Having thrown my back out and being laid up for the better part of this week, I've done cosiderable reading. Thus, have finished this short $0.50 purchase in record time.
I have to say, the only story that I didn't particulary enjoy was The Voice of the City. I think I had read Maji somewhere before - perhaps I heard it performed as a piece in forensics..
I do so enjoy short stories with ironic twists, and it became a little game for me to try to "figure out" each story. I suceeded in: After Twenty Years The Last Leaf A Retrieved Reformation A Municipal Report The Ransom of Red Chief.
The others all pleasantly surprised me. My favorite by far is Makes the Whole World Kin - because it's just so true! I can see my grandmother having a similar converstation with just about anyone under any circumstance.
I've heard complaints that none of the happenings mentioned in Alanis Morisette's song are actually ironic, and wonder which of the stories you think best portray true irony. For me, I think Maji and While the Auto Waits.
Also, any comment on the recurring theme of "anything for the love of a good woman?"
I haven't finished the book yet- not having thrown out my back and therefore not having the luxury of reading all day (or even part of the day, for this book).
However, from the 6 or 7 stories I've read, I have to say that I am not a huge fan of O. Henry's writing. I enjoy the story lines, irony, and language. What really irks me is that O. Henry throws himself, as the writer, into every story. This not only rips me out of the story bubble (the mental place I go to when reading) and back into the real world ( the "I'm sitting on my butt and reading when I should be doing something useful" place) but it is also rather presumptive on his part that he finds himself so fascinating that he thinks we, as an audience, want to hear about HIM.
For example, in Springtime a la Carte, O.H. spends the first 4 or 5 paragraphs commenting on writing and what the reader is thinking. I COULD CARE LESS. I am reading for the plot, the characters, not the writer. Good grief. O.H. does this at the end of Gift of the Magi, at the beginning of the Green Door, several times in Springtime, etc, etc. It is just annoying, at least for me.
I would like to note that SACD also tends to the recurring theme of "anything for the love of a good woman". Yes, I am still finishing up my copy of SACD, as well.
I'll respond to some of your other points when I have finished O.Henry.
I've finished the $0.50 gift, finally. I will recant some of my earlier criticism as O.Henry is a little better about not including himself in the story in later stories.
I enjoyed most of the stories, even "The Voice of the City". My least favorite was "Municipal Report". In all honesty, I found it so dull that I just skimmed the last couple of pages.
I also attempted to figure out some of the twists and met with some success. I succeeded in: After Twenty Years The Last Leaf While the Auto Waits A Retrieved Reformation and Ranson of Red Chief (although I had read this before, so I guess I already knew- even if I didn't remember)
I think my favorite would have to be "Gift of the Magi", although I also really enjoyed "Makes the Whole World Kin" and could see my mother having this conversation.
For true irony, I would have to agree with "Magi" and "Auto" but would also include "Cop". It seems ironic that after attempting to be arrested and failing, he was arrested for doing nothing after he quit trying.
I didn't really notice the "anything for the love of a good woman" theme recurring very often, so I won't comment on that.
3 comments:
Having thrown my back out and being laid up for the better part of this week, I've done cosiderable reading. Thus, have finished this short $0.50 purchase in record time.
I have to say, the only story that I didn't particulary enjoy was The Voice of the City. I think I had read Maji somewhere before - perhaps I heard it performed as a piece in forensics..
I do so enjoy short stories with ironic twists, and it became a little game for me to try to "figure out" each story. I suceeded in:
After Twenty Years
The Last Leaf
A Retrieved Reformation
A Municipal Report
The Ransom of Red Chief.
The others all pleasantly surprised me. My favorite by far is Makes the Whole World Kin - because it's just so true! I can see my grandmother having a similar converstation with just about anyone under any circumstance.
I've heard complaints that none of the happenings mentioned in Alanis Morisette's song are actually ironic, and wonder which of the stories you think best portray true irony. For me, I think Maji and While the Auto Waits.
Also, any comment on the recurring theme of "anything for the love of a good woman?"
I haven't finished the book yet- not having thrown out my back and therefore not having the luxury of reading all day (or even part of the day, for this book).
However, from the 6 or 7 stories I've read, I have to say that I am not a huge fan of O. Henry's writing. I enjoy the story lines, irony, and language. What really irks me is that O. Henry throws himself, as the writer, into every story. This not only rips me out of the story bubble (the mental place I go to when reading) and back into the real world ( the "I'm sitting on my butt and reading when I should be doing something useful" place) but it is also rather presumptive on his part that he finds himself so fascinating that he thinks we, as an audience, want to hear about HIM.
For example, in Springtime a la Carte, O.H. spends the first 4 or 5 paragraphs commenting on writing and what the reader is thinking. I COULD CARE LESS. I am reading for the plot, the characters, not the writer. Good grief. O.H. does this at the end of Gift of the Magi, at the beginning of the Green Door, several times in Springtime, etc, etc. It is just annoying, at least for me.
I would like to note that SACD also tends to the recurring theme of "anything for the love of a good woman". Yes, I am still finishing up my copy of SACD, as well.
I'll respond to some of your other points when I have finished O.Henry.
I've finished the $0.50 gift, finally. I will recant some of my earlier criticism as O.Henry is a little better about not including himself in the story in later stories.
I enjoyed most of the stories, even "The Voice of the City". My least favorite was "Municipal Report". In all honesty, I found it so dull that I just skimmed the last couple of pages.
I also attempted to figure out some of the twists and met with some success. I succeeded in:
After Twenty Years
The Last Leaf
While the Auto Waits
A Retrieved Reformation
and Ranson of Red Chief (although I had read this before, so I guess I already knew- even if I didn't remember)
I think my favorite would have to be "Gift of the Magi", although I also really enjoyed "Makes the Whole World Kin" and could see my mother having this conversation.
For true irony, I would have to agree with "Magi" and "Auto" but would also include "Cop". It seems ironic that after attempting to be arrested and failing, he was arrested for doing nothing after he quit trying.
I didn't really notice the "anything for the love of a good woman" theme recurring very often, so I won't comment on that.
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