Stacey Swann has done something very impressive with her short story, "Indoor Dog," which can be found in Epoch Volume 57, Number 2 (2008 series). She has written a story that mainly covers the often written about ground of a son that hasn't made his daddy proud, and done so with some freshness.
And here is where the critic in me pretty much shows a lack of existence. I can't find a clear example of how Swann accomplishes this feat - all I can really say is that I never once wanted to quit reading the story - never even considered it - and I wasn't thinking about how she was falling into cliche while reading it either.
In fact, I've read the story a few times now, and enjoyed it each time and feel there's a secret to unlock that more readings might help me with. Henk, the son in question, was a Ceramics major. His father, a man's man, hunter, cowboy, Waylon Jennings listener, rodeo watcher, etc. finds that to be a fancy, worthless degree. They don't talk for years. Henk's older brother, a rodeo star, tries to nudge Henk into a situation where reconciliation might occur. He, of course, is in good standing with Clem, the good ol' boy.
I actually hope there are a bunch of you out there with copies of this issue of Epoch that can read it and point out to me what it is I'm missing, the behind the out in front writing that I've obviously noticed, just too far into my subconscious to wisely bestow the message upon you readers. Of course, it may simply just be that Swann is that great of a writer, that the sentences are constructed so beautifully that the reader cannot stop reading.
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