A Different Road & Mystic River

I read the short story, A Different Road this week. It told the story of a couple in their sixties who had experienced much sadness and disappointment in their lives. Following a fun evening out with another couple, Henry took Olive to the local hospital to use the restroom. While waiting for the Emergency Room Physician to examine her, the hospital is held hostage by two men. During the short hold up, both Olive and Henry exchange some words that are hurtful and unforgiveable. Most of the words place blame on each other for the reason their son moved to California. Ever since the horrific experience by the Kittredge’s, the couple has not been as friendly and out-going within the small, retirement community and themselves. The couple’s marriage has not been the same since the hold-up. This short story was a definite easy reader. At the end of the story, I was left with few unanswered questions. I would have loved to know the real reason their son left them for California. This story involved few characters as did the novel Mystic River. Unlike Mystic River, I did not find that social class was any part of the short story. Instead, both stories dealt with relationships with those you love. During a difficult situation or crisis, it becomes apparent how scary it is to lose a loved one. And during this time, it is easy to say or do damaging things to a relationship. The aftermath is extremely difficult to either overcome or let go. I could not find any other similarities in Mystic River and A Different Road other than relationships. As mentioned in other weeks, I feel the character development in the novel is better in a short story. I feel this is based on the length of a story. A novel is much longer and the author is able to more accurately describe a character. For example, I had many questions as to what Henry and Olive were like. What happened with their son? Why did Olive seem so surprised when Henry said she had never apologized in all of their marriage?

The short story, A Different Road was written by a female, same as most of the novels and short stories read for this class. As with other novels, I feel that the woman author did an excellent job of portraying the characteristics and personalities of the characters. This story was not as vivid and descriptive as Mystic River. Due to different stories and lack of mystery involvement, there was not a need for A Different Road to be as gruesome as Mystic River. Had I not know ahead of time the gender of each story, I would not have been able to tell based on the writing or story content.

After reading A Different Road, I did not find any mystery in it. Rather, I felt that I had more questions that actual mystery. I did not get enough information about Pig Mask and Blue Mask. What made them hold up the hospital? Was it strictly for the drugs or was there another alternative. And what happened to them following the hold up? As mentioned above, I did not like that I had more questions about Olive and Henrys relationship? Were they having more problems that what was led on? At the end of the story, Henry makes reference that Olive has never apologized. This makes me want to believe they were having relationship problems prior to the incident at the hospital. I was happy to see every made it safely from the hold up, but the ending was sad. It left me with an assumption; they will live the rest of their lives in sadness, regret and silence. Contrary to the other short stories, I felt that A Different Road ended with more unanswered questions. On the other hand, I felt it was an easy reader such as the other short stories.

After another week in this course, I do not find myself enjoying mysteries any more. I do like that I have been exposed to a different group of reading than I typically read. I think it is interesting to be exposed to reading that involves different races, classes, social variants. Some of the story lines can be related to my current live and that of the future. A Different Road made me think about my wife and myself. Had we been put in a similar life or death situation, what would we discuss? Would we express our love for each other? Or would we put blame on unanswered differences? I would hope that it would be the first and we would express our love and gratitude for what we had experiences thus far. I would hate for us to express and exchange words that would be hurtful and leave irreversible scars. Unlike A Different Road, I have not been able to find myself in any of the short stories or novels. I may be able to find characteristics that are similar, but not actually think about myself in characters shoes. Unlike Jimmy and David, I think that I have tried to better myself and prove to be more successful. I hope that my girls will prove themselves to be even better than my wife and myself. I want nothing but the best for my family.