this fantastical romp through mid-century debauchery was was simply fantastic. A pleasure to read the whole way through thanks to its brisk pace and unexpectedly likable characters.
I really enjoyed it. Even though I did suffer slightly from the predictability of the story, the mastery of the language is so delightful that I absolutely enjoyed reading it. Pictures are so vivid, atmosphere so clear, feelings are so pronounced. All of it is so important for bears. Red Bear
Predictable as it was, the overall feel and tempo of this story is fantastic. The story played out, and the main character comes out with more knowledge. To be honest, I thought the ending was hilarious.
What an interesting story. My favorite part is the end. The man that feels the need to cheat ends up not getting the last laugh. He can't even please his own wife, yet his friend and neighbor can.
The whole scheme was well thought out, planned and rehearsed. Now Vic will have to ask Jerry what his own wife likes in the sack. Ouch!
Bahahahahaha, loved the ending. Maybe if he paid more attention to his wife's needs and not to the precise nature of how Samantha's buttocks rests in her pants, he wouldn't have wanted to cheat in the first place.
It is an interesting story. I don't know why they something like that because it your best friend wife. But I like the part where they carefully explain the detail on how the plan work and how they must know their best friend really well in order to pull it off.
No wonder he is bored of his wife, she isnt into it! Maybe Jerry can give him a few pointers! I dont see that any of this is actually plausable, I believe that egos would have gotten in the way of this plan from the get go. I did like how he made it seem like Jerry's idea, but the whole thing was based on so many things lining up just right, one was bound to go wrong.
Carly, I think you hit it right on the head. This story was well written to get us to even take interest in such a fantastic idea. There is no way a stranger can slip into bed with another guys wife and not be noticed. I think it's a testament to the story telling.
Really interesting story. After the arrogant sex-related behavior displayed by Vic, the story became really predictable; nevertheless, it always managed to keep me interested. The images where vivid and the behaviors believable.
I loved this story, really grabbed my attention the whole way through. The taboo subject of cheating and the thrill of finding out if they were going to be caught definitely kept my interest. The ending had a great bit of hilarity to it as well, overall a very good story.
In the beginning this story really struggled to keep my attention. However, as soon the characters took action I became interested because they were actually doing something.
I felt the beginning was a little slow, but with this sort of slapstick sexual comedy it was really entertaining. I only wonder if it was the exact same story in the next house. Of course it was, because that's the moral of the story.
This story was super awesome. The plan was super crazy yet they pulled it off! i got so much imagery from this story. the end is funny and the men should feel inferior and impotent. haha.
I'm a fan of smutt, horror and fantasy so I enjoyed the story. It seemed like details were missing or excluded to control the length or number of words. I could guess the connecting scenes and details. It didn't have a definite conclusion. I thought the couple ate the boy for dinner.
I loved the story. I especially loved the descriptions in the story. My favorite part in the story is where Mary calls out her husband about what he did. But, over all, the story was difficult to read in that old language style.
This was a pretty awesome story, Vic was a total douche bag! And i don't know if i will ever swing with my wife, actually i would say more likely not. But i am not going to say no because you never know what could happen in the future... Ha, Mary at the end, i don't know how she exactly felt... because yea she was quite but did she really enjoy that last time her and jerry had sex and wanted more of the proud neighbor or if she actually felt raped. Same thing goes with samantha, i was not to sure about that last time vic and her had sex, she turned over and went to sleep after drinking a glass of water... Did she really feel good or did she fake it, i dont know anyways vic was very graphic with his details and i believe the reader could paint a pretty good image with everything said.
A hilarious yet sad story, I thoroughly enjoyed the idea. The descriptive detail in how the author describes characters is amazing. Definitely worth a read.
The story was a great read. I really enjoyed it the humor in it. At the end I did feel a little bad for Vic. Just a little though he brought upon himself.
This one was one of my favorites out of all of them! I love that he really gets screwed (pun intended) in the end! That’s what happens. Awesome and super fun read.
Its funny how things change, one second Vic is straight out of the movie inception, then the next he has everything turn on him. This was a lot of fun to read and kept my interest the entire time.
I think every man has that fantasy of being with his hot friends wife. Its just something that is part of our DNA. I think it funny how Vic has no clue what Jerry did to his wife so now its on his mind.
ABSOLUTELY INTENSE... what these two men did was experiment with not only the taboo subject of wife swapping but all the exhilarating emotions that went with it... a search for what being alive is really feels like. i am extremely glad that i read this all the way to the end, i found myself laughing/ feeling sick to my stomach, especially when the writer built up to the idea that main character Vic was going to get caught by his wife in the end... man that was a roller coaster ride i hope there are more reading assignments like this one...
I was almost sure that Vic was going to get caught in the end, but that was quite a twist! At the same time, I sort of caught on with why Vic wasn't satisfied with his own sex life with his wife when Jerry made a quite judgement/comment on Vic's routine in bed. What an interesting read!
This was a funny read. I thought justice was served in a way. Vic was lusting after another woman for so long it seems and thought he was "the man" with this awesome plan and in the end it back fires. The reason why his why may seem like a "prude" or cold to him was because he didn't care about her needs. I enjoyed that twist. I was kind of expecting the two women to have done a switch with them as well, probably impossible but I thought it would have been funny. Greta story.-Michelle Barnes
It was hard for me to get into it at the beginning because it was a little slow, but once Jerry began telling Vic the story I got into it. The end wasn't what I expected, I thought the girls would end up switching as well somehow, but the ending was funny too.
I have no idea if we're supposed to comment on this, but I'm going to anyway. This story was fantastic. I don't want to describe all of the details, but all the work and careful planning that went into Vic's scheme that eventually led to a roundhouse kick to his self esteem was brilliant. Great story, 10/10.
The detail in the theory behind lips and how eyes hid secrets was intriguing. The descriptive details throughout the entire story is really what kept me interested. Well, that and the little inputs of humor kept me amused. Overall from the introduction, to the turn of events, and to the outcome it was all well structured.
The start of this particular story seemed to drag on to me. It wasn't until Vic began planning his scheme that I became more intrigued. From then on, Vic and Jerry were competent in carrying out the master plan. It was an unbelievable circumstance that was very playful with its writing. I almost expected a different response from Mary at the end of the story, but the little twist at the end made this read even more worthwhile. Well done indeed (or should I say, well done, Jerry).
