#734 What’s in Alaska- Raymond Carver
This is a story about diversion. A couple going through life, a little bored and worn out. A man comes home from work, buys shoes and comes home to his wife who sneers at the shoes and gives him a drink. Maybe it’s the shoes and the beer, but at this point of the story I had Sinatra’s Love and Marriage running through my head (as the theme song from Married with Children, of course).
They go visit another couple down the street that just bought a hookah water pipe. The rest of the story is a whole stoner scene, full of laughs, munchies, misinterpreted conversations, fun with pets. Everyone is hyper-sensitive and yet extremely unaware. Funny, although not up to par with great stoner stories. Stylistically It is dialogue heavy. If there is any subtext beyond adults needing a diversion from their humdrum lives, I missed it and don’t feel the need to go back and find one. We never find out exactly what’s in Alaska.
No comments:
Post a Comment