424 Results with the "Fiction" genre
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PART. IV ‑Buttered Side Down
In "A Bush League Hero" from "Buttered Side Down," Edna Ferber tells the story of Ivy Keller, a recent homecomer from a select school for young ladies, who soon finds herself infatuated with Rudie Schlachweiler, a local baseball pitcher. Ivy's transformation from an uninterested homebody into a devout baseball fan serves as the backdrop for a tale that explores themes of hero worship, young love, and the eventual confrontation with reality. Rudie Schlachweiler, lauded in his small town both for his…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. VI ‑Buttered Side Down
In "One of the Old Girls" from "Buttered Side Down," we meet Effie Bauer, an accomplished and prosperous department store employee well-versed in the latest trends in fashion and personal adornment. Despite her professional success, Effie's personal life has not followed the conventional path of early marriage and family; she has remained single into middle age, not out of choice, but due to a lack of opportunity in her younger years. Effie is portrayed as a capable and independent woman, yet one who…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. VII ‑Buttered Side Down
"Maymeys from Cuba," part of Edna Ferber's "Buttered Side Down," unfolds the tale of Jennie, a young, unemployed, and famished woman in Chicago during wintertime. Jennie stares longingly at exotic fruits in a grocer's window, where affluent delicacies like peaches, grapes, and a curious item labeled "maymeys from Cuba" ignite in her a mix of desire and indignation. As hunger gnaws at her, Jennie reflects on the absurdity of such luxuries amidst her own dire need. Her journey from the mesmerizing window…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. VIII ‑Buttered Side Down
In "The Leading Lady" from "Buttered Side Down", the story unfolds with the lead actress of a small touring play, engulfed in the solitude and monotony of her itinerant life, finding herself overwhelmed by loneliness in a dingy hotel room. Unlike the glamorous weeping seen on stage, her tears reveal the raw despair of her isolation, surrounded by the stale and depressing ambiance of her temporary lodgings. Her emotional breakdown is a poignant testament to the grueling reality behind the glittering facade…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. IX ‑Buttered Side Down
In the bustling and diverse essence of South Clark Street, Chicago, marked by its eclectic mix of cultures and faces, lives Tony, the unique newsboy with a stand that seems to bridge the global divide. Tony sells newspapers from every conceivable place, making his stand a cornerstone for those yearning for a slice of home, wherever that may be. He is a testament to the fact that, despite his rough exterior, the heart of the community pulses through the tales shared and the papers sold. The story unfolds…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. X ‑Buttered Side Down
He put his arm about her ample waist with its unlovely bulges, and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was neither perfunctory nor eager, but was, somehow, grateful. Millie Whitcomb, of fancy goods and notions at Bascom's, inspired me with her comment on my last story’s too-beautiful heroine, suggesting I write about an ugly girl instead. Millie, adorned in her lavender and gray, conjures images of elegant simplicity, contrasting sharply with the usual depiction of sales clerks. Her insight leads…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. XI ‑Buttered Side Down
In "Sun Dried," Mary Louise, an aspiring writer and former teacher from Escanaba, Michigan, grapples with the challenges of city life in New York and her quest to break into the magazine world. The chapter opens with a universal moment of realization for many women—the sudden need to wash their hair. This seemingly mundane act sets the stage for Mary Louise's day as she temporarily abandons her struggling story, where her hero frustratingly remains lifeless, to attend to her personal care. Amidst her…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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PART. XII ‑Buttered Side Down
*Where the Car Turns at 18th* tells the poignant story of Eddie Houghton, a young man from a small town whose life is transformed and ultimately destroyed by his decision to join the Navy. Inspired by a vivid billboard and the persuasive pitch of a recruiting officer, Eddie leaves his idyllic small-town life, filled with soda fountains, high school achievements, and a loving mother, for the promise of adventure, travel, and manhood offered by the Navy. However, the grim realities of military life,…-
27.9 K • Ongoing
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LETTER–To W. M. Thackeray
In this letter to W. M. Thackeray, the author navigates the nuances of praising the works of a departed novelist, where the usual constraints of criticism—such as envy or the potential for flattery—are absent, making it easier to commend wholeheartedly. Thackeray is celebrated for his versatility and unmatched excellence in literature, noted for his unique blend of humor, pathos, and keen observation of life. Unlike contemporaries who approached writing with the methodical dedication of a desk job,…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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LETTER–To Charles Dickens
The letter to Charles Dickens delves into the unique literary divide between those who favor Dickens and his contemporary, Thackeray, arguing instead for appreciation of both authors' works. The narrator identifies himself as impartial, enjoying the merits of both writers without taking sides. Despite this neutrality, the chapter critiques the extreme imitations and mannerisms of Dickens's "special devotees," who, despite their adoration, might misunderstand the breadth of his humor and the depth of his…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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