#297 Any Reasonable Offer- Kurt Vonnegut

#297 Any Reasonable Offer- Kurt Vonnegut

This is a very funny Vonnegut story, first person tale following the plight of a real estate agent. He believes he has the job with the most thankless clients. “Maybe dentists have rougher client relationships, but I doubt it. Give a man a choice between having his teeth or a real estate salesman’s commission extracted, and he’ll choose the pliers and Novocain every time.”

If the house sells fast the client complains that he didn’t do enough to earn the commission, if the house doesn’t sell for months, he didn’t do enough to earn the commission. When a rich couple walks in asking about the most expensive property he manages, he sees dollar signs.

As always, life isn’t that easy. This story gives new meaning to “real estate fraud.” It might give the agent some good ideas for his next vacation.

Rating: 8-7-8-8 Total= 31

#224 Nobody’s Business-Jhumpa Lahiri

#224 Nobody’s Business-Jhumpa Lahiri

There is a delicate balance of privacy and intimacy between roommates. You share space, see each other at your worst and most vulnerable. You hear things between walls, hear one-sided phone conversations, and see the mail they get. Even if no conversations are ever had, roommates are very close. But they can also be foreign and mysterious.

How much should one get involved with a roommates personal life? What’s the protocol about answering questions from strangers over the phone? Should you find out their boyfriend is cheating on them…what do you do?

Lahiri handles delicacy well, and somehow is able to weave complicated emotions in such a short amount of space.

Rating: 10-8-9-10 Total= 37