Nell Lake

The Bread of Life

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

This is a lyrical short memoir that manages to be touching without being overly sentimental. We found the mix of direct scene and reflection effective. We offer one suggestion. Imagine what one small change could do: Remove the “would” ‘s … Read more

Free Wheelin’

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

This short piece entertains while providing an appropriately complex portrayal of a man who has suffered but whose spirit, or will anyway, seems irrepressible. We particularly liked the opening line for its writerliness, and the ending quote for the way … Read more

Looking Out for Roberta

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

We liked the topic of this narrative, and we appreciated Laughlin’s clarity in laying out its themes. Through a narrative approach, she reveals the cultural and legal ramifications of Sophia Addo’s death on 9/11 and the ways in which her … Read more

Remember His Name

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

Smith writes in a folksy, manly voice—as if he were saying, “gather round, boys, and I’ll tell you a story about daring, heroism and doing the right thing, even when the world seems bent on doing wrong.” It’s a captivating … Read more

Reliving the Morning of Death

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

This narrative succeeds because of the clarity with which it sequences events and because of its evocative detail. Its wrenching emotional content springs from such detail: the mother’s instructions for caring for her children, the pilot’s farm, the cell phone … Read more

The Eye of the Storm

By Notable Narratives September 17, 2006

This narrative of horror and escape is plainly and clearly told. Published the day after the 9/11 attacks on New York, it must have helped readers begin to hold the enormity of the event in their minds. Years later, its … Read more