I found it easy to get lost in the story and I could really feel the tension and thrill that goes along with that sort of thing. In my own life, I can't really see the appeal, though I've never been married. Still, I felt gripped by the characters and story enough to be brought along for the ride.
I feel this is a great contemporary example of a work that adhere's to many principles of Aristotle's theory of tragedy,in particular in it's treatment of characterization.Vic,the main character in the story seems to be neither the protagonist or antagonist of the story, as he serves a dual role as a character who is essentially good, but also exhibits some of the characteristics of the trickster figure. In theory the trickster figure breaks the rules,sometimes maliciously but with ultimately positive effects(though the trickster's initial intentions may have been either positive or negative).
In the end the schemer or bad guy always gets his just rewards if the story is good and it was. Even though he was the main character he was like the anti-hero of the story as he didn’t feel really like a good guy type character. What he thought be a blast sort of back fired on him in away where his own wife thought he was a bad lover when he mentioned to Jerry that that’s one thing he was sure he was good at. That’s got to hurt his pride a lot that his best friend is a better lover for his wife than he is. Well, you reap what you sow as they say. The story overall was detailed but not too much where it just seems boring, written in an entertaining way where you can get a sense of the character based on the language or diction in the story, and there’s a nice lesson that can be taken away from it.
The tension is amazing in this story. I think the writer really grabbed the readers attention with the character description and the visuals of the story. He really made sure that we understood what was going on in the main characters mind. The ending was unexpected and very funny, so this is a very well written story. It didn't leave the reader hanging in any sort of situation.
I completely agree. Not a huge reader myself because I find it difficult to continue forward in most readings. Apparently I just need to work harder in finding pieces that are written in a way that appeals to me. Great story.
I love this story! The main character was repugnant. Being able to read his thoughts and the things that were going on inside his head made me feel grimy. Especially when I read them in my head with an English accent. I love that the writer made him so relatable as many of us have come across people who seem to have this kind of arrogance about them. The difference is that with this character, there seemed to be no chinks in his armor initially. Usually we can detect some insecurity about one thing or another. He was quite sure about his sexual performance and being able to analyze people by looking at their lower lip. He knew the questions to ask and the information to pass on during the planning phase of the switch. It was sweet revenge when his wife reacted the way she did. I wanted so badly for his pride to suffer and who better to put him in his place than his wife? I was completely satisfied with the ending. The writer did a good job of evoking intense feelings from the readers.
This was a hilarious story, and yet still really gripping with its attention to detail in a way that felt new and fresh. The fact that the story plays off our expectations, yet gives us things that are not necessarily the norm, like him talking about the lips for god knows how long, made the story feel very enjoyable and hilarious, yet suspenseful for its purpose.
Very funny story i loved it, it really allowed your own brain to start creating a version of the story in your mind which was really fun. loved the ending but it seemed like Jerry was definitely liked in the story haha
I thought this story was really funny. I think it was written very well and the suspense was good because its like are the wife's going to find out and it just gets you more into the story. I would have expected the wife's to find out since although it was dark, the husbands aren't twins and I just don't know how they can't not know. I find it puzzling. I had a good laugh with this story.
Was definitely an interesting and entertaining story. It sucks to be Vic, but he really had it coming to him given the fact that he is full of arrogance and underhanded thoughts. Really liked the amount of humor in the story. The writer totally made the most of the situation that these two guys created with each others wives. Felt like the ending was hilariously perfect.
What a good story. I wonder if people really do this in real life. If it does happen in real life then I do not agree with it. I do think it is funny because it is just a story.
I could not look past Vic's perverted nature to see the humor in it. What Vic would think about made me feel uncomfortable, presumably the author's intention, and could not believe how easily Jerry agreed to do the switcheroo. I did however like the author's use of description and pace. I liked that the main character was not the one that the reader was rooting for and instead was the one who you wanted to get caught. I was very pleased with the ending and thought that the author set up the final scene perfectly. I liked that there was no need for Vic to ask Jerry what his wife thought about it, he knew just by Jerry happily walking out of his house, that was a great visual touch.
i really really liked this, it was funny and entertaining in a weird way. I feel like he really got what he deserved but I kinda feel bad his wife, i mean she's been missing out this whole time and whats going to happen now?? he's never going to perform as well again!!!
the writing style was great and really allowed for the audience to become immersed in the world although you did have to suspend your disbelief that anyone would do this. his representation as the trickster figure is really great even though he's horrible and perveted.
The story really takes the idea of what may happen and leaves you guessing. The possibility that Vic's wife may have known it was or that they may have been having an affair with each other which may be why Jerry agreed so quick or we can take it as is and assume Jerry is a far better lover then Vic.
I found this story very entertaining. Dahl created memorably eccentric characters and unexpected plot elements, and culminating in something deliciously surprising by story's end.
The story The Great Switcheroo was amazing it was pretty funny because at the end he ends up loosing and his neighbor wins because he was better to begin with. He thought he was smart by having everything figured out but at the end he actually lost. He got the truth about his relationship that he wasn't great or maybe his wife was in on it the whole time. While we were reading it I thought the wives were in on it and they switched as well but I was surprised he even accomplished his neighbors wife to get off if he was so bad. I really enjoyed this story it was fun to see how it was going to end. It was a shocker but really good. (took a while but I finally found this other blog)
I agree with many of the comments about he story starting off a bit slow. Once the ball got rolling however, I was really amused and entertained. I wanna feel bad for Vic but he got what he deserved.
I found this story highly entertaining; the suspense and the irony of it all.
In the end, I was more curious to hear Samantha's thoughts from the night. I believe we can safely assume that her experience with Vic wasn't as disappointing as Mary's. As a nymphomaniac (according to Vic's theory), she might have had a different, perhaps a positive, experience from it.
Its an ironic story because he sets out for his own real pleasure and he does, in fact, attain what he wants but is also faced by something completely unexpected. As he lusts for Samantha, who is (in his own words) a nymphomaniac, he is oblivious to the fact that he is also one in his own right. At the end, though he set out for his own fulfillment, he finds out that he is not the most adept at "you-know-what" but finds that everyone around him is happy. And why shouldn't they be? Vic got what he wanted, Samantha is a nympho, and now he has to satisfy someone who wasn't satisfied by his performance in the first place. Fun ending.
The story was amusing. The point where she lunges at him says that the woman is used to intense action which is something he didn't deliver but rather received. I think it would be a continuous thing they have. He asked for this now he pays for his lack of sexual prowess
The story was entertaining but I agree it started off slow. I enjoyed the story even more after discussing it in class and coming to the conclusion that the wives knew what was happening all along.
