"Gogol"

I'll be the first to admit that I didn't read this story when assigned. I won't try to vacate myself with pointless excuses and instead will focus on the story at hand. I enjoyed this story far more than I expected to. The author had a very sharp and definitive voice, similar to that of his character. I enjoyed the subtle changes from present to past tense when he moved to the train memory. Here the reader is presented with such a fully formed character in such a short amount of time. Taking the train accident alone, you see how impractical and obsessed the character is. I find it fascinating when writers can craft such intricate characters in such a small amount of time, perhaps because I struggle with the act myself. His language is sparse, rejecting flowery language but still providing that nuanced sense of detail. I must reiterate that I really enjoyed this story, it is definitely worthy of publication in such a journal as the New Yorker.