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Ander Monson–“I’ve Thought About Taking Up Another Life” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #14] (2017)

December 14, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 14, 2022] “I’ve Thought About Taking Up Another Life”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 14. Ander Monson, author of The Gnome Stories, will get to the sports pages eventually.

This story had a very strange bookending component.  The narrator, as the title says, would like to start another life.

And so, he (I believe) cites the example of a couple, usually middle-aged, let’s call them Diana and Henry.  They have been married for a while and have two kids.  And then one of them suddenly disappears. Continue Reading »

Posted in Ander Monson, Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Venita Blackburn–“Not a Donut” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #13] (2022)

December 13, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 13, 2022] “Not a Donut”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 13. Venita Blackburn, author of How to Wrestle a Girl, never forgets to like and subscribe.

I enjoyed everything about this story until the end, when it got very real and broke the bubble that the story had created.

Dan Conway’s wife left him and his son Silus. Dan was ordinary but confident.  he was sixty and Silus was an adult as well.  But Silus was diagnosed with high needs on the autism spectrum.  So Dan rarely allowed Silus to be on his own.  Silus rarely spoke more than a few catchphrases (like “Not a Donut”) which Dan knew how to interpret.

Dan had started going to New Light Missionary Baptist church a few months earlier.  It had gotten three and a half stars which was Dan’s sweet spot (he didn’t trust four stars or above, figuring they must be fake, because who could ever perform that well at anything).

After one Sunday, Dan learned that he could leave Silus for the young adult session and the ladies would look after him. 

He seemed to really hit it off with Sis. Wilson.  There’s a wonderful moment where she startles him while he is watching Silus from behind a palm tree. 

“Jesus shit,” yelled Dan. 
Sis. Wilson slapped her thigh, laughing as he began to apologize for the language.  “Jesus wept,” she replied.  

There’s some background on Dan and Silus that really Fleshes out what a good man Dan is.  

There’s also a scene where Dan tries t o get Sis. Wilson to work out at the gym.  It’s during this session that she asks him why he didn’t go to a white church (I’m not sure from context clues if I was supposed to realized the racial implications in the story already).

Later on when Dan tries to scare Sis. Wilson the way she did to him earlier, it does not go well.   And that made me very sad.

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Jasmine Dreame Wagner–“Le Cochon” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #12] (2022)

December 12, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 9, 2022] “Le Cochon”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 12. Jasmine Dreame Wagner, an American writer and interdisciplinary artist, once received a stuffed unicorn from Tim Curry. (This one is true!)

This is a story of exaggerated possible deliberate misunderstanding.

Honey Vienna is an actress.  She is hanging out of a window of a flat in New York City.  She is calling for attention from everyone including her younger sister, Ingrid, whom she literally sent a letter to to come and see her.

In typical fashion she had even called the cops on herself.

She yelled that Lew called her a hack-voiced, freaked-out pig, a mass of psychotic confusion, infantile and heartbreaking. Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Jasmine Dreame Wagner, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Ruby Cowling–“Odam on Till” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #11] (2022)

December 11, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 11, 2022] “Odam on Till”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 11. Ruby Cowling, author of This Paradise, wonders whether you have any smaller bills.

This story is a puzzle from the start.  

Odam is working the till (the cash register) in the store.  He has been promoted from the sweltering kitchen.  He arrived just three months ago, so it’s all a little new to him.

Odam is from someplace else–he doesn’t need food or shelter.  He absorbs nutrients from his surroundings. He wonders if it was a good idea for them to send him here at all–did they know what they were doing?  What about his new physical body? Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Ruby Cowling, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Mathilde Merouani–“Masculine” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #10] (2022)

December 10, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 10, 2022] “Masculine”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 10. Mathilde Merouani, a writer and translator in Paris, never splits infinitives.

This is a very sad story about a girl who has moved  to France with her mother.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Mathilde Merouani, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Strand of Oaks [Winter Classic VII] / Pat Finnerty (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, December 9 & 10, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

December 9, 2022 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 9 & 10, 2022] Strand of Oaks / Pat Finnerty

Somehow I missed that this show happened and only found out about it tonight in 2023.

It was the same dates, Dec 9 and 10, although on Fri and Sat.  Pat Finnerty opened both nights.

I have no idea how I missed it so completely.

