“their ersatz oak secretary sits where our STÄLL used to”
I keep coming back to this detail in my head since reading it. It is genius technique to name a specific IKEA model instead of being generic. That choice expertly packs so much emotional baggage into such a small space. It feels like there’s a whole other story to tell just about buying that cabinet.
Thanks P.K.! Short fiction is always hard and I’m glad this line packed a punch. It took me a long time to figure out what IKEA furniture to use though lol
Worth the time spent! The name alone was a real smart choice. I read this as a man stalled out in life in the wake of tragedy, and then it’s juxtaposed so nicely against these people with their antique desk and their healthy relationship with the past. Stellar stuff
I definitely had to read it three times to figure out some of what was happening here. There were a lot of references that I didn't get, maybe because I'm just an old Englishman, but what I did understand, I liked a lot. It's really visual in a blind drunk kind of way. Lots of shapes moving, but none of them make much sense until I stop, think and let the words resolve. I know I'll never be able to write like this so I'm glad you do...
Thanks so much for taking time with this one S M! Certainly there are a lot of layers to it, honored you spent time wrestling with it and found some enjoyment in it :) cheers.
This was tough read and I didnt get the nuances at first... the story kind of waltzes and weaves over some really deeply sad things...theres something that really gets to me... that depsite all the worst shit we are still surrounded by the mundane and its countless memories of little day to day moments that make up the lives we live and share with people we love...and people we dont. very affecting and very effective prose. it was easy to read...but not easy to see the depth without 3 or 4 goes at it. maube thats my speed reading style.
“their ersatz oak secretary sits where our STÄLL used to”
I keep coming back to this detail in my head since reading it. It is genius technique to name a specific IKEA model instead of being generic. That choice expertly packs so much emotional baggage into such a small space. It feels like there’s a whole other story to tell just about buying that cabinet.
Thanks P.K.! Short fiction is always hard and I’m glad this line packed a punch. It took me a long time to figure out what IKEA furniture to use though lol
Worth the time spent! The name alone was a real smart choice. I read this as a man stalled out in life in the wake of tragedy, and then it’s juxtaposed so nicely against these people with their antique desk and their healthy relationship with the past. Stellar stuff
Thanks so much! Real thanks to Emil for advising me to pick something more IKEA like than what I originally had
I definitely had to read it three times to figure out some of what was happening here. There were a lot of references that I didn't get, maybe because I'm just an old Englishman, but what I did understand, I liked a lot. It's really visual in a blind drunk kind of way. Lots of shapes moving, but none of them make much sense until I stop, think and let the words resolve. I know I'll never be able to write like this so I'm glad you do...
Thanks so much for taking time with this one S M! Certainly there are a lot of layers to it, honored you spent time wrestling with it and found some enjoyment in it :) cheers.
This was tough read and I didnt get the nuances at first... the story kind of waltzes and weaves over some really deeply sad things...theres something that really gets to me... that depsite all the worst shit we are still surrounded by the mundane and its countless memories of little day to day moments that make up the lives we live and share with people we love...and people we dont. very affecting and very effective prose. it was easy to read...but not easy to see the depth without 3 or 4 goes at it. maube thats my speed reading style.
anyway! loved it! 😎
Thanks Nick! Yeah this one was kind of a scratch and sniff, you got to keep digging to get the stink
Such an interesting and entertaining style. Your word choice, the layout, the change in intensity throughout the piece. This was fantastic! :)
thanks so much Michael, I always enjoy hearing from you my friend :)
This is absolutely fantastic! I am out of words - you’ve used them all so well.
thanks so much Liz :)
great voice again Will. this is sharp comedic dread for me - a combo i find so cozy and hard in all the right places.
thanks jon! I like the “sharp comedic dread” idea, what a combo of words