stories I recommend!

Silver Water: Amy Bloom

http://www.beyondthecouch.org/0307/silver_water_0307.htm

The title of this short story is Silver Water, and it is written by Amy Bloom. Amy Bloom has been nominated for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Silver Water is about the author’s sister’s mental decline which began when she was fifteen years old. This is when her sister starts refusing to come home from school and begins to have tantrums. It is at this point that her family knows something is wrong. The story follows a family of four, Rose(the sister), Violet (the narrator and author), and their mom and dad. Rose’s mental state affects the family dynamic and creates tension.

I really liked this story’s hook. The hook is a simile comparing her sister’s voice to “mountain water in a silver pitcher.” In the first paragraph, Violet describes her sister’s voice and how once in a parking lot her sister starting singing and everyone was amazed by how pretty her voice was. What grabbed my attention was the amount of detail the author used to described Rose’s voice.You almost have to go back and re-read the paragraph to figure out it is someone's voice that the author is talking about. This made me keep reading because I wanted to know what happened to her voice overtime.The first sentence in the second paragraph is, “That’s what I like to remember and that’s the story I told to all her therapists.”  I found this really interesting because I wanted to know why she had a therapist and why the author would have to say this story to therapists.

In this story Amy Bloom does a good job of making you want to keep reading to see what happens with Rose. I was surprised at the climax when Rose’s therapist died and Rose stops taking her medicine. This was a real turning point because then Rose is kicked out of the health care and forced to live at home. The ending of this story is not your typical happy ending. There is a twist at the end that I wasn't expecting. When I first read the ending I was sad but I knew that it was what was best for Rose.  

I really liked this short story and I would recommend it to friends. Anyone can read this short story regardless of gender or what stories they typically read.  I liked that I felt for the characters and could imagine what their life was like. The story made me think about how my life would change if someone I loved became mentally ill and how painful it would be to watch and not be able to help. This is definitely one of the better short stories I have read because I felt that I was invested in the characters and wanted to know how it would end.   

The Gift of Magi: O. Henry

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/GifMag.shtml

The title of this short story is The Gift of Magi by O. Henry. O. Henry was a famous American writer, and his short stories are known for having clever twists at the end. The Gift of Magi is one of his most famous works. It has been rewritten many times by different authors and has also been adapted to movies and plays. This story is about a wife, named Della, and a husband, named Jim.  They both want to buy each other meaningful Christmas gifts. However, they are short on money and go to extreme ends to find each other the perfect gift.

The hook in this short story is “One dollar and eighty-seven cents”. This made me interested because I wanted to know what the money was going to be used for and how it was significant. I also think that this is an unique way to start a story because it didn't start talking about characters, it started taking about money and Christmas gifts. One would think the story has to do with money and a Christmas gift, but really, it about how love is the most important thing and everything else in life is just "stuff.”  I liked how the story has a deeper meaning showing that money can't buy happiness.

This story developed in a surprising way with a unexpected but heartwarming ending. I think the author did a good job of making me want to read to find out what would happen. O. Henry created suspense through specific actions by the characters. He gave detailed descriptions of their prized possessions and how they helped with the money for Christmas gifts. There is a clear conflict, which keeps recurring throughout the story and becomes clear in the end.

*Spoiler Alert* I was captivated at the climax of this story when Della cuts off her prized hair in order to buy a gift for Jim. The conflict however was that Jim had bought her a gift that she no longer can use. In order for him buy her gift he had to sell his prized possession. Using the money Della got from selling her hair, she had bought Jim a gift that he no longer can use.

I really enjoyed this short story. After finishing it, I had a strong sense that the theme of the story was about love. What stood out to me was how the most important things for Della and Jim were their love for eachother. This is definitely one of my favorite short stories because I really liked the plot twist and how it is a feel good kind of story. I recommend everyone to read this regardless of age or gender. It is a feel good, “love conquers all” story.  I think readers will enjoy the plot twist but how it still ends nicely.

