Status Updates From The Collected Stories of Ri...

I’m unconvinced that Regards at Home is not a mess, but it reads well, and the relationship between Bill and Dan is interesting. Mostly I just think all the setup is sort of cattywampus and long, but then, all of these stories are long. Saying Goodbye to Sally is probably amazing, but I was preoccupied reading it, just went straight through. Like that Jack is more explicitly an asshole here, not much delusion.

A Natural Girl was excellent, did a sort of flowing perspective thing that wraps around on itself elegantly. Trying Out for the Race was long winded, has a good premise but unlikable characters. Liars In Love is classic feeling, definitely plays out very sophisticated. I thought for sure A Compassionate Leave would end in incest or murder but it ended up wholesome enough, if a little underdeveloped.

Out With the Old brings in another TB ward, but the insider perspective feels hokey next to No Pain Whatsoever. Builders was great, Salinger-esque, reminded me of the framing of For Esme with a narrative like Blue Period. Oh Joseph is prototype Easter Parade, clearly autobiographical. Didn’t love it.

Dr Jackolantern: kid is new to class, class alienates him, they have their weekend report, teacher talks to kid after class, encourages him to give report, kid gives report, tells story about his parents being killed by police, teacher chides him for lying, kid writes swears, teacher scolds, kid lies, kids scold, kid draws profane teacher.
The best of everything: marrying couple, get worse for wife better for husband