"Some Other, Better Otto" is a short story by American writer Deborah Eisenberg. It was originally published in the collection Twilight of the Superheroes in 2006. In the story, middle-aged protagonist, Otto, dreads the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with his family. As the gathering approaches, Otto becomes increasingly hostile toward his partner and siblings. These interactions challenge Otto to face the unanswerable questions of his past. The third person narrative explores themes including family and childhood, meaning and purpose, and the passage of time.
The characters in Deborah Eisenberg's stories are often lost. Whether they travel through a foreign country or their own equally alien, familiar worlds, they are on quests of discovery. Throughout her...
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Deborah Eisenberg