"The Littlest Hitler"

At first I didn't know where this story was going. It started with a kid dressing up as Hitler for Halloween. I thought that, that was weird for a kid to dress up as Hitler.  However the story didn't end up becoming about Hitler. Davy (the main character) ends up getting upset because all the kids are being mean to him about his costume, and because of this he changes his costume into an old man. There is also a girl in the class who was dressed up as Anne Frank, but I couldn't figure out if she was Anne Frank before Davy announced he was Hitler or after he announced he was Hitler. Everyone takes the girls side, after she explains what Hitler did to the Jews. At first I was kind of happy because I didn't think a little boy should dress up as Hitler when he didn't seem to fully know what Hitler did. However then I started to feel bad for Davy because being at his age is tough, everyone takes sides and you are left alone. I thought Davy's dad was a little strange. First to let his son dress as Hitler and then what he allows Davy to do. Also I wonder how old Davy is because I imagined him young (like 3/4th grade) and some of the swearing and content that he was saying seemed old. I think Davy puts his hand in his dads wooden stove to see how long it would hurt because he found out what Hitler did to the Jews.  In conclusion I ended up liking this short story because I liked how it started and ending pretty different.

I have a story about Halloween involving my childhood, in a way it is like this story (not the Hitler part) but about second guessing yourself. When I was in SK I was going to be Wonder Woman for halloween but I was scared to be it and kept changing my mind. I probably didn't want to because I was scared about what people would have thought- I'm guessing since I don't remember exactly why. Then I was on the playground at recess and I heard someone else in the grade say they were going to be Wonder Woman, so then when I went home I told my mom I was going to be Wonder Woman. At school when the other girl was Wonder Woman too I pretended I didn't know.

A Good Man is Hard to Find

This short story wasn't my favorite, however it wasn't my least favorite. For me this short story starts off like a typical rode trip would. The family dynamic also seemed kind of typical to me. Meaning the two younger kids wouldn't really listen to the grandma and couldn't keep quiet during the car ride. Also how Bailey would kind of ignore his mom. I thought that the grandma was funny. She would just talk the whole car ride but no one would listen to her. Throughout the whole story she would comment on everything but no one would listen to her. However I was really confused about the car crash. What kind of car was it? If it was a present day car, everyone wouldn't have fallen out of the car. I don't understand how everyone fell out of the car just because the grandma made a sudden movement. Then I don't understand how they lose the car. When the three men come with their car, I know something bad was going to happen. Then when the grandma is thinking about where she knows one of the guys from, I knew it going to be the Misfit. I kind of found it a little predicable. The first paragraph of the whole short story the Misfit is mentioned  and the grandma talks about how they shouldn't go on the trip and then they end up getting killed by him. I found the middle of the story a little slow. There were some parts of the story that I think were a little boring and I got uninterested, but then there were some parts that I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I also found the ending confusing, with the grandma talking about praying and Jesus.

Explain the significance of the title to the story.
When the family goes to Red Sammy's restaurant, Sammy and the grandma talk about how now a days there are no good men. The grandma said "I remember the day you could go off and leave your screen door unlatched. Not on more door open" She is saying that now a days there are no good people and you can't trust anyone. Also Sammy and his wife were talking about how you can't trust anyone. 

I found this short story very intense. I don't know where to begin. The beginning of the story drew me in. I liked how the first sentences got straight to the point. Also you understood their family dynamic just by reading the first page. To me Connie seems like a young girl who doesn't really know what she wants. Her father doesn't pay attention to her and her mother is always comparing her to her sister. When Connie and her friend go to the movie, it seems weird to me that she would just leave with a random guy. It didn't even seem like she liked the guy or really talked with the guy, it seemed like she just wanted to be with someone that liked her. I think she is the kind of person that likes going out to meet people that like her and that think she is pretty because at home no one thinks that. I found it really creepy when Arnold comes to Connie's house. I still haven't figured out how he knew so much about her. When Arnold first pulled up in Connie's drive way, I think Connie liked it. She was curious about him and wanted to find out more. She kept asking him questions and in a way, let him stay. It took a little time for her to realize that he might be bad. I thought it was really creepy how Arnold called Connie honey. If I were Connie and a strange guy came to my driveway and talked to me like he knew him I wouldn't stay outside talking to him. I was a little confused when Connie was saying she was calling the police, because she was in her house but Arnold could still see her. I also found the ending a little unclear, but I did get the part that she ends up leaving with Arnold. I wanted to keep reading this short story to find out what was going to happen. I liked this short story because I wanted to keep reading, however I found it really creepy.


