Category: Reels, Records, & Reads

Horror Stories Are OK

…if They Are Educational?

What was you first experience with a well written horror story? My guess is that some story by Edgar Allan Poe will come to mind for many of you, it does for me. I read “The Cask of Amontillado” when I was in the seventh grade and it began a life long appreciation for gothic and horror literature.

With the Halloween season upon us I decided to give the story another look, and I came away with a few observations. First, the exposition of the story discusses some of the finer points of revenge. Second, there is a whole lot of drinking going on in this story (hell, the title references booze). Finally, the protagonist plans and executes what he feels is a perfect murder. It’s a well written, compact story that incorporates many elements of classic gothic fiction, but I don’t remember the teacher discussing these points way back in junior high. I do have vague recollections of her covering the plot in broad strokes with more of a focus on the general gothic mood of the story.

I figure my teacher all those years ago was more interested in teaching Poe the author (the man’s tormented life plays a large role in his appeal to many people) than really focusing on the content and context of the story itself. I do remember the class reading it and enjoying it. But I can’t help but think that today, in a world where it seems so many people are easily offended, if teaching the horror classics of Poe would still be considered acceptable and/or educational?

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Reels, Records, & Reads

Edgar Allan Poe

  • The Masque of Red Death with Vincent Price, Hazel Court, and Jane Asher
  • The Beautiful Cigar Girl by Daniel Stashower
  • Closed on Account of Rabies by Various Artists

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The Work That is Retail

One Writer’s Experience

Even die hard Amazon shoppers find themselves in a brick and mortar store from time to time. Whether it is a trip to a small business (a few remain in the era of the big box) or a major name retailer you are likely to interact with a salesperson or two. Most of us who have retail experience have learned how to politely and properly interact with salespeople. For those who haven’t done time in retail a good book to read is Malled My Unintentional Career in Retail by Caitlin Kelly.

Kelly’s book was published over a decade ago so some of the statistics she provides will be out of date. But it’s not just the data that makes Kelly’s book worth the read. Kelly provides a well thought and well written insight into what it is like to work in retail sales. Kelly’s “career in retail” can be easily understood by those who have never worked in retail. For those of us who have been in retail the book feels like a conversation with a coworker in the break room. Much of what she writes about retail may seem, for those of us who’ve been there, common knowledge, but Kelly approaches her topic with a sense of self awareness and at times humility. Anyone interested in learning about or relating with how a large portion of the workforce earn a living should give Kelly’s book a read.

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