So then, why is it that today, Tuesday, I'm still taking a break from Infinite Jest? I'm hoping to return the monster on Friday. We'll see how that shakes out. In the meantime, I simply can't cruise metro sans book. The solution? Revisit an old friend: Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros. If there's one thing I love love love in the world of literature it's a short story. Is there anything more gratifying than consuming 16 different stories in two days? Cisneros' style is beautifully descriptive and completely accessible.
"Every time the same story. Your Barbie is roommates with my Barbie, and my Barbie's boyfriend comes over and your Barbie steals him, okay? Kiss kiss kiss. Then the two Barbies fight. You dumbbell! He's mine. Oh no he's not, you stinky! Only Ken's invisible, right? Because we don't have money for a stupid-looking boy doll when we'd both rather ask for a new Barbie outfit for Christmas."
Who can't relate to that juicy goodness from "Barbie-Q?!" As little kiddies, my next door neighbor Carolina and I played Barbies for hours on end. Between the two of us we had about 20 Barbies, 1 Ken and 2 NKOTB dolls--Donnie and Joey, if you're curious. But what's really telling and fascinating about this passage is Cisneros' combination of the familiarly scandalous Barbie play with the deeper social reality; the girls don't have a Ken because they can't afford one. It's sad, yes, but Cisneros doesn't dwell on this; she doesn't need to because the story plays out on its own.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a "Barbie Take the Bus" pic. Side note: I believe the day my childhood ended was when my baby cousin Helen (now 20) sat her diapered rump down on my Barbie's VW Cabriolet. What.the.f. You might say I still harbor a grudge about the incident.Barbie image from Toys R Us.
6 comments:
About short stories: some English teacher sometime, somewhere told me that in a short story the author carefully considers and chooses every single word. No words are extraneous. Not being a writer, I'm not quite sure if this is true or not, but I find it a really interesting idea, and I tell my own students the same thing. Short stories are one of my absolute favorite things to read. Lorrie Moore is my all time favorite short story author.
I've heard the same thing about poetry. Both make total sense, though. I had no idea you were a short story fan! Perhaps you and the bookclubbers could read Woman Hollering Creek for your next selection? You can borrow my copy!
Don't forget Cisneros's House on Mango Street, too! And I highly recommend a collection of short stories by Percival L. Everett titled Damned If I Do. Even better is his novel God's Country, my favorite of his works. He's a USC prof whose literary work seems surprisingly little-known. I'm waiting for the day this author is "discovered" by the mainstream. Surprised Oprah hasn't pounced yet...
I made a fall book list today, that would probably make you sick. I'm not going to lie - I'm not the most literarily {is that a word?!} knowledgeable person, ha! BUT I LOVE BARBIE! That makes it all okay, right?
I've been looking for something to read. I forgot about Ms. Cisneros. I'm more of a short story person, so this might be a good read for me. Thanks!
I dont think i could ever forgive something like that!
Missy
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