On 7/11/2012 9:20 PM, Padraic Brown wrote:
> --- On Wed, 7/11/12, Gary Shannon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> I'm reminded of Hemingway's 6-word short story: "For sale: baby shoes,
>> never worn."
> Myeh. All respect to Mr Hemingway, a "story" this short really lacks any
> kind of context, plot, etc. and is far too open to divergent interpretation
> for me to call it an actual story and not just a random sentence. Otherwise
> we could all be Hemingways, churning out dozens of random 6-word super-
> shorts a day. " 'Why?' 'Have to sell.' 'Good-bye, house!' "
>
Actually, as much as I'm not a fan of Hemingway, the baby shoes story is 
quite powerful and was used as an example of just how much can be said 
with very little in a storytelling class I took in college. After all, 
the fact that someone is selling baby shoes and that they specifically 
mention they were "never worn" says specifically that it was a 
miscarriage or, worse yet, the child died before ever having worn them. 
Of course, there are a lot of more speculative elements to the story. Is 
the couple still together or does the fact that they are selling the 
shoes mean that they have split up or plan to never try again? Quite a 
bit of pathos in that one, if you ask me, and the context is in the way 
the story is written and begins: "For Sale." Obviously an ad of some 
sort. I wish I could recall everything my professor said at the time 
about the story (I'd have to call him and ask, as it's been years since 
I took that class, but we remain friends).

Anyway, I'm not much for Hemingway, but I do have to give the man 
credit; that is a powerful story indeed. More powerful than much of the 
long-winded stuff I prefer.

Sincerely,
J. M. DeSantis
Writer - Illustrator

Official Website: jmdesantis.com <http://www.jmdesantis.com>