What a powerful story! It has a strong narrative drive; it is full of
ironic and surprising turns.
Reflections on death and mortality could be fertile and lead to
interesting thoughts about man and his existence. But Hugo concentrates
obsessively on death and the mechanized rituals of the funeral, which
leads him and his meaningless life to the final nothingness, to "the
rubbish heap of human existence." He is aware of the fake speeches and
fake feelings of the bereaved, but this does not make him turn to life
and his fellow human beings. Very bitter. GN
Peter Freund's short story "The Funeral Attendant's Diary" has just
appeared in the literary journal Exquisite Corpse. You can find it online at:
appeared in the literary journal Exquisite Corpse. You can find it online at:
