Work for 8-17 June: Leah's Short Stories

Hello,


As discussed during our online classes, I would like you to read a short story by my dear friend Leah H. and reflect upon her writing style and the messages contained within her work.

Here's the link to her writer's page: https://leahkhampton.com/
If you are shocked by the name of her upcoming book, I am sorry but I also encourage you to read the short story for which the book is named before drawing your final conclusions. 

However, the story we are going to discuss is called BOOMER and can be found here: https://issuu.com/eastcarolina/docs/2018_nclr_online_issue-final/40

North Carolina Literary Review Online 2018 p 40-47.

If you can't read the online version, I can email you the pdf version (just email me).


As you are reading, I would like you to consider her characters, the setting and symbolism.
Suggestions: take notes for each of the characters, find quotes that seem particularly meaningful, and look for the symbols.
Write down your ideas and insights so you can refer to them during our online classes.

Looking forward to hearing your reactions.
Kind regards,
Mrs C

I have a pdf version of an interview written up by a Ponto student, but I think I have to send it to you on mbn as I can't seem to copy/link it in here.

So instead, here is review written up by a previous Ponto student a couple of years ago:

Boomer

             Larry is a fireman, an occupation that is displayed by society being held by viril man who are in control of any situation. Boomer is to me a story about a man who has lost control and the desire to fight. Larry is the victim of the elections, the lack of rain to prevent wildfires, then his inability to fight fires. therefore, his lack of control seems to take over. This particular October in Larry’s life is decadent. His wife May is leaving, emptying the house of his possessions. The firefighters are unable to control fire. Larry is stuck. He has lost the ability to act for himself. He has lost control before we first meet in the story. At the beginning of the story his mechanical answer to May’s questions lusciously highlights that fact. May also says that Larry doesn’t let her do anything, which is a statement we understand linked to the past. In fact, Larry is now letting her keep her life as she will. He lets her empty the house.

              The brilliance of the writing is that we understand the character has previously evolved to the point where we discover him and is going to evolve within the story. Larry lives in an environment that used to be his. He doesn’t recognise the reserve anymore.

               Indeed, the reserve has evolved upholding from Indian traditions being perpetrated to a Casino and neon signs to attract tourists. The elements have changed in his environment, way before we meet him. The environment where he lives is strong. It has changed gradually. Larry has changed with it. He didn’t necessarily acknowledge it before, but the separation with May has made him realise how much this strong nature and the Indian traditions are now separated from what they used to be.

                 As a reader, I feel like the story is happening after a climax. Is the character going to resolve those issues that are set at the beginning of the story? Or is it going to explode? BOOMER 1 Even more, how do you introduce as a writer the correlation between character change and the shifting events? I think, I am anticipating an event that would lead me to understand what is the resolution of the story.

               Larry is submerged by his strong nature. He is drenched with the beauty and grandiosity of the Appalachian Mountains. We feel a strong bound between the writer’s perception of the invading nature and Larry’s. An impression that is supported by the strong emotions that are displayed with the description of nature, especially in the significance of details. Everywhere you stand, despite the will of the human to carve and control, nature is omnipresent. Even though the nature is being destroyed by humans who are trying to control its assets, the Appalachian Mountains are an environment where nature is the doorway to one’s interior. The mountains, the trees and the omnipresent nature are blocking the national appetite for consumption. The American dream of prosperity is pressuring nature. The values of growth have taken from the mountains all it could and have left Larry fighting against fires whom no one cares about anymore. The administration is going to change soon and no one is willing to take a decision.

 Larry is torn between the ineffable beauty he cannot grasp and everyone who is trying to use and influences that environment. Therefore, there is a duality in the environment of the Appalachian Mountains. A place that needs to be preserved for its breathtaking beauty, but which everyone is trying to take advantage of. Larry is compelled and deeply influenced by the duality. For example, when Larry is called to control a fire which is threatening rental cabins and condos, these constructions are providing the money, necessary for his community. The description for this firefight is detailed, strong images are triggering the reader vision and are linked to short but well placed dialogues. That is how the duality is displayed between the nature and the values of the community. “Look at it, Don the behaviourist said. A snow of ash hung around them in the sharp air”, this quote is an illustration of how the author articulated the character of Larry in the middle of the dual environment. First, a simple line of outer dialogue, pronounced by another character, who represents the community. The line is really direct, almost exclamative, and can illustrate Larry’s thoughts as well. Second, a metaphor that displays the fierce environment in which everyone is engulfed. BOOMER 2 The strength of this story is that the description with the help of dialogue finds a way into displaying the dynamics in which Larry is surrounded.