Joyce Goldenstern

A Favorite Story: “Feathers” by Raymond Carver

Failed Transcendance I always liked his titles,” said author Richard Ford. “They often seemed arbitrary and hooked onto the story; but as titles they seem to be quirky, and affecting, and new” (Ford qtd. in Halpert 172). Richard Ford was speaking of the rambling, memorable titles of Raymond Carver’s short stories, titles such as “WhatContinue reading “A Favorite Story: “Feathers” by Raymond Carver”

Massachusetts Murder Mystery

This story was first published in J Journal: New Writing on Justice (Vol. 6 #1. Spring 2013). It later was republished in my chapbook Way Stops Americana, which won the Gambling the Aisle chapbook contest of 2018 and which is described below the story. Massachusetts Murder Mystery My Life had stood – a Loaded GunContinue reading “Massachusetts Murder Mystery”

Monadnock on the Prairie

Having volunteered as a docent for seven years with the Chicago Architecture Foundation (now Chicago Architecture Center), I came to love many Chicago buildings. The following essay is about one of those — the Monadnock building at Dearborn and Jackson. The essay was first published in Museum of Americana. It was later republished in my chapbook WayContinue reading “Monadnock on the Prairie”

Connections that Open Up

A linguistic look at a folktale Marvels and Tales “Marvels & Tales is a peer-reviewed journal that is international and multidisciplinary in orientation. The journal publishes scholarly work dealing with the fairy tale in any of its diverse manifestations and contexts. Marvels & Tales provides a central forum for fairy-tale studies by scholars of literature, folklore, genderContinue reading “Connections that Open Up”

Red Shoes: Inspired by a Folktale

This prose piece was first published in North American Review (July, August 1994, Vol. 279, No. 4) It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen. Red Shoes Okay, you see him on the corner. The soldier with the rusty beard, the crippled arm. And a memory is stirred. It could be any corner. Any crippled arm.Continue reading “Red Shoes: Inspired by a Folktale”