There’s some clips on you tube from these shows.  Here’s one

~~~~

In 2015, Timothy Showalter played his first Strand of Oaks Winter Classic at Boot and Saddle.

Every year since then he has played two to four shows around Christmas time to a small but rabid fan base.  Obviously he didn’t pay one in 2020.  And now Boot & Saddle is closed

I have been to three of these fun winter events.

When he announced December shows at Johnny Brenda’s, it just didn’t occur to me that these would be Winter Classic shows.  I’m not sure why it would have made a difference, but had I realized, I would have gotten a ticket before they sold out.  Even S said, you love those, I can’t believe you didn’t go.

When I’m looking for it now I see that it was clearly stated that this was a Winter Classic, but I guess I was looking in the wrong places. Continue Reading »

Posted in Boot & Saddle, Johnny Brenda's, Pat Finnerty, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks | Leave a Comment »

Diane Schoemperlen–“Night Flight” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #9] (1999)

December 9, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 9, 2022] “Night Flight”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 9. Diane Schoemperlen, author of Forms of Devotion, remembers not to pit stop at the Lake of Indifference.

This story is accompanied by collages that go with the story.

It is told in eight parts (with eight pictures).  I wonder if you could see the pictures in a larger (and color) format if they would be more impactful. 

I didn’t really get a lot out of this story, but I feel like the author is right in this comment about her story:

A curious combination of text and image that meanders and circles back on itself again and again with repeated motifs including knitting, maps, New York City, patience, fortitude, and darkness. I like to think that each reading of the story will reveal something new as the words and the collages intersect and intertwine on various levels.

In part two she takes a night flight to New York City.  Part three discusses the New York Public Library.

Parts four and five discuss maps.  As with many stories that I don’t like in total, in parts, I found this wonderful.  Like these lines: “Maps are so noncommittal.  This can either be infuriating or liberating.”

And

“Think of everything that you have ever lost, by accident or on purpose…. They are still back there somewhere, like  trail of bread crumbs stretched out behind each and every one of us.”

But the ending is just not an ending.  

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Diane Schoemperlen, Hingston & Olsen, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

An Evening of Solo Projects from Wilco Members: Autumn Defense / Nels Cline Duo / Eucademix (Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, December 8, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

December 8, 2022 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 8, 2022] Autumn Defense / Nels Cline Duo / Eucademix

When this show was first announced, I grabbed a ticket immediately.

Two of my favorite members of Wilco are Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche.

So to be able to see them do their work solo was incredible.

Then all of a sudden, when I looked at the show poster it looked like this —>
instead of the one at the bottom of the post.

Where was Glenn?

There was no word or information.  A day or so before the show I discovered that Glenn had hurt his arm (or something) and wasn’t going to be there. Continue Reading »

Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Chris Lightcap, Eucademix, Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline, Nels Cline Duo, Wilco, Yuka Honda | Leave a Comment »

Christopher Morley–“Parnassus on Wheels” [excerpt] [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #8] (1917)

December 8, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 8, 2020] “Parnassus on Wheels” [excerpt]

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 8. Christopher Morley, author of The Haunted Bookshop and Parnassus on Wheels (from which this story is drawn), died in 1957 and was unavailable for comment.

As I started this story I thought, why do people write stories in an old-fashioned dialect?  It seems weird and out of character with contemporary writers.  I didn’t realize until a bit of the way through the story that was, indeed, an old story (over 100 years old!).  

It is also an excerpt from what I expect is a long book, so it was frustrating to have it build up and then just end. However, it does end in a strangely satisfying way as well. Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Christopher Morley, Hingston & Olsen, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Drew Buxton–“Lexapro” [The 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar #7] (2022)

December 7, 2022 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 7, 2022] “Lexapro”

This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my fifth time reading the Calendar.  I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable.  Here’s what they say this year

Like we always do at this time: the Short Story Advent Calendar is back for 2022. We had such a great time last year working with our first-ever guest editor, the one and only Alberto Manguel. This year, however, we’re bringing things back to basics. No overarching theme or format, just 25 top-class short stories, selected in-house, by some of the best writers in North America and beyond. It’s December 7. To officially kick off the 2022 Short Story Advent Calendar, here is a story about faith and carbs from the author of The Prince of Mournful Thoughts.

This story had interesting components but overall I felt uncomfortable about it. Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Drew Buxton, Hingston & Olsen, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

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