I felt sorry for Vic, but then again he cheated on his wife so I cant feel too bad for him. The story though was pretty funny! I liked how they totally talked about it the next day in their "alley" way yard and were like "Yeah we did it!'. It's even better that it becomes ironic cause Vic felt like nothing compared to his buddy and after that learning that he did worse in bed as well. This story definitely brightened my day up!
The great switcheroo is so outstanding from most other works because it shocks you and makes you see a plot you might have never imagined in your wildest dreams. This makes it's plot and spectacle so much more than other stories. You care about what happened because you want to know how this terrible person could get by. Their life is interesting because you'd like to think you're so much different and you'd never let this happen in your life.
I loved this story and thought the ending was hilarious! The irony of him getting what he wants (Samantha), and then not being able to deliver with even his own wife!
I was completely into this story from beginning to end. The author does an amazing job making the reader agree with Vic in his saying how easy the task will be. You begin to believe yourself that it could be done. And not until the last few sentences do you realize that justice was served to the guilty. Only hope he can now realize what a babe he has and take the time to pleasure the woman he has so greatly impressed.
It was quite an interesting read due to the intricately planned schemed that may or may not be possible at first, but somehow made it happen unless, of course, they may be a twist to it. It was hilarious, that I should mention.
This was a thoroughly intriguing story. I thought it was interesting how Vic was examining the women's lips at the party in order to tell how each one was feeling. And making up an absurd plan as he went along just to sleep with his friends wife only to find out that he himself didn't know how to please his own wife. I almost expected there to be a terrible twist to the story.
Wasn't it a terrible twist for Vic to be tricked by his own trick and find out that he has been living in denial his whole life? yeah, to get caught would have been what would have happened in reality...this, I think, is impossible, but that's one of the things about art. And the ramifications for Vic are so much worse than just getting caught. Now he has to live with it.
I thought this was a great read. It was very suspenseful and even though it was predictable I still found myself wanting to confirm what I assumed was going to happen, and continued reading. It kept my attention throughout the whole story and I thought the ending was hilarious. This was a great story!
So, I wonder why it kept your attention? Maybe because even though Vic is a totally reprehensible character, he is interesting in his insights and we just want to see what he's going to do next because he is not guided by any morals at all?
I thought this story, in its way, was fantastic. The author did not need to detail it to get the point across; slow and steady win the race. Of course the irony is both husbands have no idea what makes their women tick but the other does. A glorious read. -Alexis Zecher
No amount of planning could have determined that outcome. I suppose at least Vic accomplished his goals, but now he's going to have to deal with the fallout that will certainly stem from Mary's new found joy. Jerry you bastard, ruining a shoe-in like that.
The Great Switcheroo had me hooked after Jerry had become interested in the idea. I couldn’t believe everything they did to plan for this. The outcome though was no expected, I seriously thought that the wife had found out or something. To come to the conclusion that his friend was able to please his wife better than him was unbelievable. I loved this short read.
As I was reading the story, I couldn't help but think that the worst part wouldn't be getting caught, it would be how things could possibly return to normal after, depending on the outcome. Here we have a man, Vic, experience pleasure he had never known before and at the same time, finds himself expecting to perform in a way he doesn't understand!
However, it was nice to see such an outcome for such an unlikeable character. I had suspected, as they were 'spilling the beans', that in the end, Jerry would be able to do something for Mary that Vic never could. All around, a great read.
It started a bit slow, but oh boy did it pick up. I really enjoyed this story. I found the comparison of Vic to a thief great because he was essentially stealing his ignorance of pleasing his wife from himself. Additionally the repetition of darkness everywhere on D day was a foreshadowing of the doom to com for Vic. I was hooked on the part were Vic was with Samantha because I thought he was going to be caught, but he was just reassured of his sexual abilities. And I thought this story was a great comment on women having different preferences of what they want from sex.
Lastly, I saw the dinner at Billy's steakhouse similar to a last super, before everything changed. And you could feel the energy that Vic felt that day when reading and I thought all the details of mundane activities really emphasized those emotions.
Well, I can see this making more people insecure in their relationships after reading this... lol I was never truly entertained, really predictable ending. Saw that coming from the second they start talking at the part.
What a wonderful story with funny and twisty details from the beginning to the end. I felt the tension running through my mind while reading the story. I'm not saying what both Jerry and Vic did was the right thing to do, but it was an eye-opening to see that men can do such thing over lust. Of course lust only played a small art in this story as Jerry was easily convinced into Vic's story after a "small" bump with his wife, but the fact that Vic forgetting his own wife since the beginning of the story made it sad. I feel sorry and not sorry at the same time for Vic because he didn’t think of what he was getting himself into since the beginning with his so called “great” plan. Only until the end he started to think more for his wife. The ending doesn’t really show if Vic finally came to his senses or not leaves a question to the readers.
The story is very good. It has vivid imagery that makes want to keep reading. It also has a very good moral: be careful what you wish for. The author foreshadowed the issue, mentioning the fact that he and Jerry had two distinctly different love making styles. He got what he wanted ie. Samantha, but it came at the cost of his wife, Mary, finally enjoying sex, however its Jerry's love making she enjoys and not his own.
I thought this was a good read. It set up a problem, proposed a solution, and set course for the story to see how it turned out. The main reason why I liked it was that it kept me thinking about how it was going to turn out. Was this plan going to work? Were they going to get caught? Is Vic going to shit himself? It kept feeding you bits of ideas and information along the way to constantly make your mind wonder how this was going to turn out. I did not like the ending, because I felt that they might have set themselves up for more trouble down the line. I appeased myself by seeing it that they might have learned how to "deal" with the wives better, in a personal setting. For a person that does not like to read and only reading this as being a part of my grade, I still stick to this being a good read.
Another brilliant read from Scott's library of literature that was able to grab my whole-hearted attention throughout the entire plot. What initially grabbed my attention at first was just how scaringly perceptive our main character was with the way he saw lips in a different angle. Additionally, his attention to fine, sensory details like when he described himself being "settled back with my shoulders against the bar rail", I was able to FEEL the metal, cold bar-rail touch against my back on a cold night. (I might just be crazy who knows). Then came his insanely absurd plot to pull off the "switcharoo". Being extremely jaded to the idea that sinners will get what they deserve (thanks alot Hollywood), I was subconsciously waiting for their plan to be flawed and for them to get whatever hell-fire comes at them. Then lo and behold, they pulled it off and actually coming to a happy ending, destroying all my expectations. It really comes to show you how much BS Hollywood is compared to the possibilities of reality.
