“People can tell I’m bad and that’s why they don’t like me.”
Short Story Review: “Bad” by Chelsea Martin
When I first read “Bad” by Chelsea Martin, I hated it. It’s long for its subject matter and filled with mundane details that seem to do nothing for the story. The plot seemed extremely “done”… Millennial struggles to find a boyfriend who isn’t a loser, and she hates her job because no one gets her, and life is hard, and she has to look artistically up at the shitty apartment ceiling to visualize her soul. But, after a couple of read-throughs, it’s obvious that “Bad” is deceptive in its delivery.
The story explores the narrator’s relationships with her ex-boyfriends, work, home, and self. She tells us about the decisions she makes and why she makes them: to be petty, to displace vulnerability for her own gain, to find something that finally feels right. She spends time thinking of storm metaphors.
“Bad” features a dystopian-tinted landscape of the narrator’s own making. But it’s not her fault the world around her sucks. Right? It’s the job that’s shitty and not her, right? Or is she a shitty person? What’s the cause and effect here? Who is responsible for these choices she is making?
It’s not that the narrator’s life is mysterious. It’s not that she doesn’t understand what’s going on. If anything, she’s sharper than the others she encounters. She sees and comprehends everything. She’s quick and witty. She just doesn’t know how she fits in this world that she’s in.
What I enjoy about Chelsea Martin’s writing is the frankness with which she tells the story. The writing is simple and funny. In fact, it’s so simple and jokey that if you’re just skimming and not reading closely, you could easily misinterpret the depth of the story. It’s unsettling and sad and actually rather grim.
Check out the story at the link below, then come back here and tell me what you think. Did you think it has a worthwhile narrative to tell? Do you think the details we’re given are important and vital? What about the picture of the burger? How does that fit in? How did the ending make you feel? There’s a lot here to unpack. I can’t wait to talk about it with you.
Link: https://electricliterature.com/i-call-all-my-exes-darren/
