Friday, October 26, 2007

Steve lopez

The article I read was Strangers' paths cross, and a boy's life hangs in the balance

Steve Lopez's writing is very unusual to use in such things as small newspaper articles. He uses a first person view on his stories. While reading his work I felt like I was actually at the instance this car attack happened. His detailed descriptions and use of quotes from people were told in a way to give me a good visual image. An example is
"I sat in the radio room, waiting for the call," he said. When it came, with paramedics reporting they had a child who'd been "hit by a car and dragged," he couldn't believe they were talking about his own son.
I felt the worry, grief, and anxiety that the father had in this moment. It is almost like I believe it more, it is more coming from the father saying it. this is made possible by the first person view that Lopez uses. The quote starts with the word "I", that is exactly what his father was thinking now other doubt about it and it made me feel a little sad for the guy.
Lopez's work just gives a more personal level to the story. I felt the pain of 3 or 4 people in this story.
My favortive part of this article is the beginning. The way he sets up the scene using first person for every different person in the story. Then briefly giving desciption and backrounds and letting me (the reader) become personal with the people.