An imagination. A worship. A scribble.
If you ever need a rabbit-hole to fall through, google
“collective noun for writers.”
All three feel true for those included in the collection
The O. Henry Prize Stories: 100th Anniversary Edition edited
by Laura Furman. I was especially taken with the story “Julia and Sunny” by
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum. Partly I think because it chronicles a couples’ friendship
which I’ve always aspired to but never been able to achieve. I admit to feeling
a smidge smug when the friendship dissolves along with one of the marriages,
but more importantly, familiar details of harried parenthood stuck with me more.
Why is the trip to the post office always pushed to the bottom of the list? How
we long for naptime.
I was chuffed*, then, to discover Bynum’s story collection
Likes. From Waldorf school faires, celebrity neighbors, and orange cats to middle school tribulations, each story is a little bit magical
without failing to be relatable. In her novel Ms. Hempel Chronicles, we enter the world of seventh grade teacher Beatrice
Hempel with all the student (and teacher) drama that entails. Ms. Hempel looks
with envy upon those who have moved on to other careers but is not quite sure
how to step off the pedestal built by her adoring students.
A chapter. A library. An excellence.
Yep, those too.
*Thank you, British baking shows
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