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A review by literaryelephant
A River in Egypt by David Means
3.0
A 2010 piece about a father and his son awaiting a cystic fibrosis diagnosis. This story highlights the anxiety involved with confirming an unideal diagnosis, and the way that anxiety is complicated by the fact that there's also relief to be found in the moments of not-knowing. There's a wonderful nuance to the complication of emotion in such a situation.
But unfortunately, though I appreciate the concept, this story just wasn't for me. I had a bit of difficulty with the writing style, which tends toward interrupting itself and doubling back in ways that had me occasionally rereading passages to decipher what, exactly, was going on. Then there was the issue of the narration, which focuses entirely on the mind of the father, who projects the thoughts and feelings of other characters. I found it difficult to know whether to trust his assumptions.
But I did feel some of the anxiety described and was convinced to dread the next appointment along with the rest of this family by the story's end, so I cannot say it was entirely ineffectual.
But unfortunately, though I appreciate the concept, this story just wasn't for me. I had a bit of difficulty with the writing style, which tends toward interrupting itself and doubling back in ways that had me occasionally rereading passages to decipher what, exactly, was going on. Then there was the issue of the narration, which focuses entirely on the mind of the father, who projects the thoughts and feelings of other characters. I found it difficult to know whether to trust his assumptions.
But I did feel some of the anxiety described and was convinced to dread the next appointment along with the rest of this family by the story's end, so I cannot say it was entirely ineffectual.