Stolpestad by William Lychack
I received an eBook of a short story collection from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, called The Architect of Flowers by William Lychack. I've had it for quite awhile now and thought I would give it a try. I read the first story, Stolpestad.
Told in second person, present tense, Stolpestad is an over worked cop who is finally at the end of his shift when he gets a call asking him to go see a 9 year old child and his mother.
"End of your shift—or nearly so—and in comes the call over the radio. It’s Phyllis, dispatcher for the weekend, and she’s sorry for doing this to you, but a boy’s just phoned for help with a dog. And what’s she think you look like now, you ask, town dogcatcher? Oh, you should be so lucky, she says and gives the address and away we go."
When he arrives the boy brings him to see his dying dog. His mother asks Stolpestad to put the dog down and out of his misery. He agrees.
Later, while off duty, a now drunk Stolpestad is confronted by the boy and his father, in front of his own home.
"And before you even open your mouth, he’s stepping forward and thanking you for your help—the man shaking your hand, saying how pleased, how grateful, how proud, how difficult it must have been—but his tone’s all wrong, all snaky, a salesman nudging his boy ahead to give you—and what’s this?"
At first, I had a hard time getting into this story. I don't like second person narration, to be honest. I find it clumsy, using you instead of I or the person's name. I have a feeling many writers agree with me because I have rarely come across it in all my years of reading. However, the story itself was a good one with excellent character development. You can read it here. I look forward to read more of the stories in this book.
If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story review. Come join in the fun and add to my short story TBR!
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I'm usually put off by second person narration too, but I do enjoy good character development. Maybe I'll give this one a try...
JoAnn said... May 10, 2011 at 3:44 AM
I've come across an increasing number of such narration lately and I must say, I like it a lot, as a break from the usual. If if did, however, start becoming the norm, I suspect I'd start missing the 3rd or 1st for exactly the same reasons.
John Mutford said... May 10, 2011 at 6:20 AM
Second person narration does put me off, but it wouldn't stop me from reading a story, especially if it had good character development.
Loni said... May 10, 2011 at 7:04 AM
I like 2nd person narratives at times, more often than not, but it depends how it's done and to what effect. So, I'm intrigued by this story...
Em said... May 10, 2011 at 9:41 AM
I think the second person narration might throw me off to, but I'm curious what the father is up to.
Anonymous said... May 10, 2011 at 10:33 AM
JoAnn, I found it was a very worthwhile story despite the second person narration. I would love to read your thoughts on it.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2011 at 10:20 PM
John, I don't know about you, but when I was a child in middle school, I was taught not to take or write in second person. Perhaps that's why it bugs me.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Loni, I would love to read your thoughts on this story.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Em, I hope you give it a try, I would love to know your thoughts on it.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Carol, it's a fairly short, short and quite worthwhile. I hope you read it. I would love to get you thoughts on it.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2011 at 10:25 PM
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