The 70's =]

"How to Win"-Rosellen Brown

In "How to Win", Rosellen shows one of her main themes that are shown in a lot of her stories.  "How to Win" is about a family who has a son named C.  His full name is Christopher, but that was the name he was born with, when he was "normal."  Now, he is different, so his name is just C.  With C being a "problem child," his parents are faced with difficulties that a normal family wouldn't be faced with.  This is the main theme of Rosellen's stories: "disasters that are ever-impending in everyday American families.

In the 70's, Congress had passed a law that made it so public schools had to let all children with disabilities be eligible for an education.  This Law was called Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  In "How to Win," C goes to a public school.  The time period reflects the story well. 

"Verona:A Young Women Speaks"- Harold Brodkey

In "Verona:A Young Women Speaks," Brodkey uses very, very long sentences.  He is known to do this in his stories.  His sentences are usually over 100 words, but flow together well.  He uses wonderful punctuation to make his long sentences orderly. 

The story "Verona:A Young Women Speaks" is about a trip to Verona, where the daughter of a man and women is basically spoiled for one good "get away."  Not only is she lavished in many new things, but her parents are being spoiled too.  "Daddy was a fountain of money:he said it was a spree; he meant for us to be amazed; he had saved money-we weren't really rich but we were to be for this trip."(534)  This trip to Verona was planned to be a good trip, and the family was going to do anything in their power to make it happen.  They had saved up money, and now it was their time to shine.