Diabolical Plots #15, May 2016

“Further Arguments in Support of Yudah Cohen’s Proposal to Bluma Zilberman” by Rebecca Fraimow

Reviewed by Kat Day

It’s definitely the case that “Further Arguments in Support of Yudah Cohen’s Proposal to Bluma Zilberman,” by Rebecca Fraimow, does what it says on the tin. It is, in fact, not really a story at all but rather takes the form of a letter written from Yudah Cohen to Bluma Zilberman, in which Yudah explains (in a series of numbered paragraphs) why Bluma should not marry the “blockhead” Hershel Schmulewitz and should, instead, choose Yudah. There are one or two revelations in the missive which make this more interesting than it sounds, but only slightly. The idea of telling a story in the form of letters isn’t a new one, and this really isn’t a story. There’s no plot to speak of, little characterization, and no resolution beyond a request to “think it over.” Perhaps I’m unfairly judging this as a story when that’s not really what it is, but I felt there was little to recommend here.