« Assignment 5 — Shannon Holman | Main | Molly Arden, Guest Blogger May 15-21 »
Life is basically a rusty hubcap lying in a ditch on the side of the road, and life goes on.
Stephen King "Herman Wouk is Still Alive" (the Atlantic, May 2011)
-- sdh
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Your Information
(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)
Radio
I left it
on when I
left the house
for the pleasure
of coming back
ten hours later
to the greatness
of Teddy Wilson
"After You've Gone"
on the piano
in the corner
of the bedroom
as I enter
in the dark
from New and Selected Poems by David Lehman
i think this story is king's best work. when he has written for the new yorker the results have never been good, in my opinion. ingratiating pieces about coaching little league etc. i was not optimistic when i saw this story in the atlantic but here he uses some of his standard horror fiction devices -- brand names, for example -- to powerful literary effect. there is also genuine but balanced appreciation for the life of a poet in our time. plus, no past ending, but ambiguity in an inspired way. king shows he is a man who has really looked into the void of modern life and is able to say what he's seen there. muy fuerte!
Posted by: mitch s. | May 14, 2011 at 07:56 PM
I loved the story and I wouldn't have read it Mitch had you not recommended it. I think he really "got" the characters, and there are some lovely, if disturbing, passages.
Posted by: Stacey | May 14, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Will go buy current copy of The Atlantic for this story.
Posted by: Eric Bourland | May 14, 2011 at 10:29 PM
It's a terrific story, Eric. Can't wait to hear what you think. I've been off short stories for a long time, not for any particular reason, but this made me think I should pay more attention to them. I've always admired Stephen King. He turns them out.
Stacey
Posted by: The Best American Poetry | May 15, 2011 at 10:16 AM