The Great Switcheroo was interesting but could tell which way the story was going to go just from the title. It was interesting and a good read, but seems like a story that has been told before in many different ways. This story is very weird because I can't believe people would actually try this out and the wives would not notice, very weird to me, but nonetheless it was interesting.
Vic came off as a master manipulator in this short story. He is a guy who likes to plant ideas in other peoples heads as if they are their own just so he can do something nefarious. He has probably done things like this in the past, but not to this great of an extent. Jerry is just your average American living the dream that no longer exists these days for my generation. Jerry only brings up the idea, as if it were his own, because Vic planted it in his head that is was a win win proposition for them. The thing is it wasn't. While they did get to sleep with each others wives that they've lusted after for so long, they have no idea what actually went on. It can only be assumed that both of them were caught up in the moment and did things their own way much like Vic was. Now they have to come clean with each other about what really happened to keep this charade up. Neither of them were really pleasing their wives even though they thought they were which is the joke of it all. Different strokes for different folks.
Vic came off as a master manipulator in this short story. He is a guy who likes to plant ideas in other peoples heads as if they are their own just so he can do something nefarious. He has probably done things like this in the past, but not to this great of an extent. Jerry is just your average American living the dream that no longer exists these days for my generation. Jerry only brings up the idea, as if it were his own, because Vic planted it in his head that is was a win win proposition for them. The thing is it wasn't. While they did get to sleep with each others wives that they've lusted after for so long, they have no idea what actually went on. It can only be assumed that both of them were caught up in the moment and did things their own way much like Vic was. Now they have to come clean with each other about what really happened to keep this charade up. Neither of them were really pleasing their wives even though they thought they were which is the joke of it all. Different strokes for different folks.
It was really interesting where this story took a turn. It is like the guy want to sleep with the other guys wife. It is almost like they are just switching cars and making them materialistic.
I found it interesting how this story categorizes men. it may be a story written about the 40's or 50's during the age of cocktail parties. Men cheating, and it's okay. It's interesting how it has changed, because it could be a man or woman, cheating is now acceptable. Why is the bonds of marriage worth nothing? If you aren't happy, why are you still there.
I find this story to be promiscuous and extremely enticing. I love how the setting is kind of a breakfast at tiffany's. I find it interesting that it takes a minor action (or sometimes even a major action if men go through with it) and the writer amplifies it by making it a drawn out situation and an out of the ordinary situation at that. Who would be okay with sleeping with each other's wives? It is almost as if the story is materializing women. Not a fan of that but it was a good story to digest.
Surprisingly I was engaged in this piece from start to finish. Immediately I enjoyed/hated the Vic character, I was interested in the way he thought about people, and I knew that that would make him a fun character to follow. Hearing his plan I thought it was pretty clever to go off that old scenario of if you want something from someone then make it seem like it was their idea. I was hoping a little that the men would be caught only people I think the plan was pretty twisted when you think about it, it was essentially rape, double rape of each others wives and I think that's rather fucked up, so I am glad that at least Vic got screwed in the end since it was initially Vic's plane all along. Something we talked about in class that I hadn't considered is that Mary knew it wasn't him. I'm still not sure, only because I think if she really knew she wouldn't be smart enough to understand that entire plot they had, so she would just have to assume that someone else was in her bed. Maybe i'm underestimating her, but I don't know if I think she knew the plan, but I am certainly happy with how it ended.
I loved how the story ended with the chauvinistic husband Vic's pride was completely hurt. What was most striking for me was the fact that he was never going to change even if he wanted to after all those years of being "Vic." The story did not reveal if Marry and Samantha were aware of the incident, but they played wisely to make the situation most beneficial for themselves. My personal impression about the story was regardless of the time period it was taking place, men and women have not been so different for decades and possibly centuries. Very interesting story!
It was an interesting story with a very cryptic ending. Was Vic found out, Does Jerry have the better outcome because he has willingness change while Vic remains arrogantly consistent? The ending leaves a great del for the reader to interpret.
Although the title of the story seemed to explain the whole summary, I was thrown off at the end. When Vic saw Jerry jumping up his front steps, I thought that they both had a great time with each other's wives. When I realized that Vic was the one who got the short end of the stick, I felt bad for the guy. But since this was his plan, I think he got what he deserved.
At first I wasn't very excited to read this story but I found it be an interesting and enjoyable read. I thought it was unusual how Vic found the lower lip attractive, and he was very cunning and manipulative when he was telling Jerry the story of how his friend slept with another man's wife. I also feel like I understand the story better after discussing it in class.
I think the story is very well written, it caught my attention right away. The way he started talking about checking out women, their faces but not quiet their face exactly but their lower lip, it is a very specific part of the face usually not brought out by many people and the fact that will let you know characteristics of a person was very interesting and invited me to keep reading.
The pacing of the story was great. Eventhough the plan was devious and morally wrong, and unrealistic and seems like it would be unsatisfying given all the stress involved with the situation, it was intriguing to read. It puts a bad taste of what an older marriage has to look forward to because these two men seem to be in the older over fifty in age and it is depressing to think that something like this would be a pleasure of an experience and have no repercussions in the end. Jealousy seemed to creep in up to the very end, and there is no way Vic and Jerry can be friends after that. To fantasize about another woman while drinking at a boring party is one thing, but to train another man blind folded the way around your house just to get a different woman in the dark is pretty deranged and twisted. Reminded me of Mad Men when I was watching the story play out in my head.
Brilliant sense of structure, it flowed rhythmically, went straight for an assumed crisis that can catch an audience's attention. For instance, I see the structure very similar to what Christopher Vogler's analysis of the Hero's Journey in "The Writing Journey." Vogler states that the crisis hooks the audience and gives enough characteristics of characters for one to feel attached to. The essence of Vogler's words relates to what Dahl wrote about Vic's character and their immediate conflict. That caught my attention immediately.
The story was fantastic and what happened to Vic was well deserved. Vic was the one that planned this 'mission' and insisted with Jerry to follow the rules. When it all comes down to, Vic and Jerry are both human male with lust for new desire and goofed up on the techniques bed which resulted in this hilarious outcome.
