Author Rivka Galchen reads her story 'Crown Heights North,' exploring themes of vulnerability, connection, routine, mortality, and unexpected encounters. The story follows a man reflecting on life, love, and the vibrant community around him while jogging, offering a complex and lively picture of his experiences.
Finding solace through a running app's recorded voices offers distraction and comfort during health struggles.
Running serves as a metaphor for grappling with life's uncertainties, finding resilience, and seeking answers about existence.
Deep dives
Discovering a New Companion Through a Running App
Exploring the story of a dead man in his early 50s who decides to use a running app, seeking companionship through the guided runs that offer various voices and encouraging messages. These runs provide data on distance, pace, and badges, reminiscent of a playful Girl Scout or soldier narrative. Despite feeling embarrassed at first, the dead man embraces the app's recorded voice, finding solace and distraction from his hospital struggles.
Embracing Routine and Familiarity in Running
As the dead man starts running daily within his neighborhood park, he gradually strengthens his body and mind. He finds comfort in running familiar paths, opting for recovery runs and guided intervals to motivate and praise his efforts. Running becomes a consistent routine, offering a sense of progress and inner peace amidst his health challenges.
Reflecting on Life, Acceptance, and Struggles
Contemplating his past and present experiences while running, the dead man grapples with themes of life, death, and struggles. Through conversations and memories, he seeks answers about existence, knowledge, and the complexities of belief, both personal and universal. Running becomes a metaphor for contending with problems and finding resilience in the face of uncertainty and illness.
Rivka Galchen reads her story “Crown Heights North,” from the January 1 & 8, 2024, issue of the magazine. Galchen is the author of three books of fiction, including the story collection “American Innovations” and the novel “Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch.”