\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/my_feedback/action/view/id/4712506
Review #4712506
Viewing a review of:
 Winter Storm Open in new Window. [E]
Stormy Day
by QueenNormaJean snow finally!!! Author Icon
Review of Winter Storm  Open in new Window.
Review by Beholden Author IconMail Icon
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Access:  Public | Hide Review (?)
This is a strange story. A man is walking through a city. He walks all through the day, the night and the next day. A stag leads him to the house he seeks and the man enters. My first thought was that this must be one enormous city, for it to take him that long to get through it. But, maybe he didn't walk straight through and was wandering around, looking for the house. When he met the stag, I found that incongruous, to say the least. Is there some sort of symbolism at work here? I know that it's supposed to be Christmas but that doesn't seem to help.

Perhaps the strangest thing is that I don't really care about the strangeness. In fact, I kinda like it. The man's journey, the appearance of the stag, and their final arrival at the house, all combine to give the story an aura of mystery that is not dissolved by the ending. The slow, relentless description of the journey adds to this otherworldly feeling, as though the storm could last forever, with the snow falling while street follows street in eternal succession. Be aware, however, that others may not like the apparent lack of meaning to the tale.

The short sentences, repeated phrases, and simplicity of the language, combine to create almost a chant at times, the rhythm of the words adding to the sense of an endless journey, one step following another without purpose. It's really very effective.

And so we come to the end and to the woman in the house. "You're late," she says, intimating that the man is expected. He gives his excuse: "I was caught in a storm." And that's it, no explanations, no reveals, just an ending. I can't explain why I love it but I do. The journey is so well described, the mystery so gradually built, that I have to admire the refusal to tell us more.

Strangely facinating.

Bulbul signature which links back to the group page
Small photo
Beholden


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" Open in new Window..
   *CheckG* You responded to this review 09/17/2023 @ 11:23pm EDT
Printed from https://writing.com/main/my_feedback/action/view/id/4712506