Love the Nick Carraway angle here: having a thoughtful, observant narrator orbiting a larger personality gives lots of space for dense inner conflict at the heart of the story. Prague as a symbol is also complex and many-layered, and Leo and Isla's rendering of it made me want to go back. Damn good stuff 🤜🤛
This spoke to me. I'm at a point in my life now, where I often wonder what could have been or might have been, how things might have turned out different--for better or worse--had I made different choices.
PS: Favorite line: "Had he mentioned his asshole already, in a poem before I had walked in?"
Loved this, Peter. The town and characters are familiar, and the narrator is hilarious. I do think I heard poetry of that caliber in an open mic once upon a time. I kept thinking of a phrase a friend of mine used to describe artists who never leave Lawrence; she called the town a “velvet rut.” I wonder if Lee will meet a similar fate.
The port is such a good touch!!
Love the Nick Carraway angle here: having a thoughtful, observant narrator orbiting a larger personality gives lots of space for dense inner conflict at the heart of the story. Prague as a symbol is also complex and many-layered, and Leo and Isla's rendering of it made me want to go back. Damn good stuff 🤜🤛
This spoke to me. I'm at a point in my life now, where I often wonder what could have been or might have been, how things might have turned out different--for better or worse--had I made different choices.
PS: Favorite line: "Had he mentioned his asshole already, in a poem before I had walked in?"
Loved this, Peter. The town and characters are familiar, and the narrator is hilarious. I do think I heard poetry of that caliber in an open mic once upon a time. I kept thinking of a phrase a friend of mine used to describe artists who never leave Lawrence; she called the town a “velvet rut.” I wonder if Lee will meet a similar fate.
I kept thinking how familiar this was, too. “Artists who never leave Lawrence” is so specific and regional and I love the phrase “velvet rut” so much.
Peter, this is an excellent piece of writing.
I don’t read short stories often for pleasure anymore, but this had me at “asshole”. Bravo, Peter. Familiar and innovative at the same time.
Thank you, Ned!