Great example of “be careful what you wish for”. At first, I thought how naive of Vic to think he could get away with such an outlandish ruse. The way Vic went about manipulating Jerry into believing this actually happened to his friend was preposterous. Unfortunately in today’s society affairs are such common place that we have become jaded by this type of behavior. I loved the ending because as Jerry skipped up the steps it made me wonder just who was duped in “The Great Switcheroo”. Maybe Jerry was the one who got what he wanted all along!
I really liked the story. Vic was smart to come up with a story to tell Jerry about his plan. I don't think this can fly in real life but I'm sure there have been men that have tried it. Well the out come was go or bar, we will never know. Not only men think of things like this but so do women. I got a thrill reading the story and I got a good laugh out of at the end.
Interesting read! In the beginning I felt Vic had a clever scheme up his sleeve, but the outcome of the story was a bit predictable. Vic totally manipulated Jerry into lustfully thinking what he wanted all along. In the end, his plan backfired on him, giving him what he rightfully deserved! Just shows you to be careful what you wish for...
This was an interesting story. Within the first page, I could tell Vic wanted to experiment with other women, obviously he wasnt into his wife anymore. I think Vic has put a lot of time and effort coming up with this story. Even though it might be assumed that Vic is coming up with the story while talking to Jerry, I think all the questions have a lot of thought out answers, and he has spent a lot of time trying to decide who will make this plan carry out the best. I think its Ironic that this was Vic's goal all along, but he finds out that Jerry was better than he was. This opens up a lot of questions.... Is Vic mad at Jerry? Vic got what he deserved. Is Vic going to ask for tips? Are they going to keep this D Day going, or is it a 1 and done type of thing? I wish the story had a better ending, I want to see the conversation after the event took place.
Comment by: Travis Mossbarger It was a very interesting story. Vic knows how to manipulate a person into wanting to try an idea. The one thing I got out of this story though is that communication is needed in every part of a relationship. The story unfolded how I thought it as going to. I still read on to make sure it unfolded that way.
Comment By Frank Cervantez: From the very beginning, we get the picture that Vic is observant, cunning, and treacherous. After manipulating his friend into the creation of his scheme, and then enacting it, the joke then lands upon Vic as he ends this story now feeling inadequate. When reading this for the first time, I wished for an ending in which everything went wrong but this nuanced ending may be more impactful that something with a lot of confrontation. Overall, I feel this was a very good story.
Vic was extremely cunning. To play the role of the trickster you have to be observant and be patient enough to wait for an opportunity. What does he care if Jerry satisfied his wife better that he had. He said he was bored of his wife. He got what he wanted, didn't he? I love that he was the only one who learned his lesson. Maybe something will happen that will make him more interested in his wife, and he will take it as a challenge to try and satisfy his wife the way that Jerry had. Hopefully he learns his lesson about wanting to cheat. -michelle beaune
The ending is what i believe delivers the true moral of the story. The fact that these men succeeded in their plan, only for the man who came up with the plan to not feel as victorious due to not satisfying his wife. Even though you may succeed in your plots, the outcome may not be what you expect.
I found the story very weird with two guys trying to get with the other guys' wife. Using manipulation and practicing to pretend to be each other. But in the end it was very cleverly done.
HA! - showed Vic what for. Although the ending does raise a myriad of questions, most notably 'What did Jerry do so differently?', and even more so - what was Samantha's feelings regarding the night before - was she too caught up in herself to notice anything, or was she thinking 'that was the worst ever'.... Either way, the buildup was excellent, and the whole description of lip types to personalities is an interesting study.
Very interesting story. Started slow but quickly picked up. I most enjoyed the part where the two guys were taking notes on how they had sex and found each others methods very different from one another and thought the other needed tips.
This story was very wrong in so many levels. I mean the fact that Vic and Jerry found this idea to be considered "normal" and okay was just morally wrong. But Vic got what he deserved for being selfish and not considering the feelings of the women involved in this plan. Makes you think twice before planning something so cruel like this again, hopefully Vic learned his lesson in all of this.
This story was very wrong in so many levels. I mean the fact that Vic and Jerry found this idea to be considered "normal" and okay was just morally wrong. But Vic got what he deserved for being selfish and not considering the feelings of the women involved in this plan. Makes you think twice before planning something so cruel like this again, hopefully Vic learned his lesson in all of this.
this fantastical romp through mid-century debauchery was was simply fantastic. A pleasure to read the whole way through thanks to its brisk pace and unexpectedly likable characters.
ReplyDeleteI will agree. I enjoyed reading this though it wasn't my usual read. It held my attention.
DeleteI really enjoyed it. Even though I did suffer slightly from the predictability of the story, the mastery of the language is so delightful that I absolutely enjoyed reading it. Pictures are so vivid, atmosphere so clear, feelings are so pronounced.
ReplyDeleteAll of it is so important for bears.
Red Bear
I did notice myself thinking that this just wasn't going to be satisfying for at least of of the guys in the end. You could see it coming.
DeletePredictable as it was, the overall feel and tempo of this story is fantastic. The story played out, and the main character comes out with more knowledge. To be honest, I thought the ending was hilarious.
DeleteWhat an interesting story. My favorite part is the end. The man that feels the need to cheat ends up not getting the last laugh. He can't even please his own wife, yet his friend and neighbor can.
ReplyDeleteThe whole scheme was well thought out, planned and rehearsed. Now Vic will have to ask Jerry what his own wife likes in the sack. Ouch!
This is epic right? I think He knows all that he needs to. Something tells me he didn't quite impress the neighbors wife.
DeleteBahahahahaha, loved the ending. Maybe if he paid more attention to his wife's needs and not to the precise nature of how Samantha's buttocks rests in her pants, he wouldn't have wanted to cheat in the first place.
DeleteIt is an interesting story. I don't know why they something like that because it your best friend wife. But I like the part where they carefully explain the detail on how the plan work and how they must know their best friend really well in order to pull it off.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree. They went through great preparation for such a horrible outcome.
DeleteNo wonder he is bored of his wife, she isnt into it! Maybe Jerry can give him a few pointers! I dont see that any of this is actually plausable, I believe that egos would have gotten in the way of this plan from the get go. I did like how he made it seem like Jerry's idea, but the whole thing was based on so many things lining up just right, one was bound to go wrong.
