Episode 187: Ghosts and Empties by Lauren Groff

The Easy Chair with Laura Hurwitz

This week, I read Lauren Groff’s suburban nightmare/dreamscape story “Ghosts and Empties”. A young mother who has become “a woman who screams” walks every night in her eclectic old Florida neighborhood, exiting her house and tying up her sneakers, leaving her husband and sons as they make their way toward sleep. For her, the night reveals many fascinations- the tragic black swan family, the overweight young man reinventing himself on his treadmill, the sad attrition at the neighborhood nunnery. The night also harbors a devastating secret, personal, unacknowledged, that can’t be screamed away or walked off. Groff’s dramatic phrasing, powerful language, and vivid, surprising imagery will take your breath away. Take a listen. This week’s episode is brought to you by the world’s best electric toothbrush: Quip. Quip’s gentle sonic pulse action and brush heads that are delivered to your door on a dentist-recommended schedule are just a couple of reasons to love Quip. Get your first refill pack free by heading over to GETQUIP.com/EASYCHAIR. I love my Quip toothbrush, and I guarantee you’ll love yours. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.