I am once again having a "middle aged" moment because I can't remember who blogged about this story first. I am pretty certain it was another Short Story Monday participant. If it was you, please leave a link in the comments so I can give you credit.
Fjord of Killary opens with a harsh storm coming into Killary in Ireland. The narrator is early retired and is a "wordless" poet who buys a hotel in Killary, hoping that words will come to him. He's new to Killary and doesn't really make any kind of impression to his clients, one way or another. T
here are people at the bar drinking the night away like any normal bar scene, There is an older couple who seem very much in love, though something about them comes out later.
Eventually, the first floor, where the bar is starts to flood so the owner and staff move everyone up stairs to resume as usual. The water starts to go upstairs but does eventually start to subside.
There is no plot to the story that I can determine and it felt a bit like reading about everyday life. However, the writing is excellent and I see potential. I looked up Kevin Barry and saw that he has a short story collection out called, 'There Are Little Kingdoms.' I think it would be worth checking out sometime. Perhaps he even develops a plot in some of the stories. You can read this story at The New Yorker.
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Sounds like a story I'd enjoy. I'll mark it.
On a side note, I just love the word fjord,the way it looks, the way it sounds.
Anonymous said... June 7, 2010 at 11:13 AM
I've also noticed that some short stories don't seem like they are going anywhere at all. It's kinda fun to read them but I'm at a loss as to how to tell other people about them. I thought you did fine with this one. I'm off to read it.
Margot said... June 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM
I think I could get into it as a short story, but I'd be hesitant to read a novel by the guy.
John Mutford said... June 7, 2010 at 8:45 PM
Carol, I like the word too.
Margot, thanks I hope you like it. No plot is usually what turns me off of some short stories but this seemed to have something that kept me reading.
John, I would read a novel by him if I knew that there was a plot. I couldn't read an entire novel that didn't have one. LOL!
Teddy Rose said... June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM
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