Chloe Response Essay 
Chloe Butler Butler 1
Professor Hale
English 1302- Lamar High School
10 February 2015
Response Essay over Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape
In the abstract short story “Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape” by Amanda Brown, the reader orates a long list of hit love songs from the eighty’s and ninety’s. In the short story there is no imagery, similes, metaphors, allusions, or foreshadowing. However there is a particular irony with Browns’ writing style- it begins and ends with the same song. “‘All By Myself’ (Eric Carmen)” (1) and (27). Despite if Browns’ short story is a reflection of her personal love life or just her outlook on love, it is an unusual and interesting piece of literature about everyone’s favorite subject- love and tragedy.
When the reader first reads this short story, it is puzzling and random, but as it is read multiple times you begin to understand Browns’ writing style and her unusual development. The reader starts to recognize that the songs represent certain moments of a person’s life when they are at a particular stage in love. For example, a person starts out alone in life, “’All By Myself (Eric Carmen)” (1). Then a person begins the torturous hunt for love, “’Looking for Love (Lou Reed)” (1). When a person finally finds that one person, they begin to become physical with one another and become even more attached to that one special person, perhaps hey even begin a relationship, “’Let’s Talk About Sex” (Salt N’ Peppa)” (3). “’I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (The Ramones)” (4). The establishment of every relationship is the best part and the happiest time for the couple, therefore the cheeriest and sweetest songs are the beginning of this short story.
Butler 2
When a couple feels like they know everything about one another, and cannot imagine their life’s without the other, they get engaged, “’Love and Marriage’ (Frank Sinatra)” (7). Following the couples engagement is their beautiful and joyous wedding, “’White
Professor Hale
English 1302- Lamar High School
10 February 2015
Response Essay over Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape
In the abstract short story “Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape” by Amanda Brown, the reader orates a long list of hit love songs from the eighty’s and ninety’s. In the short story there is no imagery, similes, metaphors, allusions, or foreshadowing. However there is a particular irony with Browns’ writing style- it begins and ends with the same song. “‘All By Myself’ (Eric Carmen)” (1) and (27). Despite if Browns’ short story is a reflection of her personal love life or just her outlook on love, it is an unusual and interesting piece of literature about everyone’s favorite subject- love and tragedy.
When the reader first reads this short story, it is puzzling and random, but as it is read multiple times you begin to understand Browns’ writing style and her unusual development. The reader starts to recognize that the songs represent certain moments of a person’s life when they are at a particular stage in love. For example, a person starts out alone in life, “’All By Myself (Eric Carmen)” (1). Then a person begins the torturous hunt for love, “’Looking for Love (Lou Reed)” (1). When a person finally finds that one person, they begin to become physical with one another and become even more attached to that one special person, perhaps hey even begin a relationship, “’Let’s Talk About Sex” (Salt N’ Peppa)” (3). “’I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (The Ramones)” (4). The establishment of every relationship is the best part and the happiest time for the couple, therefore the cheeriest and sweetest songs are the beginning of this short story.
Butler 2
When a couple feels like they know everything about one another, and cannot imagine their life’s without the other, they get engaged, “’Love and Marriage’ (Frank Sinatra)” (7). Following the couples engagement is their beautiful and joyous wedding, “’White