Recalling the distanced and pseudo-analytical view of a man's life in the very short story "Siegfried's Memoirs", readers can contrast that with "Willi", an emotionally driven and heartful short piece. "Willi was a prisoner of war in France until the end of 1948. He dreamed of home, but when he got
Besides Lori McNulty's Life on Mars and Mavis Gallant's stories, I've been dabbling in some other collections this year too. Edwidge Danticat's Krik? Krak! (1996) Drawn from a number of literary magazines and publications (including 1994's Pushcart Prize collection), these tales were gathered together to satisfy the readers who yearned
Walter is just a kid, in comparison to the elderly widows with whom he spends most of his time. And perhaps when he's driving his sporty little Singer, he's not thinking about ending things. But in quiet moments, despair sneaks up on him. Promenade des anglais, Nice, 1960
Sterling North's Rascal (1963) Illus. John Schoenherr (1971) "It was in May, 1918, that a new friend and companion came into my life: a character, a personality, and a ring-tailed wonder." That's Rascal, when 11-year-old Sterling pulls him from his mother's nest one May. Sterling and his friend, Oscar, and his Saint
This Saturday is all-historical, as was last week's, with one proper Shelf Discovery choice and one of my "particularly Canlit Shelf Discovery" choices. Next Saturday will feature three of my favourite fantasy reads. Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1963) It may have been cheating a little to re-read
