Jaws by Donald Barthelme

No, not the Spielberg film with the same title.

I still can't believe that February is already over! It all feels like a blur. I hope to carry over the reading momentum from the end of last month into March and plan on reviewing even more short-stories, time permitting. Today's random pick was pretty good but lacked a certain proverbial bite (sorry, I just couldn't resist). 

Donald Barthelme's unconventional narrative approach doesn't always work for me; however, when he hits his stride, the impact is undeniable. "The School" is a perfect example and among my all-time favorite short stories. It highlights his gift where his distinctive style (playful, digressive, and philosophical) transcends mere experimentation, coalescing into a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant work that exemplifies the profound synergy of his literary prowess. In Jaws, there are moments when the story feels like it is building up towards this level of greatness before deflating into more of a thought-experiment. 

The narrator, Rex, is a clerk at the local A&P and finds himself drawn into the relationship drama of William and Natasha who are regular patrons of the store (a possible reference to John Updike's story?) He assumes this unconventional position of being a relationship coach for each of them, offering advice to help resolve their conflict--Natasha finds out that William is cheating on her. Feeling hurt and angry at this betrayal, she sneaks up on him in the shower and bites a chunk out of his shoulder (hence the title). Rex's ennui or listlessness as a clerk hints at a potential eagerness to vicariously embrace a more thrilling existence through his interaction with this particularly odd couple.

Moreover, beyond his clerical duties, Rex emerges as a kind of of philosopher:

"I don't believe that we are is what we do, although many thinkers argue otherwise. I believe that what we do is, very often, a poor approximation of what we are -- an imperfect manifestation of a much better totality. Even the best of us sometimes bite off, as it were, less than we can chew."

The use of ironic humor is where Bartheleme really shines. It is these clever, insightful and downright amusing moments that make him worth reading. I just wish there were more of them in this story.

Or, maybe Rex is just keen to being a model employee at A&P, providing the best possible customer service so these patrons continue to shop here. The story concludes with a clever punchline that elicited a hearty chuckle from me: "Our organization firmly supports them."

See, that's funny, right?