This story was riveting. I enjoyed hearing it in your own voice, Gary, while reading along. I also like section breaks, how you jump backwards and forwards in time until you fill in the details and the reader understands how important these characters are to each other, just before the ending hits.
Modern literary short fiction like 'Limbo Nights' and 'Silfra' (I see you left a similar comment there), at least in the Irish/European tradition, very often do not make a single point or come to a singular moment of resolution. Rather, they evoke a sense of time, place and emotion, and focus more on feelings and character interactions (with themselves and with others) to create a mood, in much the same way that ambient music focuses on evoking a mood rather than being melody-centric. Meaning-making is left to the reader rather than the writer spelling it out or imposing a meaning upon them. My own short stories mostly take this form, and my characters often do not change over the course of a story, but might move towards the possibility of it.
Reading stories and the judgement of them is an entirely subjective process, and stories like 'Limbo Nights' and 'Silfra' are perhaps not for those who prefer a more traditional, rounded narrative with a definitive resolution and meaning.
We appreciate you taking the time to read Frazzled Lit!
Jennifer, thank you for this! I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me. I had a feeling I was missing something important.
I guess it is true I have an ingrained expectation of clear resolution or “ending”but literature needs to be appreciated for what it is, not what we think it should be.
You would think I’d know it, being a fanatical Kevin Barry fan. Do you know his work? I just re-read “That old country music” and sort of marveled at what he does with place and setting.
This story was riveting. I enjoyed hearing it in your own voice, Gary, while reading along. I also like section breaks, how you jump backwards and forwards in time until you fill in the details and the reader understands how important these characters are to each other, just before the ending hits.
I'd read a book by this author.
This was such a tragic ending.
Boy goes on drinking holiday. Falls off balcony. The End? Am I missing something?
I really enjoyed the writing and the humor, though as an American I no doubt missed a great deal of cultural reference.
The end feels pointless and unresolved. But maybe, like I said, I have missed something. Someone correct my thinking please. 🤔
From Jennifer:
Modern literary short fiction like 'Limbo Nights' and 'Silfra' (I see you left a similar comment there), at least in the Irish/European tradition, very often do not make a single point or come to a singular moment of resolution. Rather, they evoke a sense of time, place and emotion, and focus more on feelings and character interactions (with themselves and with others) to create a mood, in much the same way that ambient music focuses on evoking a mood rather than being melody-centric. Meaning-making is left to the reader rather than the writer spelling it out or imposing a meaning upon them. My own short stories mostly take this form, and my characters often do not change over the course of a story, but might move towards the possibility of it.
Reading stories and the judgement of them is an entirely subjective process, and stories like 'Limbo Nights' and 'Silfra' are perhaps not for those who prefer a more traditional, rounded narrative with a definitive resolution and meaning.
We appreciate you taking the time to read Frazzled Lit!
Jennifer, thank you for this! I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me. I had a feeling I was missing something important.
I guess it is true I have an ingrained expectation of clear resolution or “ending”but literature needs to be appreciated for what it is, not what we think it should be.
You would think I’d know it, being a fanatical Kevin Barry fan. Do you know his work? I just re-read “That old country music” and sort of marveled at what he does with place and setting.
Delighted that cleared things up for you! Yes, I'm an admirer of Kevin's work, his writing is simply sublime!
I look forward to reading the rest of the issue with this new perspective.