Join us virtually on Monday, July 27th at 7pm EST to discuss the short story “Jason Who Will Be Famous”, which follows Jason’s inner narration of a fantasy in which he (like the title suggests) finally becomes famous. We’ll compare Dorothy Allison’s 2008 story with James Thurber’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939), a story about a man who continually fades in and out of reality as he imagines himself as a famous military officer, then a surgeon, then a gun slinger… If you’re in the mood to laugh, and if you’ve ever dreamed of something miraculous happening and changing your life for good, then this story is for you! We’ll consider: when do our fantasies inspire us, and when do they prevent us from taking action? How do these authors portray these (very similar) characters differently?
Jason Who Will Be Famous: New stories from the South : the year’s best, 2010 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Microsoft Word – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.doc
Discussion takes place virtually via Google Meet. Capped at 10 people. A discussion guide will be sent 2 days in advance to session participants!