Ive listened to this three times. I read and listened the last time. I think its a male narrator describing the moments of his child and his wife's death in oblique ways through talking to his deceased wife. I gotta read again to determine did he kill her or not. I think i might have missed how she died. Man the writing here is so good. The structure is great as well. I do think we could have used a few more clues earlier in the story and the harsh turn of the narrator's voice at the end is a bit abrupt though striking, maybe more hints of that side of him early on. I think sometimes excellent prose without some breaks of simple clarity can make the quality of the writing distract from the basics of the story.
I am haunted by this story, both by it's content and by the challenges it posed as an editor. I can't stop thinking about what to reveal to the reader. This is a very big question for me and I am dying to know what other readers were able to glean from this piece. We should make a poll! (I am going to pose my poll questions as a new message..here ye, here ye.)
Who thinks there was a murder? Who thinks there was a suicide? What about the babies, were they purely hypothetical? Where does this take place? Who is he talking to? What is his main struggle? Is this even his house? Tell me! Tell Will!
I really like what @Andrew Robert Colom and @Emil Ottoman are doing in terms of trying to raise the bar on conversation around work on Substack.
I liked "old times" so much that I wrote a whole poem about it! I hope it helps readers. I was very taken aback by "old times." I find it repulsive, a sick little pup I just couldn't touch. And then I read it again. And again. The charm of the language is Chaucerian and the density is Pynchonian. There: I said it. I think it’s true . . .
This is only one possible interpretation of Will's story. There are many other, equally valid interpretations/responses.
Chime in with other others. I could not put my response into words so I wrote a poem:
Old times is a sick little pup indeed. What a wonderful poem! Captures the discomfort and emotional punch and the wondering if something could be different, bravo!
I’ve read this several times and more layers keep revealing themselves. Excellent imagery!
Thanks so much, Zivah :) I loved your piece as well
Oh, thank you!
Awesome 👍
thanks Angela!
Ive listened to this three times. I read and listened the last time. I think its a male narrator describing the moments of his child and his wife's death in oblique ways through talking to his deceased wife. I gotta read again to determine did he kill her or not. I think i might have missed how she died. Man the writing here is so good. The structure is great as well. I do think we could have used a few more clues earlier in the story and the harsh turn of the narrator's voice at the end is a bit abrupt though striking, maybe more hints of that side of him early on. I think sometimes excellent prose without some breaks of simple clarity can make the quality of the writing distract from the basics of the story.
Thanks Andrew! Yeah this one is layered like a stanky onion. Thanks for digging through it
I am haunted by this story, both by it's content and by the challenges it posed as an editor. I can't stop thinking about what to reveal to the reader. This is a very big question for me and I am dying to know what other readers were able to glean from this piece. We should make a poll! (I am going to pose my poll questions as a new message..here ye, here ye.)
Who thinks there was a murder? Who thinks there was a suicide? What about the babies, were they purely hypothetical? Where does this take place? Who is he talking to? What is his main struggle? Is this even his house? Tell me! Tell Will!
I really like what @Andrew Robert Colom and @Emil Ottoman are doing in terms of trying to raise the bar on conversation around work on Substack.
I liked "old times" so much that I wrote a whole poem about it! I hope it helps readers. I was very taken aback by "old times." I find it repulsive, a sick little pup I just couldn't touch. And then I read it again. And again. The charm of the language is Chaucerian and the density is Pynchonian. There: I said it. I think it’s true . . .
This is only one possible interpretation of Will's story. There are many other, equally valid interpretations/responses.
Chime in with other others. I could not put my response into words so I wrote a poem:
https://brocke.substack.com/p/not-friday
Old times is a sick little pup indeed. What a wonderful poem! Captures the discomfort and emotional punch and the wondering if something could be different, bravo!
This is a fever dream in the best way. The more times you read the more is revealed.
Fever dreams help break the fever, thanks for reading :)