ReplyDeleteCarly, I think you hit it right on the head. This story was well written to get us to even take interest in such a fantastic idea. There is no way a stranger can slip into bed with another guys wife and not be noticed. I think it's a testament to the story telling.
ReplyDeleteLoL he ended up getting totally owned in the end, looks like someones going to fell inferior for the rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting story. After the arrogant sex-related behavior displayed by Vic, the story became really predictable; nevertheless, it always managed to keep me interested. The images where vivid and the behaviors believable.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story, really grabbed my attention the whole way through. The taboo subject of cheating and the thrill of finding out if they were going to be caught definitely kept my interest. The ending had a great bit of hilarity to it as well, overall a very good story.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning this story really struggled to keep my attention. However, as soon the characters took action I became interested because they were actually doing something.
ReplyDeleteI felt the beginning was a little slow, but with this sort of slapstick sexual comedy it was really entertaining. I only wonder if it was the exact same story in the next house. Of course it was, because that's the moral of the story.
ReplyDeleteThis story was super awesome. The plan was super crazy yet they pulled it off! i got so much imagery from this story. the end is funny and the men should feel inferior and impotent. haha.
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ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of smutt, horror and fantasy so I enjoyed the story. It seemed like details were missing or excluded to control the length or number of words. I could guess the connecting scenes and details. It didn't have a definite conclusion. I thought the couple ate the boy for dinner.
ReplyDeleteI loved the story. I especially loved the descriptions in the story. My favorite part in the story is where Mary calls out her husband about what he did. But, over all, the story was difficult to read in that old language style.
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty awesome story, Vic was a total douche bag! And i don't know if i will ever swing with my wife, actually i would say more likely not. But i am not going to say no because you never know what could happen in the future... Ha, Mary at the end, i don't know how she exactly felt... because yea she was quite but did she really enjoy that last time her and jerry had sex and wanted more of the proud neighbor or if she actually felt raped. Same thing goes with samantha, i was not to sure about that last time vic and her had sex, she turned over and went to sleep after drinking a glass of water... Did she really feel good or did she fake it, i dont know anyways vic was very graphic with his details and i believe the reader could paint a pretty good image with everything said.
ReplyDeleteA hilarious yet sad story, I thoroughly enjoyed the idea. The descriptive detail in how the author describes characters is amazing. Definitely worth a read.
ReplyDeleteThe story was a great read. I really enjoyed it the humor in it. At the end I did feel a little bad for Vic. Just a little though he brought upon himself.
ReplyDeleteThis one was one of my favorites out of all of them! I love that he really gets screwed (pun intended) in the end! That’s what happens. Awesome and super fun read.
ReplyDeleteIts funny how things change, one second Vic is straight out of the movie inception, then the next he has everything turn on him. This was a lot of fun to read and kept my interest the entire time.
ReplyDeleteI think every man has that fantasy of being with his hot friends wife. Its just something that is part of our DNA. I think it funny how Vic has no clue what Jerry did to his wife so now its on his mind.
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY INTENSE... what these two men did was experiment with not only the taboo subject of wife swapping but all the exhilarating emotions that went with it... a search for what being alive is really feels like. i am extremely glad that i read this all the way to the end, i found myself laughing/ feeling sick to my stomach, especially when the writer built up to the idea that main character Vic was going to get caught by his wife in the end... man that was a roller coaster ride i hope there are more reading assignments like this one...
ReplyDeleteI was almost sure that Vic was going to get caught in the end, but that was quite a twist! At the same time, I sort of caught on with why Vic wasn't satisfied with his own sex life with his wife when Jerry made a quite judgement/comment on Vic's routine in bed. What an interesting read!
ReplyDeleteThis was a funny read. I thought justice was served in a way. Vic was lusting after another woman for so long it seems and thought he was "the man" with this awesome plan and in the end it back fires. The reason why his why may seem like a "prude" or cold to him was because he didn't care about her needs. I enjoyed that twist. I was kind of expecting the two women to have done a switch with them as well, probably impossible but I thought it would have been funny. Greta story.-Michelle Barnes
ReplyDeleteIt was hard for me to get into it at the beginning because it was a little slow, but once Jerry began telling Vic the story I got into it. The end wasn't what I expected, I thought the girls would end up switching as well somehow, but the ending was funny too.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if we're supposed to comment on this, but I'm going to anyway. This story was fantastic. I don't want to describe all of the details, but all the work and careful planning that went into Vic's scheme that eventually led to a roundhouse kick to his self esteem was brilliant. Great story, 10/10.
ReplyDeleteThe detail in the theory behind lips and how eyes hid secrets was intriguing. The descriptive details throughout the entire story is really what kept me interested. Well, that and the little inputs of humor kept me amused. Overall from the introduction, to the turn of events, and to the outcome it was all well structured.
ReplyDeleteThe start of this particular story seemed to drag on to me. It wasn't until Vic began planning his scheme that I became more intrigued. From then on, Vic and Jerry were competent in carrying out the master plan. It was an unbelievable circumstance that was very playful with its writing. I almost expected a different response from Mary at the end of the story, but the little twist at the end made this read even more worthwhile. Well done indeed (or should I say, well done, Jerry).
ReplyDeleteI found it easy to get lost in the story and I could really feel the tension and thrill that goes along with that sort of thing. In my own life, I can't really see the appeal, though I've never been married. Still, I felt gripped by the characters and story enough to be brought along for the ride.
ReplyDeleteI feel this is a great contemporary example of a work that adhere's to many principles of Aristotle's theory of tragedy,in particular in it's treatment of characterization.Vic,the main character in the story seems to be neither the protagonist or antagonist of the story, as he serves a dual role as a character who is essentially good, but also exhibits some of the characteristics of the trickster figure. In theory the trickster figure breaks the rules,sometimes maliciously but with ultimately positive effects(though the trickster's initial intentions may have been either positive or negative).
ReplyDeleteIn the end the schemer or bad guy always gets his just rewards if the story is good and it was. Even though he was the main character he was like the anti-hero of the story as he didn’t feel really like a good guy type character. What he thought be a blast sort of back fired on him in away where his own wife thought he was a bad lover when he mentioned to Jerry that that’s one thing he was sure he was good at. That’s got to hurt his pride a lot that his best friend is a better lover for his wife than he is. Well, you reap what you sow as they say. The story overall was detailed but not too much where it just seems boring, written in an entertaining way where you can get a sense of the character based on the language or diction in the story, and there’s a nice lesson that can be taken away from it.
