Bob Dylan.... biographer and storyteller

I surprised myself today, but I can't take full credit. The emotion and appreciation I felt did not bloom from my imagination or interpretation, but I must report on it. Authors, including me, who write fiction especially in the mystery genre, often debate the merits of writing short stories vs novels. I love both and I do agree with shot story writers concerning their efforts, which require a synthesis of many thoughts expressed in fewer words. Their efforts are often described as taking a knife to a story and eliminating most background and developing a character in two sentence. The plot is tight, and for interest, must be sharp or insistent or appealing to a deep seated fear, anxiety, hope or... or. It is a difficult type of story to tell well.

Now imagine Bob Dylan's 2020 new 17 minute song - a story on John F. Kennedy's assignation and the history of the decade. Dylan's reedy voice made me cry. That voice made me relive what all the books and related press stories informed me. I thought I knew every bit of the story, but that voice made me relive the moment of knowledge that 'The king was dead. The young king was dead.' In his story he cryptically and quickly presented history and the the culture of the times. I was moved and I cried and I acknowledge the strength and beauty of this artistic expression. I also remind you and me there are no rules in writing words or in the formatting of those words. Many things work to reach an audience. Dylan reached me.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author