Re: JCO: Upon the Sweeping Flood

Hi Cyrano,
That is exactly what I meant, about the unsuspected "primitive"
instincts that are experienced through her stories. The nightmarish
images of rapes and shootings, a young girl with her throat slashed, all
unthinkable such a short time ago, seemed straight out of a JCO story.
Thanks for your response. I too am feeling nostalgic for the 20th
century.
Jane
----- Original Message -----
From: <Cyranomish@aol.com>
To: <jco@usfca.edu>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 4:01 AM
Subject: Re: JCO: Upon the Sweeping Flood

> Hi, Jane. "Upon the Sweeping Flood" is a prime example of the kind
of JCO
> story wherein a "normal, decent" person discovers -- while under
unprecedented
> stress -- that he/she contains heretofore unsuspected reserves of
violence and
> "primitive" instincts. The widespread civil breakdown around the
recent
> hurricane is a frightening illustration of how fragile society really
is. At
> first -- up here in Boston -- people were chuckling at the image of
people
> stealing TVs during the floods, but that quickly gave way to
speechless dismay when
> the silly luxury-item thefts turned into rapes and fights over food
and
> drinking water. Personally, I have a renewed appreciation for
civilization
> post-Katrina. (I'm also feeling increasingly nostalgic for the 20th
century :>}) I
> don't think I'm the only person who is now pondering a game plane
should such a
> catastrope strike my own region. For example: can I perform basic
first aid?
> Do I have an escape route in mind? Do I have relatives or friends in
other
> parts of the world who would be willing to host me and my family for a
few
> weeks if we lost everything we had?
> JCO has never lost sight of the fact that many Americans live a
> relatively protected life from the miseries that plague many other,
less affluent parts
> of the world.
> Cyrano
>
> In a message dated 9/7/2005 1:48:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> jward1108@hotmail.com writes:
>
> << The first time I read Upon the Sweeping Flood, I could not
understand
> the ending. I now have a hard time reading about the crazed
protagonist
> beating the life out of the boy. Watching the horror on TV about such
> things happening on such a massive scale in New Orleans made me think
> again about this story. JCO's realistic portrayal of senseless
tragedy
> captured that sense of horror.
> Jane >>
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