Leg

by Steven Polansky, J. Robert Lennon (Introduction)

"'Leg' opened up a path for me," writes author J. Robert Lennon in his introduction to this issue of Recommended Reading. "It's disarmingly simple: Dave, 'typically a prudent guy,' slides into third base during a church-league softball game and scrapes half the skin off his leg. Then, over the next couple of weeks, he does absolutely nothing as the wound grows more painful and dangerous. These anti-events are set against the backdrop of Dave's stalled familial relationships—a 'busy, charitable' wife who seems embarrassed by her husband's goofy amiability, and a teenage son, Randy, who is lost in a toxic fog of seething, free-floating rage. Dave's disconnect with the son is the problem the story sets out to solve; the solution is, ultimately, terrible sacrifice."

Author's Bio:
Steven Polansky was born in New York City. He was educated at Wesleyan, Hollins, and Princeton. He has taught at St. Olaf College, Macalester, and the University of Minnesota. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Glimmer Train, Best American Stories, New England Review, and Minnesota Monthly. He has published two books: The Bradbury Report, a novel, and a book of short stories, Dating Miss Universe, which won the Sandstone Prize and the Minnesota Book Award. He has a wife, two sons, and a daughter. He lives in Wisconsin.

About the Guest Editor:
J. Robert Lennon is the author of a story collection, Pieces For The Left Hand, and seven novels, including Mailman, Familiar, and Happyland, out next week from Dzanc / Open Road. He teaches writing at Cornell University.

About the Publisher:
Electric Literature is an independent publisher working to ensure that literature remains a vibrant presence in popular culture. Electric Literature’s weekly fiction magazine, Recommended Reading, invites established authors, indie presses, and literary magazines to recommended great fiction. Once a month we feature our own recommendation of original, previously unpublished fiction, accompanied by a Single Sentence Animation. Single Sentence Animations are creative collaborations: the author chooses a favorite sentence and we commission an artist to interpret it. Stay connected with us through email, Facebook, and Twitter, and find previous Electric Literature picks in the Recommended Reading archives.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2013

Reviews

[Deb]

Very peculiar. Ridiculous. No Rating

With a title such as Leg I had no idea what to expect from this short story. It starts out simple enough but then develops into something that sounds down right imbecilic to me. I must tread lightly lest I give it all away to those who don't wish to know but the scenario is just preposterous. I will give my reactions and these I'm sure will fuel the necessary intrigue to go read this book.

Reactions:
-Why is his son so mean & disrespectful?
- Why is he showing off?
- Gross he needs to go to the Dr.
- OMG, what is wrong with him he needs medical attention this is ridiculous!
- Is he trying to be a martyr for his son?
- This is past stubborn, this is foolish!
- Wait, is that the ending?

I really don't know what to think. This again was another audiobook story. I wanted to post my quick review prior to listening to the literary experts of The Newyorker pull this apart and tell me what I'm supposed to think. This author definitely has shock value. If all the stories get this type of rise from me, I don't know if I'll read others. This can go both ways. To get that rise from a reader means you have a talent. On the other hand, I'm personally not always find of things that are strange or disturbing. I really feel like I want to leave this one Score-less. What type of score do you give a book where the guy decides to do that?!?! Lol See for yourself.

http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

[stacy]

About to read this story for the xx time after hearing it on New Yorker podcast a few days ago. Long-lasting with no fast answers, it's a strange piece to savor. Also, it's f'ing hilarious.

[Christian Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Carver-esque. In the spiritual wasteland of suburbia, a man engages his family and community and pastor by letting an injury take possession of him. Instead of doing the sensible thing he lets his quiet and undistinguished self fall further into the realm of what his son calls "dumb" and "stupid" behavior until everyone thinks he must be crazy. The "WHY?" of this act is what keeps tugging on you after reading this.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this short story. Polansky tells an intriguing tale of a normal suburban dad making a series of highly questionable decisions. The father's relationship with the son is very strained throughout the story, which seems to be the only spice and turmoil in the man's otherwise vanilla bland life. He's playing in a Christian softball league when he makes the first odd decision to attempt stealing third on a shallow fly ball even though he's not as fast as he used to be. The throw gets there well before he does, but he then mades a choice to slide, tearing up his leg on the gravel. His third bad decision comes when he decides to wipe his leg down with some scotch at the bar after the game instead of going home or to the ER. He never ends up going to the ER until it is much too late to save his infected leg. While his decisions are questionable, so are every other characters' decisions: his wife does not force him to the doctor, his priest/friend does not force nor even much suggest going to the doctor, his son seems to care the most but cannot overcome his teen angst to do much until it is too late for the leg. It's a great story of the snowballing effect of a trivial split-second decision, the anguish of being a father to a teenage son, the lack of care friends and loved ones can show when they're not to be bothered with your problems, and more - strange, funny, and thought-provoking all at once.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the end, I didn't love this story. I think Polansky did what he set out to do, in a pretty direct way: we question why the main character chooses to do what he does. There is a prayer session that maybe provides the answer. It has a lot to do with his relationship with his son.

What caused me to rate it a three is that I just couldn't get over the believability of it. I ended up very annoyed with the main character, and so that colored my whole reaction to the story.

That said, the opening scene at the baseball game is a thing of beauty. I'm certain I'll come back to reread that again and again. It is touching, hilarious, and very very effective.