In the story “The Kidnapper Bell,” Jim Pascoe does a great job describing the protagonist’s environment and clearly creates a distinct sense of place that distinguishes it from others.
The bar, for example, was specifically in Chinatown, with a wobbly square table and filled with a variety of people. He also gives a good description when it comes to the L.A. River, and how tiny whirlpools eddying in the stream differ from any other place.
Every detail he gave with the story put a clear picture in my mind, from the bar, to the drive towards the river, to the fence around the river, to the apartment, to the six cats, to the tunnels full of graffiti, to the glass, up to his own apartment.
I really tried to picture everything he saw. “There’s something familiar about the shape of these drain covers, the way the upper hinges taper off to points on either side of the large circle.” (Hamilton, Pascoe, 219) I still question what was so familiar about it? I think I may have to reread this story to understand it more because even though a lot of it was detailed, at the same time, it was so vague.
In the story “City of Commerce,” Neal Pollack also does a good job in displaying the environment. I don’t know if it was only because I’m a little familiar with the 110 and the I-5 but I felt I understood where he was going. The way he described this casino also allowed me to see it different than other casinos, since the protagonist describes it as “ugly, almost as thought the casino were deliberately trying to throw us off our game.” (Hamilton, Pollack, 231)
I was a bit confused with the location of the hotel and the casino, or at least the distance of it. Or wait ---- was the casino ALSO a hotel and the Russian man was staying there? Because I was a bit surprised when I found out that his car was at the same place.
BTW. This is off topic but was it only me, or were any of you surprised that the protagonist from “The Kidnapper Bell” had a wife!? I automatically assumed he was single, so this totally shocked me.
I was also shocked that the protagonist from “City of Commerce” just gave up completely and drove away to nothing. Not exactly a satisfying ending..
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
8. Was it Richard? or Anthony?
The Method by James Fitch and Morocco Junction by Patt Morrison were were a bit different than I had expected it to be. Especially because of the obvious fact that both were narrated from a woman's perspective unlike the usual male we've been exposed to.
But if I were to recommend someone to read one of these two stories, I'd definitely go with The Method.
Why? Because from beginning to end, the narrator and protagonist, Holly captured and kept our attention by explaining how she's different from the norm. She had me wonder about this mysterious man that walked into Orzo, the way she wondered about him. I was literally writing notes in my book and highlighting/underlining certain words or phrases because I had a feeling it all meant something. This is all unlike Morocco Junction. Sure, it was a bit interesting on how she got her information inspired by her father and her intro really had me because I could really relate when it came to noticing how the streets were a lot creamier than the usual asphalt. But it didn't seem to have the same click that The Method had.
I was a bit taken on how Holly was the one being hypnotized by Richard, or Anthony [whatever his real name is] rather than it being the other way around, but I loved the way she dealt with it in the end.
I was worried about reading another disappointing end, but it was no where near. I kind of wish the story had gone a bit longer though. But regardless, it was definitely a great read and I recommend it.
But if I were to recommend someone to read one of these two stories, I'd definitely go with The Method.
Why? Because from beginning to end, the narrator and protagonist, Holly captured and kept our attention by explaining how she's different from the norm. She had me wonder about this mysterious man that walked into Orzo, the way she wondered about him. I was literally writing notes in my book and highlighting/underlining certain words or phrases because I had a feeling it all meant something. This is all unlike Morocco Junction. Sure, it was a bit interesting on how she got her information inspired by her father and her intro really had me because I could really relate when it came to noticing how the streets were a lot creamier than the usual asphalt. But it didn't seem to have the same click that The Method had.
I was a bit taken on how Holly was the one being hypnotized by Richard, or Anthony [whatever his real name is] rather than it being the other way around, but I loved the way she dealt with it in the end.
I was worried about reading another disappointing end, but it was no where near. I kind of wish the story had gone a bit longer though. But regardless, it was definitely a great read and I recommend it.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
7. Thug life?
Was it just me, or did "Dangerous Days" make you start talking all gangstah? Okay, maybe that was a bit irrelevant, but just saying.
When it comes to geography, sure, both of these stories took in the L.A. area, and they most definitely gave that L.A. feel, but you could really sense difference in the way each other decribed the scenario.
In Dangerous Days, the scenario changed often, and I had more of a day light kind of feel for quite a bit of the story. When it came to dark, it was all about them being indoors or climbing up a flight of stairs. But even Esmeralda's murder was in the morning.
Silicon alley was a gray market that flourished in the backstreets of Hong Kong's hi-tech district. This story felt more dark because of the way the streets were described and how alleys were placed in. It also had murders, and a gang life, but unlike "Dangerous Days" the characters weren't as successfully wealthy from their deeds.
When it comes to geography, sure, both of these stories took in the L.A. area, and they most definitely gave that L.A. feel, but you could really sense difference in the way each other decribed the scenario.
In Dangerous Days, the scenario changed often, and I had more of a day light kind of feel for quite a bit of the story. When it came to dark, it was all about them being indoors or climbing up a flight of stairs. But even Esmeralda's murder was in the morning.
Silicon alley was a gray market that flourished in the backstreets of Hong Kong's hi-tech district. This story felt more dark because of the way the streets were described and how alleys were placed in. It also had murders, and a gang life, but unlike "Dangerous Days" the characters weren't as successfully wealthy from their deeds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)