As always, the New Yorker supplies ample amounts of timely fiction and poetry. George Saunders has been a contributing writer for the magazine since 1992, with over twenty published works. In this time of newborn Renaissance, there is an overflowing amount of creativity during these endless days, so no excuses.
There are two recent works of George Saunders that should seep into our minds during the numbness that is the Covid-19 Pandemic.
His piece, “Love Letter” is a homage from a grandfather to his family. I deem that this letter would be worthy of being delivered by pigeon. Following human nature, there are updates about neighbors, relationships and life’s unanswered questions. The underlying wisdom of Saunders bleeds through the words—impossible to miss.
“When you reach a certain age, you see that time is all we have”
There is no way to prepare for this. Perhaps he means this time should be seen as a gift, rather than the elephant in the room that has only grown with passing days.
“Your grandmother and I (and many others) would have had to be more extreme people than we were, during the critical period, to have done whatever it was we should have been doing.”
There are mysteries in his writing, one of my preferred stylistic choices. It is more rewarding for a reader to think deeper about the truth behind the words they read. George Saunders lives and breathes in this nonchalant essence of not giving up all the facts. His words will keep you up thinking in the late hours of the night.
His other work, “A Letter to My Students as We Face the Pandemic,” is a heart wrenching read. Saunders writes to impress no one, and seems to try and bridge an empathetic gap between students and the pandemic. He brings up the point that among human chaos, little bees and animals have no idea what’s happening around them.
Students across the world have packed up and left, losing months of in-person education. It all happened so fast, like the virus. For some going home isn’t an option, and the questions are nonstop. George Saunders speaks to these questions.
“We are (and especially you are) the generation that is going to have to help us make sense of this and recover afterward.”
Is this a glimmer of hope during this dark time? Perhaps the negative connotations that surround millennials will dissolve into admiration for the resilient nature in a post-pandemic society. Maybe this is just an optimistic thought, but one can dream.
“What new forms might you invent, to fictionalize an event like this, where all of the drama is happening in private, essentially? Are you keeping records of the emails and texts you’re getting, the thoughts you’re having, the way your hearts and minds are reacting to this strange new way of living? It’s all important.”
Again, It’s all important. George Saunders reminds us that in fifty years our memory of what’s happening might fade, and the only thing to look back on is personal records, like this blog. His letter to students is like a kick in the right direction to use this time wisely, even though he admits to still figuring out what that means.
The wisest and smartest people on earth are at a loss in this pandemic. One commonality among us all is the unknown that this situation brings. Let’s take this time to try and understand one another.
The Beat @APU 