Mavis Gallant’s “In Transit”

2019-12-23T20:15:50-05:00

An airport is as good as a train for setting a story in, when that story is about change. So here we are, in the Helsinki airport for this very short, titular story by Mavis Gallant. (And can I just say: how wonderful is the ‘net for locating images,

Mavis Gallant’s “In Transit”2019-12-23T20:15:50-05:00

Mavis Gallant’s “The Pegnitz Junction”

2018-05-15T09:41:01-04:00

“'Once there we are almost home. Pegnitz is a junction. Trains go through every few minutes, in all directions. In most directions,' he corrected." Herbert is careful to be exact when he's speaking to his young son, Little Bert, who believes every word his father says. Later when Herbert

Mavis Gallant’s “The Pegnitz Junction”2018-05-15T09:41:01-04:00

Rachel Cusk’s Outline (2014) and Transit (2017)

2017-10-25T16:47:19-04:00

Readers meet a woman up in the air. Literally. She is flying to Athens, where she will teach a course in creative writing. This is Outline. Perhaps partly because she could instruct in the art of outlining, demonstrate for her students the art of constructing a framework on which

Rachel Cusk’s Outline (2014) and Transit (2017)2017-10-25T16:47:19-04:00

And the Jailbird Speaks

2017-10-03T12:12:22-04:00

"No one wants to hear what’s going on in some jailbird’s heart now do they?" It comes near the end of the novel, but I suspect that Joel Thomas Hynes took this idea as a challenge, that that's what inspired his Giller-Prize nominated novel We'll All Be Burnt in

And the Jailbird Speaks2017-10-03T12:12:22-04:00

Mavis Gallant’s “Going Ashore” (1954)

2017-03-26T10:37:34-04:00

For the first time, twelve-year-old Emma Ellinger feels truly connected to her mother. They are finally “doing something together, alone, with no man, no Uncle Anyone, to interfere". Tangier, Moracco 1887 Click for source data It's true that the cruise hasn't gone entirely as planned; they have packed the

Mavis Gallant’s “Going Ashore” (1954)2017-03-26T10:37:34-04:00
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