Review: Like an art piece, readers will come away with different interpretations
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2013
Readers will experience this short story differently, and walk away with different interpretations of it. Confusion perhaps, but that is because this short story packs in A LOT of symbolism, so one must peel back the layers to really get at the heart of the story.A story like this is hard to review, because my experience will be different from yours. The best I can do is describe the bones of the story and what my personal interpretation is without giving away spoilers.First, the bones of the short story. It's well-edited, characters are well-developed, the storyline moves at a steady pace and the atmosphere is richly created; all accomplished within a very limited amount of space, and done very well to the credit of the author.As for my interpretation. To me, this book deals with issues of vanity, pride, coping with aging, and also immortality in a sense: a couple, living longer than perhaps they should, that are finally faced with an inevitable truth; complete with all of the emotions that accompany this. The story focuses mainly on two main characters; the couple, and the reader is given the benefit of knowing the perspective from each gender as the conclusion draws near.My advice to potential readers. Do not go into this looking for a well-explained short story. Enter into this with the realization that there are many layers, like an onion, and that each layer is presented in such a way as to allow the reader to decide what lessons to glean from this story. It will vary widely, as our unique interpretations are rarely identical. It is well worth the journey. If at first confused, I urge readers to continue through to the end and then take a moment to reflect on what the story means to you. I recommend this read, and while it is a short read, it is by no means a 'light' read. I'm glad I came across this short story. It prompted some self-reflection, which I am grateful for.