Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

Author Z.Z. Packer expresses herself through a series of short stories “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” in a very deep intellectual way. Her character choices are very vibrant and often speak as though they are the core representation of a specific time or era. They also have individual revelations or situations they learn from. In the story about an African American college student, Parker takes the reader through an ironic personality twist. The girl struggles with an identity crisis and later is sent to a place where she feels more comfortable by the lack of communication with the outside world. Parker uses imagery throughout the story, which helps the reader to connect more vividly to the subject matter.  Her use of metaphors seems strange to me but somehow work for the story. She compared Heidi, a friend of the main character, to a beautiful dolphin. The thing I liked most about the story is the fact that Parker never tells the reader what to think; instead she shows the reader through the dialogue exactly what the character is expressing about their personality or theme to the story. It was also very different and refreshing to read something written in the first person narrative. It gives the reader a since of connection one wouldn’t have if done differently.