Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum's "Yurt"

http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2008/07/21/080721fi_fiction_bynum

Summary: Ms. Hemp a middle school teacher oozes with jealousy over Ms. Duffy's decision to travel and, possibly, her decision to leave teaching.


I was pleasantly surprised with this story.  This is the first story, for my Advanced Fiction Writing Class, that kept me turning pages without wondering when it would end.  The story moved along smoothly and maintained a well-paced rhythm.

Since I think that this read is worth your time, I am not going to spoil its ending.  My favorite characteristics of this story are its tone and withholding some pertinent information in order to make me, the reader, to want to keep reading.  Bynum uses her dialogue effectively.  I can see why my professor assigned this for class.

Daniel Alarcon's "The Idiot President"

Summary: A recent college graduate dreams of emigrating to America because he does not like the political and economical climate of his country.  While waiting on a Visa, he joins Deciembre which is a three-man play on tour.


This short-story has a well-controlled arc.  However, I was often left wondering what is main character's central problem?  Yes, he does not want to stay in his country and, yes, he is waiting on a Visa.  I just wish there would have been more to sink my reading-teeth into.

There were a couple scenes in this story that I enjoyed:  First, I appreciated that Alarcon, through his characterization of the protagonist, demonstrates that travel can lead to illness.  Second, when the narrator is cold and needs a coat, the host goes to the refrigerator to retrieve a blanket.  Genius!  I had never read anything like that before.