This short story was certainly a very interesting read and very light in comparison to what we have been reading recently. I enjoyed the careful thought and deliberation Ethan Canin put into each sentence. The overall story plot is quite simple, an older gentleman who is feeling the pains of age more than those around him, and reminisces about past memories and realizes that he missed out on certain joys of life.
As people get older, there hovers a certain longing of younger days to redo things that they never got to do, or things they were to afraid to do. Yet, all it would have taken was taking that jump and not letting others hold you back. Canin was able to instill a feeling of longing into me when I have not even had the chances to experience. His writing style was so peaceful to read and felt incredibly smooth. It is extremely impressive to read short stories by professional writers, not just see, but FEEL the difference in their writing compared to mine.
When I think about all of the stories and poems I have written in my life, I wonder at what point will I become a writer that I can be proud of. The simplicity and beautifulness of Canin’s story made me think this, which speaks bounds onto how impactful a story can be.
I believe that this story was life changing for the narrator because it created a space where he was able to reflect, grow, and dream again, just like he did as a child. The wonderment and scheming this 69 year old man got up to reflected that of his younger self and harbored a nostalgia that I hope I will be able to have once I reach that age.
This story was a much lighter read than many of the other ones we’ve had to read this class, and I think having a narrator who wasn’t infuriating helped that matter to some degree. But, it did make me do a bit of reflection of my own, but I think is going to be pretty inherent with any story told from the perspective of an older person. That isn’t to write it off, no, but I agree about how it made me get nostalgic as well. The line where the narrator said, “I think, what I have always lacked: I inherited none of my mother’s moral stubbornness.” was what really got me to thinking. It made me wonder about stories that I may reminisce on in the future, what I’ll find important, and if I’ll be someone I’m proud of; it made me wonder about the qualities my parents have that I wish I had or wish I never will have. All of that is to say that I agree with you; this was one of the most impactful stories that I’ve read throughout this class.