Jimmy

by Atticus Lish

The white looked like a long-legged biker, as if, instead of being inside these razor wire–topped walls, he should be leaning back on a chopper going down the highway, with his long legs extended and his boots on the chrome footrests. When he walked, he rose up on his feet like the piston in a motor—up and down—chin always up, an eighth Cherokee, last name Turner. Jimmy Turner.

10 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Atticus Lish (born 1972) is an American novelist. His debut, Preparation for the Next Life, caught its independent publisher “off guard” by becoming a surprise success, winning a number of awards including the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Lish lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn with his wife. He is the son of influential literary editor Gordon Lish.

Reviews

[Hither Kusum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atticus Lish's short story "Jimmy" presents a vivid picture of the prison life and prison inmates. It's a gritty story about tough people of the underbelly of the society. The descriptions of the protagonist is close to real and transports to a similar context, including the darker side of the city life. One gets the real taste of the disadvantaged on the other side of the fence.