Why We Broke Up discussion

"Why We Broke Up", by Daniel Handler throws a reader and writer into a story of a different kind of relationship. Between two teenagers they fall for each other but are reminded of their social statuses in the high school hierarchy. After reading this book multiple times in middle school, I picked it up again my senior year. There is a beauty that comes with flipping through the same pages in the palms of the same person- but looking at it from a different perspective.

I found myself examining the timeline of the unique story; taking note of how seamless and straightforward Handler made it seem to jump from one story in the present to one just months before. The book itself follows the memories and the stories of objects given to Min by Ed, in the format of a letter. “We hid in A-Post Novelties peeking through the racks of whatnot...This camera is the only thing you got me from A-Post novelties, Ed, I’ll grant you that...I’m giving you back, this thing you gave me as the star we were waiting for finally emerged.” This unique storyline left me wondering how I could implement seamless storytelling, especially with such clarity when jumping from moment to moment from the past.

Writing a cliche only works if you make your characters relatable. Silly, but true- Handler introduced the artsy misunderstood girl, and paired her with the jock. An unexpected pair having to constantly validate their relationship to those around them but I saw parts of myself within them, even though they were characters I had seen in lots of movies and books. Handler gave backstories and unique characteristics that made them not so cliche and I started to implement that type of characterization into my own short stories. Min has a great affinity for old films and they have become ingrained in her everyday vocabulary. The way she describes the theater she comes to once a week allows me to know that she loves everything that comes with watching films in theaters that are isolated. “What I wanted is what I got. We sat in the sixth row where I always like it. The fading mural, the sticky floor, The bearded men identical and separated in faraway seats, like the corners of a rectangle…”. The quirks may be small but they’re necessary in order to feel a connection to any given character, regardless of how different they may seem to us from the beginning.

Lastly, I find it important to mention how strong the voice is in this piece. Going from character to character it was as though I could hear them myselves, as though they were on the phone with me, telling me everything. With my major pieces there has been an absence of voice within my writings, and it has hurt my overall purpose. Sometimes all it takes is to add a few strong words or to change how something is explained, in order to fully convey what I am saying.

This book has grown with me over the years and I turned to it at different points in my life. I never thought I would re read it with the purpose of improving or learning new things for writing purposes, but it has surprised me in what it has to offer.