More Fiction Packet #2

My first impression of the story, "People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water" in the second fiction packet was that it dealt in a great deal of exposition and plenty of build up.  This story was interesting, because it consisted of a large amount of concrete details and specific imagery.  The poetic language was very effective in conveying the story to the reader and was very aesthetically pleasing.  The story effectively paints a picture of the setting and what is occurring between characters, even though not much happens at the beginning of the tale.

This story was thoroughly entertaining, as it powerfully illustrated hardships in the west between various families in the early 20th century.  One of the more interesting aspects of the story is how the author is able to fluidly switch from one family's perspective to another.  The sensory language within the story definitely pulls you in at the beginning, as the language is harsh and emotionally charged.  At first, it is unclear where the setting truly takes place, as it uses modern places and attributes to describe the setting: "Fences, cattle, roads, refineries, mines, gravel pits, traffic lights, graffiti’d celebration of athletic victory on bridge overpass, crust of blood on the Wal-Mart loading dock, the sun-faded wreaths of plastic flowers marking death on the highway are ephemeral."  It appears, though, that this text serves as some sort of intro or foreword, acting as some sort of message before the actual story.  The transition is confusing, however the rest of the story seems to follow uniformity following the Dunmires and the Tinsleys.  

What occurs within the story is also very emotionally-charged, given the obstacles placed in front of either family during the harsh seasons in the west.  This story is interesting because it brings to light many brutal and grating issues they face and the decisions they face.  I was notably shaken by the actions of the Tinsleys, such as when Mrs. Tinsley throws her child in the water, thus committing murder.  I enjoyed this story a great deal, as it emulated the effectiveness of a brief tale as opposed to an extensively long one.