It is quite entertaining to read in one sitting. Although it is short, it doesn't have much substance.
This piece offers a certain level of amusement that allows the reader to engage with it without much effort. However, its brevity means that it may not delve deeply into the subject matter or provide a great deal of detailed information or profound insights.
Nonetheless, for a quick read that can pass the time and bring a bit of light-hearted entertainment, it serves its purpose. It might not be the most intellectually stimulating or thought-provoking text, but it can still offer a moment of enjoyment.
The best stories are often like a great joke: they need a punchline, a final stroke (of grace), that leaves a mark on the reader. The paradigmatic example of those authors who often don't achieve this is Joe Hill, as I commented in the review of his latest collection: A Graveyard Shift. We could say that, perhaps, he has inherited it from his father, the very famous Stephen King. However, we wouldn't be fair, because there are many short stories and novellas by the Maine writer that do manage to leave a mark. This is not the case with Lunch at the Gotham Cafe.
Turned into a small ninety-six-page book by Nórdica Libros, following the style of The Day Before the Revolution by Ursula K. Le Guin, this edition of the story (which is not even a novella, really) is illustrated by Javier Olivares, one of the best drawers in our country, whom I had the luck to interview at the Celsius Festival a few years ago.
Beyond the fact of sharing his name and surname with the creator of The Ministry of Time, Olivares is famous for having made comics and illustrations based on great works of classic painting like Velázquez or of literature like H. G. Wells. His style, minimalist, with a great visual force capable of deforming reality to convey its horrors, shines above King's story.
In Lunch at the Gotham Cafe, the narrator, in the first person, goes to a restaurant to talk with his future ex-wife about the divorce. He still doesn't understand why she has left him. Is it because of his excessive smoking? Because he is arrogant? Because he thinks he is some kind of macho cowboy? There are many questions that assail a narrator with whom King tries to make us empathize, but fails to achieve it due to a certain misogynistic tone that surrounds him.
Estion's device reports the daily incident. He is at the Gotham Cafe with his wife Diane and his lawyer William Humboldt to sign the divorce papers. However, the restaurant attendant causes something else to happen.
After two years of living with his beautiful and beloved wife, Estion is faced with her request for divorce in a letter. This news surprises him and makes him decide to quit smoking after twenty years. According to him, quitting smoking has two stages: the short physical quitting stage and the time-consuming and long mental quitting stage, which can cause the person to suffer from forgetfulness and mental disorders such as stuttering in speaking and thinking. Also, quitting smoking makes Estion more sensitive to many odors like the smell of red snapper. He also falls prey to some illusions...
Estion arrives at the Gotham Cafe a little early. During a short walk from a store, he buys an umbrella and then enters the restaurant. The headwaiter tells him that he is not allowed to come in with his dog! Estion doesn't pay attention and ignores this warning...
The conversations he has with his wife and her lawyer suddenly take an unexpected turn.
“Me dejo pensando, en plan ‘¿esto es real?’” This audio from TikTok really makes me stop and think. It's a simple yet profound statement that can apply to so many situations in life.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in moments that seem almost too good to be true or too strange to believe. It could be a wonderful opportunity that comes our way, a new relationship that blossoms unexpectedly, or an event that challenges our perception of reality.
When we hear this audio, it triggers a sense of curiosity and wonder within us. We start to question whether what we're experiencing is truly happening or if it's just a dream or an illusion. It makes us reflect on the nature of our experiences and how we perceive the world around us.
Maybe this audio serves as a reminder to stay present and fully engage in the moment, to not take things for granted, and to always be open to the possibility that there's more to what meets the eye. It encourages us to explore our thoughts and feelings and to embrace the unknown with a sense of adventure.
Overall, this TikTok audio has the power to spark a deeper level of thinking and self-reflection, making us more aware of the beauty and mystery that exists in our lives.