Camille Bordas, “Offside Constantly” Response
This story was published just this past summer (2021) in The New Yorker, one of America’s premier literary magazines. Camille Bordas has published several other stories in the magazine in the past few years. (I’m guessing she’s pretty happy about all this!)
For this week’s Reader Response Essay, write a review in which you imagine that you are an Assistant Editor at The New Yorker and you have just read the story as a submission. Your task is to write a Reader Response in which you explain your reasons for why the story should or should not be accepted for publication at the magazine. Imagine that you are submitting your Response Essay to your Editor which will be followed by a Staff Meeting. You already know that some of the other Assistant Editors love this story and are keen to publish it. Are you as well? Why or why not?
Consider the following:
The author’s uses of the “Elements of Fiction”: Consider one or more and show how the author’s choices help to deliver a great story. The main ones are:
Character
Plot
Setting
Narrative
Perspective.
You can also consider other techniques:
The story’s language: what makes this story “literary” and not just meh-level fiction. Look for aspects of language use that takes you by surprise, makes you think of something in a new and insightful way. (Or just puts an unexpected smile on your face).
Is there a good balance of dialogue and narrative description?
Does the author use any motifs, tropes, or symbols? What about cultural or literary allusions? Are they effectively used?
What else makes the story “pop”? Humor? Irony? Plot twist?
Endings are always tough! Does this story have a good one? Why or why not?
Finish your response Essay:
See if you can identify the “So What” factor of this story. What does it make you think or feel? What issues, themes, insights are explored and finally, should it be published now, in the summer of 2021?
