Jan 3, 2010
Birthmates | Birthmates
At a glance:
- Author: Lillian Jen
- First Published: 1995
- Type of Plot: Psychological
- Time of Work: The 1990's
- Setting: An American city
- Principal Characters: Art Woo, Billy Shore, Cindy, Lisa Woo
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: Husbands, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Wives, Traveling or travelers, Twentieth century, 1980’s, Despair, Jealousy, envy, or resentment, Obsession, Fear, Divorce, Death or dying, Hotels, motels, or inns, Business or business people, Success or failure, Bereavement or grief, Chinese Americans, Computers, Urban life
- Locales: United States
The Story
In “Birthmates,” an omniscient narrator representing the central
character's consciousness affirms his financial responsibility for what transpires. In an
effort to save money during an industry slowdown, Art Woo has booked the least expensive
room he could find for a business trip, only to find himself in a strange city on a snowy
December night in front of the locked door of a welfare hotel. His decision to stay at this hotel
and his observations of and responses to these accommodations illuminate his character and his
life situation. He is revealed to be a man...
[The entire page is 1323 words long]
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