"Anything Helps" is narrated in the third person and the narrator has direct access to the main character's memories and thoughts. This main character, named Bit, is an experienced homeless vagrant who routinely panhandles for money with a cardboard sign reading "anything helps".
The story is intended to be a realistic depiction of Bit's struggle. I doubt that this is a true story but I can imagine many people like Bit who exist in reality. Sometimes fiction can be more "true" than reality. While the teller's motivation is never explicitly stated, I assume that the story exists to shine a light on a marginalized person. This is an honorable intention and it can sometimes backfire when the writer does not have good knowledge of the marginalized person's experiences. Fortunately Jess Walter seems to have a good idea of what a homeless person's life is like. That is what makes this story work.
The story is paced deliberately with very clear scenes that lead to a climax. It's easy to track Bit as he moves from point A to point B. It's the story of someone wanting to do something good for a family member but failing because of real-life circumstances. Bit buys a Harry Potter book for his son Nate but he does not realize that Nate's foster parents prohibit their children from reading Harry Potter. It's the thought that counts and Nate is mature enough to reasonably refuse his father's gift. At this point in the story, we understand Bit's pathos. All he wants is to give his son something so he can feel like good father he never was. It's too late and Nate is clearly better off living with Foster parents, evidenced by his bike and braces, which he likely would not have if he still lived with Bit.
The story is circular in that it ends exactly where it began with Bit panhandling at by the freeway. Bit's mind is on the Harry Potter book and its meaning to him as a reminder of his experiences with Nate. This is an ending that leaves you wanting more, a perfect opening story. There is no closure. We don't know what will happen to Bit. We only know that Bit thinks he would be better off dead like his wife Julie. Perhaps the ending is somewhat hopeful because it depicts Bit finding some solace in one of his darkest moments. I choose to think of the ending in this way.
Other writers on the internet have done some really great writing on this story. I recommend this piece from greatwriterssteal.com.
Buy We Live in Water here:
https://amzn.to/2MMtajd
Related Posts:
The story is intended to be a realistic depiction of Bit's struggle. I doubt that this is a true story but I can imagine many people like Bit who exist in reality. Sometimes fiction can be more "true" than reality. While the teller's motivation is never explicitly stated, I assume that the story exists to shine a light on a marginalized person. This is an honorable intention and it can sometimes backfire when the writer does not have good knowledge of the marginalized person's experiences. Fortunately Jess Walter seems to have a good idea of what a homeless person's life is like. That is what makes this story work.
The story is paced deliberately with very clear scenes that lead to a climax. It's easy to track Bit as he moves from point A to point B. It's the story of someone wanting to do something good for a family member but failing because of real-life circumstances. Bit buys a Harry Potter book for his son Nate but he does not realize that Nate's foster parents prohibit their children from reading Harry Potter. It's the thought that counts and Nate is mature enough to reasonably refuse his father's gift. At this point in the story, we understand Bit's pathos. All he wants is to give his son something so he can feel like good father he never was. It's too late and Nate is clearly better off living with Foster parents, evidenced by his bike and braces, which he likely would not have if he still lived with Bit.
The story is circular in that it ends exactly where it began with Bit panhandling at by the freeway. Bit's mind is on the Harry Potter book and its meaning to him as a reminder of his experiences with Nate. This is an ending that leaves you wanting more, a perfect opening story. There is no closure. We don't know what will happen to Bit. We only know that Bit thinks he would be better off dead like his wife Julie. Perhaps the ending is somewhat hopeful because it depicts Bit finding some solace in one of his darkest moments. I choose to think of the ending in this way.
Other writers on the internet have done some really great writing on this story. I recommend this piece from greatwriterssteal.com.
Buy We Live in Water here:
https://amzn.to/2MMtajd
Related Posts:
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