In today’s double-whammy podcast, I discuss Stephen King’s novella, The Mist—one of King’s best and most gripping yarns, IMO—I then don my monocle to shift gears into high-brow territory as my special guest (my wife) and I delve into the equally terrifying (jk) tale that is Kazuo Ishiguro’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, The Remains of the Day.
My hormone-fueled self would have adored The Mist. And how could it not? It’s got everything a head-bangin’ D&D nerd could want. It’s your everyday story about everyday grocery shoppers fighting for their lives as monsters attempt (and usually succeed) to eat them. And like I’ve always said, monsters make everything more interesting! What would likely bring teenage Nick to tears of boredom, I imagine, is The Remains of the Day, a subtle period drama about the life of a fussy butler named Stevens, a real-life, flesh-and-blood C3P0 whose greatest challenge is polishing up the silverware in time for dinner. But for a crusty 50-year-old author seeking more nuanced storytelling, I found Kazuo’s tale thought-provoking and heart-stirring, even without the monsters. In all seriousness, The Remains of the Day explores life, regret, and how our choices define who we are.
Of course, now that I think of it, how Stevens would handle the mist outside his estate of Darlington Hall might make for riveting fiction! How to clean up all those dead bodies in time for tea! My next novel, perhaps? The Remains of the Mist?
The Art of Storytelling 
Leave a comment