Outside of a Dog: McKinley, Robin: Knot in the Grain and Other Stories, A

Pam

Pam wrote on October 11, 2002 at 11:57 PM:

Regarding small upstate NY towns and economic development: I first read this book (and the title story) shortly after moving back to Chicago from Ithaca, and upon reading that bit, about how all the local folks were opposed to the highway and poo-pooed the idea of economic development, I immediately thought, "Aha! These people obviously live in Ithaca, NY," 'cause that attitude is spot-on for that town. I still remember the huge local controversy over whether or not the town should let Wal-Mart build a store there, and the huge amount of resistance to it. (They already had a highway, you see.)

I also recall a lot of support for the town to put the screws to Cornell University, to try to get more money out of them than Cornell already "voluntarily" contributed. Being a tax-exempt institution and all, the city didn't feel Cornell was contributing enough to the community, or something. They conveninetly ignored the fact that without the university, Ithaca would be just another economically-depressed rural upstate NY town.

Castiron

Castiron wrote on October 18, 2002 at 5:57 PM:

On "The Healer" -- in _The Hero and the Crown_, Luthe has a throwaway line in his first meeting with Aerin to the effect of "I will claim that as consolation, but evidently I have not yet learned to make a simple sleeping potion correctly. Lily would be ashamed of me." Makes me wonder whether "The Healer" was written around the same time, or whether McKinley looked at her book one day and said, "Hmm, who _is_ Lily anyway?"

Kate

Kate wrote on October 18, 2002 at 6:23 PM:

I'd missed that reference; thanks for pointing it out.

I know some people who keep hoping for more Damar books based on Aerin's visions, but it's not looking too likely at this point, I think...