Comments on: Armadillos I Have Known http://meowhouse.net/2007/11/30/armadillos-i-have-known/ this isn't meant to last, this is for. right. now. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:13:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Meow House http://meowhouse.net/2007/11/30/armadillos-i-have-known/#comment-2539 Meow House Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:59:52 +0000 http://meowhouse.net/2007/11/30/armadillos-i-have-known/#comment-2539 Hi, I know what you mean--seems weird that it was changed. It became much darker. Brady Udall read the story for CPR though so he must have made the changes. It's possible the original version was the one read: I could only find it online in that version which I believe was a direct reprint for Story Magazine, and they might have altered it (or had it altered) to suit their readership. I do think the radio version is much more powerful, even though the narrator comes off as a sadistic whacko. But that is what got to me so much. I don't think I would have burst into tears and been ready to notify the police with the tamer ending. I think in fiction the goal of the author is to create an emotion within the readers that makes them identify with, or love, or hate, the characters. I think Udall accomplished that with the CPR version. Thank you for commenting! I was surprised someone read this far back. :-) Hi, I know what you mean–seems weird that it was changed. It became much darker. Brady Udall read the story for CPR though so he must have made the changes. It’s possible the original version was the one read: I could only find it online in that version which I believe was a direct reprint for Story Magazine, and they might have altered it (or had it altered) to suit their readership.

I do think the radio version is much more powerful, even though the narrator comes off as a sadistic whacko. But that is what got to me so much. I don’t think I would have burst into tears and been ready to notify the police with the tamer ending. I think in fiction the goal of the author is to create an emotion within the readers that makes them identify with, or love, or hate, the characters. I think Udall accomplished that with the CPR version.

Thank you for commenting! I was surprised someone read this far back. :-)

]]> By: BoulderBill http://meowhouse.net/2007/11/30/armadillos-i-have-known/#comment-2535 BoulderBill Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:34:36 +0000 http://meowhouse.net/2007/11/30/armadillos-i-have-known/#comment-2535 I knew this was a work of fiction when I heard it on NPR, but my question was, "Why the change in ending?" Did the author make the change or was it requested? And wasn't someone smart enough to know that it diminished the published short story? This revised version took a moving piece of fiction and turned it into a story about a twisted wacko who, twice a year, tries to drown an armadillo and in such a way that he will eventually succeed. Leaves one wondering just how long before he turns on his kids... probably not the original intent of the author. I knew this was a work of fiction when I heard it on NPR, but my question was, “Why the change in ending?” Did the author make the change or was it requested?

And wasn’t someone smart enough to know that it diminished the published short story?

This revised version took a moving piece of fiction and turned it into a story about a twisted wacko who, twice a year, tries to drown an armadillo and in such a way that he will eventually succeed. Leaves one wondering just how long before he turns on his kids… probably not the original intent of the author.

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