Critical Response #2

Critical Response #2 of “Bon Appetite” by Nate

This was an interesting story. I especially liked the pun in the title and how it makes a personal connection for those of us who are obligated to eat at our cafeteria. I liked the comments made about the people making the food and how they are nice people, for the most part, but they “are just having a bad day,” and to joke, or maybe it isn’t meant as a joke, that “people…maybe forgetting to wash their hands after last night’s Taco Bell finally runs its course.” Very clever and humorous phrasing. Although I think if this is in reference to the mostly Hispanic workers at Bon Appetite at Whittier College, I think it would be better to eliminate any sense of racism by choosing a different fast food chain.

A couple sentences from the end, it seems to be a little out of character when the narrator discusses its ability to read people. There are just two sentences that feel sort of hurriedly placed to tie in the meat of the story to the conclusion. The ending itself also feels a little rushed. I don’t think having the narrator say that it has become a Buddhist by the end of the conversation, is necessary. Does that mean that it thinks it will come back in a later life as something more? But I do like the last sentence and how the story ends with “bite me.” A small question, or comment I guess, is to possibly break this monologue into a couple paragraphs.

Overall, I like the touch of humor used in telling this story because made it easy and fun to read.