http://0.tqn.com/d/architecture/1/0/W/2/1/tract-car-in-driveway.jpg

A&P

I found this short story very interesting. I kept wanting to read to find out what would happen to the girls. I liked how in the first sentence John Updike got right to the point about three girls walking into a store in just bathing suits. I also liked how this was detailed because I had a clear picture of the grocery store and everyone just staring at these three girls. I also found it interesting and kind of funny how John Updike describes the one girl as the queen and how the two girls just follow her. In the beginning of the story I didn't think it was a big deal that three girls were in a store in their bathing suits because I thought that there could a beach/pool near by, however after the main character explained that most people don't go to the beach I understood why it was such a big deal. In the end I think the main character quit because how of Lengel treated the girls. Maybe the main character thought that it would be different if the three girls were guys. I was a little confused about that part, but I really liked this short story!

"She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulder round. She didn't look around, not this queen, she just walked straight on slowly, on these long white prima-donna legs."

 a) Why do you like it?

I like this passage because you get a good idea of the group and it gives you a clear imagine of the two girls just following her. 

 b) What purpose does it serve?

I think this serves as the group dynamic. I think it helps give you a clear image of the girls in the grocery store. I can imagine this girl leading the group and the other two girls just following her. 

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

I liked this short story. However I started to get a little bored towards the end. In the beginning I was interested in what was going to happen and wanted to know more about the angel but then I started to get confused. For instance I was confused with the spider girl and the angel and why the family was scared of the angel in the end. This hasn't been my favorite short story so far because I tend not to like fantasy stories so much. I was thinking that maybe the message in the story was greed because the family was charging people to visit the angel, and in return the family were scared of the angel. In conclusion I am a little confused as to what happened. 

Questions:

1. Is this angel just a man with wings or does he look immortal?

2. What happened with the spider girl and the angel?

3. What happened with the angel and the family towards the end of the story?

"How to date a brown girl (black girl, white girl, or halfie)"

I liked this short story. At first I was confused as to what the story was going to be about. Then I understood it was about going on a date with a girl. I am unsure if I liked how this short story was written. I think this short story was written in a way that it was not always clear about what was going on. Some parts were a little more clearer than others, but I am still confused on some parts of the  story. One part that made me think the most was "I like Spanish guys, and even though you've never been to Spain, say, I like you." The main character is Dominican and I think people sometimes just say "oh their Spanish" even though there not. I found this interesting because I have heard people say this many times before. In conclusion I am still unsure if I liked this short story a lot, or if its just ok. I know that this short story hasn't been my favorite so far.

Dating Advice:
1. Take a shower (smell good).
2. Good breath (have mints, or gum- but with gum don't chomp on it).
3. Don't people the only one to talk, both people should talk.
4. If there going over to your house, clean up.
5. Be yourself (meaning don't act stupid, etc.)

Happy Endings

I liked this short story a lot! At first I didn't know where this story was going and how everything was going to connect. The beginning of the third paragraph in C, was when I figured out how everything connected. I think the author Margaret Atwood was playing around with the idea of "perfect story family" that you read or watch when your younger. Meaning in A they fall in love, get married, have kids, go on vacations, and eventually die together. All the stories after A even though they ended the same it wasn't a "perfect story. I really like how she connected B and C, and then C with D and E. I liked how in C John is cheating on Madge with a women named Mary, even though in B it says that John and Mary continue with the story of A, which is basically a good life. I think she was trying to write that even though it might seem that they have a good life, two children, a charming house, and hobbies there is more to the story. There life might seem perfect on the outside but John is cheating on his wife and ends up killing himself, Mary, and James. I also like in F Margaret Atwood explained why she wrote this short story this way.


G. (Our own ending for John and Mary)
John and Mary fall in love and get married. They both have good jobs, which they have worked hard to get. They buy and move into a decent sized house. They travel and dine with their friends frequently. Eventually they feel they are ready for children. They find out devastating news that they cannot conceive. Even though they have dreamed of having a family they put those dreams away for the time being. Ten years past and their love for one another has only grown. One day Mary gets bad news from her doctor, she has a rare form of cancer and only has two months to live. Mary dies with John sitting by her side.