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My Mom told me about him. My teachers made me read his work (his short story was required reading when I was 14). My aunts love his books.The friends I've introduced him to are grateful. My reading group on Facebook overflows with 'comments', 'likes' and 'loves' when I mention his name.
In this newsletter, I talk about my love-hate appreciation of Paul Gallico. |
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Dear Reader,
Reactions to the name Paul Gallico range from 'never heard of him' to 'love everything he has written'.My personal reaction, however, is a bit different. Possibly a bit weird. Paul W. Callico happens to be my all-time favourite author. (Yes, even more favourite than JK Rowling, who is, by the way, a fan of Gallico's herself!)
What's weird about an author being my favourite author?
Well, what's weird is that I don't love everything Paul W. Gallico has written. In fact, I find some of his books downright boring. And that's precisely why I admire him so much.
The fact is, the man doesn't mind taking risks. To say that his writing fits no particular genre is quite an understatement. He has written everything, from light romances to ghost stories, from animal stories to biographies, from detective stories to religious tales. There is nothing formulaic about these stories, there is no set pattern or style. When you pick up a Gallico book, it's like trying out a flavour of Bertie-Botts every flavour beans. You don't know what you're going to get. And sometimes you get something extraordinarily brilliant, while at other times you get something boring, or something you can't quite stomach.
Paul Gallico has written some highly acclaimed long-short-stories, and since this is the Short Stories newsletter, I'll talk about the themes he covers in these.
!. The Snow Goose
Possibly his most famous work. A wistful, almost-romance, set against the backdrop of war. Could be seen as real or allegorical, with the Snow Goose symbolising multiple things -- purity, innocence, peace ... Left me feeling bereft.
Characters - a girl, an artist and a bird.
2. Small Miracle
Often published in combination with 'The Snow Goose', this one has a similar touch to the writing, only it goes the other way, leaving one feeling warm and fuzzy. A simple tale of unyielding faith in the face of extreme odds, with lovely, everyday people rubbing shoulders with the elite.
Characters - a boy, his donkey, his friends, His Holiness the Pope and various officials at the Vatican.
3. Coronation
A brilliantly constructed plot. The consummate story of how not-getting something craved for and coveted can be the ultimate gain. A family, on a glorious quest, thwarted yet victorious. Can be read as a simple story of a day gone wrong, or a philosophical take on what to do when life hands you lemons.
Characters - a foreman, his wife, their two small children, the wife's mother, a cheating ticket-monger (offstage), Her Majesty the Queen (offstage), various guards and officials, a courteous waiter in the dining-car on the train.
4. The Day the Guinea Pig Talked
This one has been classified as 'children's' -- but I say it's for everyone.
A little girl, her beloved pet, and magic.
They understand each other already, but are granted the wish of actually speaking one another's language for twelve seconds one particular night, as the clock chimes the midnight hour. The two think keenly -- what is it that needs to be communicated so desperately that it needs language? There is so much they have to say to each other. The hour comes. Each utters a sentence. The same sentence.
Characters - girl, guinea pig.
I could go on. Gallico had made me laugh, made me cry, made me think and question -- and made me yawn, too, of boredom! But I wouldn't change any of it. He's my all-time favourite author.
I'll leave you with a sample of his work.
FROM: THE MAN WHO WAS MAGIC by PAUL GALLICO
The City of the Magicians
The stranger, dusty and travel-stained, accompanied by the small mop of a dog at his heels, emerged from the cool darkness of the woods where they had spent the night and paused for a moment in wonder at the first sight of their goal, Mageia, the magical city.
Mageia could be located somewhere west of east – just to the south of north and only a mile or so over the boundary of time, so that there was very little difference between yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Perched upon a crag, seen from the valley below with its stone wall and towers, spires and turrets rising above, shining, in the early morning sunlight, it gave the impression of an island floating in the sky. Before proceeding up the winding pathway that climbed to the foot of the great bronze gates, the stranger wondered whether perhaps it was no more than the grandest illusion created by the world’s illusionists who lived there.
“Look, Mopsy,’ he said, addressing his dog, “there it is! Do you suppose it’s real?”
“Well, Adam,” the dog replied, “as long as we’ve come this far, why don’t we go the rest of the way and find out?”
Thanks for listening!
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All-time favourites!
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Quick-Quill 
Whether this was your intention or not you subtly gave writers a diverse plot pattern. After setting the plotline, throw in something that takes the focus from the goal by distraction. Think of Dorothy in WOZ, she got sidetracked when they went through the poppy field. While it wasn't critical, you could make it so. Your MC is in a fender bender. I had one where two sub characters were in an accident. You didn't realize it until later, it detained the would be bombers getting to the airport. Detain, not stoop. But it added tension to the story. (I never finished it)
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Short Stories: June 05, 2019 Issue [#9576]
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