ReplyDeleteThe tension is amazing in this story. I think the writer really grabbed the readers attention with the character description and the visuals of the story. He really made sure that we understood what was going on in the main characters mind. The ending was unexpected and very funny, so this is a very well written story. It didn't leave the reader hanging in any sort of situation.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Not a huge reader myself because I find it difficult to continue forward in most readings. Apparently I just need to work harder in finding pieces that are written in a way that appeals to me. Great story.
DeleteI love this story! The main character was repugnant. Being able to read his thoughts and the things that were going on inside his head made me feel grimy. Especially when I read them in my head with an English accent. I love that the writer made him so relatable as many of us have come across people who seem to have this kind of arrogance about them. The difference is that with this character, there seemed to be no chinks in his armor initially. Usually we can detect some insecurity about one thing or another. He was quite sure about his sexual performance and being able to analyze people by looking at their lower lip. He knew the questions to ask and the information to pass on during the planning phase of the switch. It was sweet revenge when his wife reacted the way she did. I wanted so badly for his pride to suffer and who better to put him in his place than his wife? I was completely satisfied with the ending. The writer did a good job of evoking intense feelings from the readers.
ReplyDeleteThis was a hilarious story, and yet still really gripping with its attention to detail in a way that felt new and fresh. The fact that the story plays off our expectations, yet gives us things that are not necessarily the norm, like him talking about the lips for god knows how long, made the story feel very enjoyable and hilarious, yet suspenseful for its purpose.
ReplyDeleteVery funny story i loved it, it really allowed your own brain to start creating a version of the story in your mind which was really fun. loved the ending but it seemed like Jerry was definitely liked in the story haha
ReplyDeleteI thought this story was really funny. I think it was written very well and the suspense was good because its like are the wife's going to find out and it just gets you more into the story. I would have expected the wife's to find out since although it was dark, the husbands aren't twins and I just don't know how they can't not know. I find it puzzling. I had a good laugh with this story.
ReplyDeleteWas definitely an interesting and entertaining story. It sucks to be Vic, but he really had it coming to him given the fact that he is full of arrogance and underhanded thoughts. Really liked the amount of humor in the story. The writer totally made the most of the situation that these two guys created with each others wives. Felt like the ending was hilariously perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good story. I wonder if people really do this in real life. If it does happen in real life then I do not agree with it. I do think it is funny because it is just a story.
ReplyDeletePaul Wheat
HU311-A Story Writing
Tuesdays
really funny story , i wonder if it was based on a true story somehow , i really enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteSebastian Araux
I could not look past Vic's perverted nature to see the humor in it. What Vic would think about made me feel uncomfortable, presumably the author's intention, and could not believe how easily Jerry agreed to do the switcheroo. I did however like the author's use of description and pace. I liked that the main character was not the one that the reader was rooting for and instead was the one who you wanted to get caught. I was very pleased with the ending and thought that the author set up the final scene perfectly. I liked that there was no need for Vic to ask Jerry what his wife thought about it, he knew just by Jerry happily walking out of his house, that was a great visual touch.
ReplyDeleteJazmin Manzo
i really really liked this, it was funny and entertaining in a weird way. I feel like he really got what he deserved but I kinda feel bad his wife, i mean she's been missing out this whole time and whats going to happen now?? he's never going to perform as well again!!!
ReplyDeletethe writing style was great and really allowed for the audience to become immersed in the world although you did have to suspend your disbelief that anyone would do this. his representation as the trickster figure is really great even though he's horrible and perveted.
The story really takes the idea of what may happen and leaves you guessing. The possibility that Vic's wife may have known it was or that they may have been having an affair with each other which may be why Jerry agreed so quick or we can take it as is and assume Jerry is a far better lover then Vic.
ReplyDeleteI found this story very entertaining. Dahl created memorably eccentric characters and unexpected plot elements, and culminating in something deliciously surprising by story's end.
ReplyDelete- Danna Le
The story The Great Switcheroo was amazing it was pretty funny because at the end he ends up loosing and his neighbor wins because he was better to begin with. He thought he was smart by having everything figured out but at the end he actually lost. He got the truth about his relationship that he wasn't great or maybe his wife was in on it the whole time. While we were reading it I thought the wives were in on it and they switched as well but I was surprised he even accomplished his neighbors wife to get off if he was so bad. I really enjoyed this story it was fun to see how it was going to end. It was a shocker but really good. (took a while but I finally found this other blog)
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the comments about he story starting off a bit slow. Once the ball got rolling however, I was really amused and entertained. I wanna feel bad for Vic but he got what he deserved.
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ReplyDeleteI found this story highly entertaining; the suspense and the irony of it all.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I was more curious to hear Samantha's thoughts from the night. I believe we can safely assume that her experience with Vic wasn't as disappointing as Mary's. As a nymphomaniac (according to Vic's theory), she might have had a different, perhaps a positive, experience from it.
Its an ironic story because he sets out for his own real pleasure and he does, in fact, attain what he wants but is also faced by something completely unexpected. As he lusts for Samantha, who is (in his own words) a nymphomaniac, he is oblivious to the fact that he is also one in his own right. At the end, though he set out for his own fulfillment, he finds out that he is not the most adept at "you-know-what" but finds that everyone around him is happy. And why shouldn't they be? Vic got what he wanted, Samantha is a nympho, and now he has to satisfy someone who wasn't satisfied by his performance in the first place. Fun ending.
ReplyDeleteThe story was amusing. The point where she lunges at him says that the woman is used to intense action which is something he didn't deliver but rather received. I think it would be a continuous thing they have. He asked for this now he pays for his lack of sexual prowess
ReplyDeleteThe story was entertaining but I agree it started off slow. I enjoyed the story even more after discussing it in class and coming to the conclusion that the wives knew what was happening all along.
ReplyDeletei didnt get to read the story before we discussed it in class, but depending on how we see it, the trickster could be anybody.
ReplyDeleteI felt sorry for Vic, but then again he cheated on his wife so I cant feel too bad for him. The story though was pretty funny! I liked how they totally talked about it the next day in their "alley" way yard and were like "Yeah we did it!'. It's even better that it becomes ironic cause Vic felt like nothing compared to his buddy and after that learning that he did worse in bed as well. This story definitely brightened my day up!
