Reader's Diary #591- Michael Redhill: Breaking Fast

Back in Canada again, I thought I'd better feature a Canadian short story this week. And once I again I find myself at the Walrus. From their January/February issue, it's Michael Redhill's "Breaking Fast."

What impressed me most about Redhill's story is the sweeping omniscient narration. Mostly in and out of the heads of two characters, a chronically skinny mother who's taken a road trip to clear her head and a man who doesn't appear to have much in the way of significant others but who's also taken a road trip, to be where other people are. Going back and forth into these two characters' lives takes on a ping pongy quality until suddenly and briefly you find yourself inside the head of a waitress. Finally, when it changes to a first person narrative instead of a third person narrative, you question how much of the biographical stuff has been real and how much has been assumed. For s story with so little action or even dialogue, it's quite a ride. I love to people watch and I suspect Redhill must as well.

I won't, however, say it's a fun ride. As one of the meanings of the title suggests (the I'm breaking. Fast. meaning) there's a depressing air over the story. Actually, it could be argued that depression is the conflict. It's the kind of first world ennui that I find too frustrating in an entire novel (or Wes Anderson movie), but can manage in small doses like this. And, at least there's a resolution at the end. It's a vague resolution, but then again, so is the problem.

(Did you write a post for Short Story Monday? If so, please leave a link in the comments below.)