TCR Story of the Month for July: "Readers and Writers" by Ryan Boudinot

Ryan Boudinot

The Committee Room proudly offers "Readers and Writers" by Ryan Boudinot as TCR Story of the Month for July. In this superb work of magic realism, a man reading on his daily bus commute strikes up a conversation with another man, a stranger, who happens to be reading the same book. Ensuing events raise fascinating questions of identity and life's purpose.

TCR Story of the Month highlights an outstanding work of short fiction published online within the preceding twelve months.

Ryan Boudinot is Executive Director of Seattle City of Literature. He's the author of the novels Blueprints of the Afterlife and Misconception and the story collection The Littlest Hitler.

"Readers and Writers" was published in Post Road Magazine (Issue 24, 2013).

 I was standing in the aisle on page 238 of Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals when a guy tapped me on the arm. Heavy-set, looked my age, shaved head, slightly tinted glasses, walrus mustache. He held up his copy of the same book.

"Funny," I said, "What page are you on?"

"Just got to 239."

We had a laugh over this. The Republican National Convention of 1860 was getting underway and soon it would be my stop. Before I hopped off, I told him my name was Phillip. He said his name was Marty...

To read all of "Readers and Writers" click here

TCR Chats with Author Ryan Boudinot

Q: How long have you been writing?
A: I've been writing since I was six years old.

Q: Where did you get the idea for "Readers and Writers?"
A: I just started thinking about how there are other people who happen to be reading whatever book I happen to be reading at the same time. Then I thought it would be fun to push that idea further.

Q: Who are some of your favorite classic authors?
A: Bruno Schulz, Isaac Babel, Kafka, Borges...

Q: Who are some of your favorite contemporary authors?
A: Matthew Simmons, Karen Finneyfrock, Rebecca Brown, Andri Magnason, Sjon, Gary Lutz... Poets, too. I just picked up the new book by Patricia Lockwood. Mary Ruefle is fantastic.

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