She’s done it again. She’s written ten short, stories. They are new and dark, black actually, all about young women, mother-daughter relationships, and sex.
My favorite was “Strip Poker,” a cautionary tale for young men reminiscent of Glen Close’s “Fatal Attraction.” Oates masterfully paints a picture of a 15 year old girl, fighting with her mother, and getting way in over her head with three 22-year old guys. They teach her the rules of poker and when she loses all her money, they take her bathing suit top. Then comes the reversal after she sulks in the bathroom for an hour. She wants to change the game to Truth or Dare, and she wants to start off by telling the guys a t
rue story. Her father just got out of State prison (4 years for manslaughter;) cause, when she was 11, some pervert was attacking her in a women’s bathroom and Daddy came to save her and beat the man to death with his bare fists.
Two other stories, “Nowhere” and “”Bleeed” are variations on the above theme. It’s fascinating (and almost like a master class in writing) to read and comparare these three stories. The essences are the same. You can almost watch her mind working with these basic ingredients, creating different stories.
“Split Brain” is another of these writing exercises. The protagonist is the active, racing mind of a woman who has decided to return home, mid-day; and mentally develops different detailed scenarios as to how things will go.
Of course there are men in many of these stories: loutish men, dumb men, men in prison for sinful crimes: greed, lust, coveting, and other acts of stupidity. Oates is not too sympathetic with men.
Oates is a prolific, master craftsperson at writing. Her characterizations are superb, especially their states of mind.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
On another note
Writing a
biography for a horse was more of a fictional, suspenseful story-telling, like a novel. Seabiscuit was a huge success. How could she top this? Well, she chose not to compete with her own success and didn’t cover a horse or any other animal. Instead, she wrote a lengthy biography, fully supported by the family, of Louis Zamperini.
Should this name have been famous? -- well-known for his potential in the 1936 Olympics? -- or as a survivor of Japanese Death camps in WW-II.?.? Hillenbrand creates another spell-binding tale with Zamperini’s life. She’s a good writer. Maybe she spun a bit of golden thread from straw, but it’s worth giving the book a look.
Why is it that WW-II continues to intrigue us so; parts of it were 75 years ago?.? This is akin to me, having grown up to stories of the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71). And why is it that so little is known about track and field (the Olympics) prior to Roger Bannister cracking the 4-minute mile?.? Did we just have to wait for all these old guys to die off?.?
My favorite was “Strip Poker,” a cautionary tale for young men reminiscent of Glen Close’s “Fatal Attraction.” Oates masterfully paints a picture of a 15 year old girl, fighting with her mother, and getting way in over her head with three 22-year old guys. They teach her the rules of poker and when she loses all her money, they take her bathing suit top. Then comes the reversal after she sulks in the bathroom for an hour. She wants to change the game to Truth or Dare, and she wants to start off by telling the guys a t
rue story. Her father just got out of State prison (4 years for manslaughter;) cause, when she was 11, some pervert was attacking her in a women’s bathroom and Daddy came to save her and beat the man to death with his bare fists.Two other stories, “Nowhere” and “”Bleeed” are variations on the above theme. It’s fascinating (and almost like a master class in writing) to read and comparare these three stories. The essences are the same. You can almost watch her mind working with these basic ingredients, creating different stories.
“Split Brain” is another of these writing exercises. The protagonist is the active, racing mind of a woman who has decided to return home, mid-day; and mentally develops different detailed scenarios as to how things will go.
Of course there are men in many of these stories: loutish men, dumb men, men in prison for sinful crimes: greed, lust, coveting, and other acts of stupidity. Oates is not too sympathetic with men.
Oates is a prolific, master craftsperson at writing. Her characterizations are superb, especially their states of mind.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
On another note
Writing a
biography for a horse was more of a fictional, suspenseful story-telling, like a novel. Seabiscuit was a huge success. How could she top this? Well, she chose not to compete with her own success and didn’t cover a horse or any other animal. Instead, she wrote a lengthy biography, fully supported by the family, of Louis Zamperini.Should this name have been famous? -- well-known for his potential in the 1936 Olympics? -- or as a survivor of Japanese Death camps in WW-II.?.? Hillenbrand creates another spell-binding tale with Zamperini’s life. She’s a good writer. Maybe she spun a bit of golden thread from straw, but it’s worth giving the book a look.
Why is it that WW-II continues to intrigue us so; parts of it were 75 years ago?.? This is akin to me, having grown up to stories of the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71). And why is it that so little is known about track and field (the Olympics) prior to Roger Bannister cracking the 4-minute mile?.? Did we just have to wait for all these old guys to die off?.?
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