Unearthing Hidden Treasures: A Discussion on Yard Sale by John Cohen

Short Story Book Club Recap by Alfie Mildburg

Did you miss the most recent Saucer Full of Stories: The Short Story Book Club? The book club’s recent exploration of John Cohen’s Yard Sale sparked a conversation about the nuances of absurdist horror, consumer culture, and storytelling craft. Cohen’s tale, with its uncanny blend of humor and darkness, provided fertile ground for waxing poetic and critiquing our betters.

A Summary of Surreal Simplicity

The story follows Max and Arla, a couple drawn into the peculiar world of a yard sale. As they purchase vintage items—a 1940s radio, a pre-1960s refrigerator, and more—they are pulled into a surreal sequence of events. These objects are not just oddities; they evoke a sense of unease, challenging the boundaries of reality. Max’s greed and Arla’s inertia encapsulate their dysfunction, culminating in an unforgettable conclusion.

Club member Mark aptly noted the potential for Yard Sale to serve as an episode of Tales from the Darkside, citing its macabre humor and surreal ending. This perspective resonated with other members, who commented on the cinematic qualities of Cohen’s prose.

I can see this as a tales from the darkside episode, or Amazing stories episode. More so tales from the darkside because the dark surreal ending.

MARK

Themes of Nostalgia and Consumerism

Max’s obsession with vintage bargains was a focal point of the discussion. Mark observed that Max’s behavior mirrors a broader struggle to move beyond the 20th century, a sentiment echoed by Chauncey, who found the line “Good being anything made before 1950, preferably costing under ten dollars” to reflect his own tendencies. This thematic undercurrent hints at a critique of consumerism and nostalgia, as the couple’s purchases bring little utility or joy.

Absurd Meets the Horrific

The group praised Cohen’s ability to seamlessly transition from mundane absurdity to outright horror. Lothar highlighted how the story wastes no time plunging into its eerie depths, eschewing filler in favor of a tightly packed narrative. However, Chauncey noted a slight dissonance in the story’s pacing, suggesting that a more gradual buildup might have smoothed the transition into absurdity.

The line, “The baby came with the crib,” was celebrated as a moment of darkly comic logic. The group agreed that this embrace of the surreal, rather than denying it, added to the story’s effectiveness.

Stylistic Choices and Literary Influences

Cohen’s prose drew comparisons to literary titans like Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, and Shirley Jackson. The discussion veered into broader territory as members debated writing styles, punctuation, and narrative technique. Lothar emphasized the importance of consistency in stylistic choices, while Mark championed the clarity of Hemingway-esque minimalism. Chauncey described his own stylistic experiments with “run-on sentence sandwiches,” reflecting the group’s appreciation for diverse approaches to storytelling.

…in your head when you are reading, do you read a comma in dialogue as a pause?

CHAUNCEY

Genre and Legacy

Lothar placed Yard Sale within Northrop Frye’s framework of “Legendary” fiction—modern fables with a moral core. The story’s blend of satire and surreal horror, paired with its consumerist critique, evokes a parable-like quality. The group speculated on Cohen’s broader influence, with Mark noting the story’s potential connection to Spielberg’s Minority Report, suggesting Cohen’s ability to traverse genres with ease.

Is Yard Sale by John Cohen a Hidden Treasure

John Cohen’s Yard Sale offered the book club a chance to dive into the eerie, the absurd, and the thought-provoking. As Mark noted, its themes and execution make it a standout piece that lingers long after the final line: “In this life, there are no bargains.” Interested in being apart of Saucer Full of Stories: The Short Story Book Club? Click the button below.

John Cohen’s prose is very easy to read and very visual. Almost cinematic in his stylistic approach. He definitely understands the “Show” in “Show, don’t tell.”

LOTHAR