Review: The art of the short story is still alive
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 21, 2012
In "The First Light of Evening," the author wrote of experiences and emotions that many people can relate to. The story began three years after Jackie had left Jim. Jim was to all appearances content to live his quiet, reclusive life reading the books he's always wanted to read. Then along came Carolyn to complicate his life. With the always awkward first date out of the way, the story ended with no clear resolution. Would the two see each other again, or would they choose to continue with their solitary lives, uncomplicated by new relationships?The story, short as it was, explored a theme that is all too common today: the gradual drifting apart of a couple and the dissolution of their marriage, the aftermath, and the forging of new relationships as people moved on with their lives. The story was told very simply, with no big action scenes, no O'Henry twist at the end, just a little slice-of-life account of two ordinary people weighing the merits of entering a new relationship versus the safety of continuing on their separate but lonely paths.Stories like "The First Light of Evening" give me reassurance that the art of the short story is still alive.