Work of the Day - January 25, 2007 - The Revolving Door by TJ Forrester
The Revolving Door by TJ Forrester, can be found in the new issue of Harpur Palate, and they are highlighting it online this month. It's a story about a man with AIDS, living in a home for the terminally ill. The house has the patients segregated by terminal disease, and Chad Quail is the only heterosexual in the AIDS ward. He is spending his days tracking down each of his many former lovers via google and mailing them letters to notify them of the possibilities they may encounter.
It's a solid story, Quail is a great character and the story moves forward at a nice pace. There's something specific about the writing, very early on, however, that caught my attention. A phrase Quail thinks to himself:
"Privacy. I could have been whackng off. Not that she'd care. The old biddy probably hasn't had a lover in twenty years." To me, the combination of the terms 'whacking off' and 'old biddy' led me to believe middle-aged, to slightly older male. And it seemed a great, and economical, use of language to pass this information along to the reader. No specific statement about the age of the character, but allowing the reader to discern it strictly through his internal thoughts.
Powerful story, TJ. It's great to read it again. Bill
Posted by: William Reese Hamilton | January 30, 2007 at 11:51 AM
This is a heart wrenching and beautiful story, TJ. The end took my breath away. Not only is the writing exquisite, but it's full of emotional truths. My husband died of AIDS, and I know all about hospices. From someone who knows the score, thank you for writing this. Bonnie
Posted by: Bonnie ZoBell | January 31, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Thanks Dan, Bill, and Bonnie!
Posted by: TJ Forrester | February 01, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Magnificent story, TJ. I just want to inhale the writing, it's so beautiful.
Shari
Posted by: Shari Blume | February 08, 2007 at 02:31 PM
When I read T. J. Forrester's work I'm always amazed that he knows what he knows and can find the exact words, always fresh, to describe it. Besides the original voice and strong plot that carry each of his stories, there's the rhythm--the way he alternates inventive and funny descriptions with dialogue that brings the reader up short. Finally, there are the interior monologues that pull me into the heartbreak of all Forrester's characters. In The Revolving Door all of the players, have tender souls if not compassionate hearts.
Posted by: Barbara Milton | February 11, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Excellent story, T.J.!
Posted by: Katrina Denza | February 12, 2007 at 08:43 AM
Fantastic story!
Posted by: Michael Leone | March 22, 2007 at 07:23 PM
Michael, Kat, Barbara, and Shari--thank you!
Posted by: T. J. Forrester | April 06, 2007 at 10:47 AM