Today, Matt Hernandez dives headfirst into John Updike’s “A&P,” a seemingly simple snapshot of a supermarket that packs a powerful punch. Matt’s not just offering an interpretation; he’s grappling with the story's layers of observation, performance, and unspoken tensions, much like he’d do with Carol Shields’ “Scenes.” He’s inviting you to join in, exploring questions like: What does it mean to ‘quit’? How much of our behavior is performative? And what do a supermarket and a teenager have in common?

Like exploring a new grocery store, Matt considers the story’s details – the three girls in bathing suits, Sammy’s boss, the act of ‘I quit’ – and links them to larger themes of American culture, generational differences, and the anxieties of the modern workplace. Just like in ‘Scenes’, this story is a single scene that sparks contemplation and invites us to examine our own behaviors and perspectives. Join Matt as he dissects this story, prompting you to consider your own interpretations and experiences. Because just like a grocery store, it's never just a simple transaction." PDF to this story: https://www.sevanoland.com/uploads/1/1/8/0/118081022/a_p.pdf Listen to the story with commentary: https://the-new-yorker-fiction-4473086b.simplecast.com/episodes/allegra-goodman-reads-john-updike-csxd_T6k This story and others by John Updike are featured in Pigeon Feathers And Other Stories: https://bookshop.org/p/books/pigeon-feathers-and-other-stories-john-updike/083a6d1631dffedd?ean=9780679645764&next=t

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