ReplyDeleteThe great switcheroo is so outstanding from most other works because it shocks you and makes you see a plot you might have never imagined in your wildest dreams. This makes it's plot and spectacle so much more than other stories. You care about what happened because you want to know how this terrible person could get by. Their life is interesting because you'd like to think you're so much different and you'd never let this happen in your life.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story and thought the ending was hilarious! The irony of him getting what he wants (Samantha), and then not being able to deliver with even his own wife!
ReplyDeleteThis story was hilariously entertaining.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the other comments, I can't exactly feel bad for Vic because he kind of deserved what he got in the end.
I think the writer did a good job of painting a good visual of his characters. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I was completely into this story from beginning to end. The author does an amazing job making the reader agree with Vic in his saying how easy the task will be. You begin to believe yourself that it could be done. And not until the last few sentences do you realize that justice was served to the guilty. Only hope he can now realize what a babe he has and take the time to pleasure the woman he has so greatly impressed.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite an interesting read due to the intricately planned schemed that may or may not be possible at first, but somehow made it happen unless, of course, they may be a twist to it. It was hilarious, that I should mention.
ReplyDelete-Nikkei Pido
I like that the story have a point to make. That would be consequences are usually Hidden.
ReplyDeleteThis story was very well written. Intensive amount of detail that puts you right into the character viewing eyes.
ReplyDeleteThis was a thoroughly intriguing story. I thought it was interesting how Vic was examining the women's lips at the party in order to tell how each one was feeling. And making up an absurd plan as he went along just to sleep with his friends wife only to find out that he himself didn't know how to please his own wife. I almost expected there to be a terrible twist to the story.
ReplyDeletei was too expecting a twist of some sort, but i honestly thought that it was going to be the obvious and they would have been caught.
DeleteWasn't it a terrible twist for Vic to be tricked by his own trick and find out that he has been living in denial his whole life? yeah, to get caught would have been what would have happened in reality...this, I think, is impossible, but that's one of the things about art. And the ramifications for Vic are so much worse than just getting caught. Now he has to live with it.
DeleteI thought this was a great read. It was very suspenseful and even though it was predictable I still found myself wanting to confirm what I assumed was going to happen, and continued reading. It kept my attention throughout the whole story and I thought the ending was hilarious. This was a great story!
ReplyDeletei couldn't agree more on how well the short ended. it was a great short story.
DeleteSo, I wonder why it kept your attention? Maybe because even though Vic is a totally reprehensible character, he is interesting in his insights and we just want to see what he's going to do next because he is not guided by any morals at all?
DeleteI thought this story, in its way, was fantastic. The author did not need to detail it to get the point across; slow and steady win the race. Of course the irony is both husbands have no idea what makes their women tick but the other does. A glorious read.
ReplyDelete-Alexis Zecher
I believe that having the details were "tiresome" i guess you can say, but it also kept me interested.
DeleteNo amount of planning could have determined that outcome. I suppose at least Vic accomplished his goals, but now he's going to have to deal with the fallout that will certainly stem from Mary's new found joy. Jerry you bastard, ruining a shoe-in like that.
ReplyDelete-Codey Robinson
Right!
DeleteSuch a troublesome way to find out just how uninteresting your sex life is to your wife.
DeleteThe Great Switcheroo had me hooked after Jerry had become interested in the idea. I couldn’t believe everything they did to plan for this. The outcome though was no expected, I seriously thought that the wife had found out or something. To come to the conclusion that his friend was able to please his wife better than him was unbelievable. I loved this short read.
ReplyDeleteI totally dig your comments! Thanks!
DeleteAs I was reading the story, I couldn't help but think that the worst part wouldn't be getting caught, it would be how things could possibly return to normal after, depending on the outcome. Here we have a man, Vic, experience pleasure he had never known before and at the same time, finds himself expecting to perform in a way he doesn't understand!
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was nice to see such an outcome for such an unlikeable character. I had suspected, as they were 'spilling the beans', that in the end, Jerry would be able to do something for Mary that Vic never could. All around, a great read.
It started a bit slow, but oh boy did it pick up. I really enjoyed this story. I found the comparison of Vic to a thief great because he was essentially stealing his ignorance of pleasing his wife from himself. Additionally the repetition of darkness everywhere on D day was a foreshadowing of the doom to com for Vic.
ReplyDeleteI was hooked on the part were Vic was with Samantha because I thought he was going to be caught, but he was just reassured of his sexual abilities. And I thought this story was a great comment on women having different preferences of what they want from sex.
Lastly, I saw the dinner at Billy's steakhouse similar to a last super, before everything changed. And you could feel the energy that Vic felt that day when reading and I thought all the details of mundane activities really emphasized those emotions.
Well, I can see this making more people insecure in their relationships after reading this... lol
ReplyDeleteI was never truly entertained, really predictable ending. Saw that coming from the second they start talking at the part.
What a wonderful story with funny and twisty details from the beginning to the end. I felt the tension running through my mind while reading the story. I'm not saying what both Jerry and Vic did was the right thing to do, but it was an eye-opening to see that men can do such thing over lust. Of course lust only played a small art in this story as Jerry was easily convinced into Vic's story after a "small" bump with his wife, but the fact that Vic forgetting his own wife since the beginning of the story made it sad. I feel sorry and not sorry at the same time for Vic because he didn’t think of what he was getting himself into since the beginning with his so called “great” plan. Only until the end he started to think more for his wife. The ending doesn’t really show if Vic finally came to his senses or not leaves a question to the readers.
ReplyDeleteThe story is very good. It has vivid imagery that makes want to keep reading. It also has a very good moral: be careful what you wish for. The author foreshadowed the issue, mentioning the fact that he and Jerry had two distinctly different love making styles. He got what he wanted ie. Samantha, but it came at the cost of his wife, Mary, finally enjoying sex, however its Jerry's love making she enjoys and not his own.
ReplyDeleteWho's plan was it?
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ReplyDeleteI thought this was a good read. It set up a problem, proposed a solution, and set course for the story to see how it turned out. The main reason why I liked it was that it kept me thinking about how it was going to turn out. Was this plan going to work? Were they going to get caught? Is Vic going to shit himself? It kept feeding you bits of ideas and information along the way to constantly make your mind wonder how this was going to turn out. I did not like the ending, because I felt that they might have set themselves up for more trouble down the line. I appeased myself by seeing it that they might have learned how to "deal" with the wives better, in a personal setting. For a person that does not like to read and only reading this as being a part of my grade, I still stick to this being a good read.
ReplyDeleteAnother brilliant read from Scott's library of literature that was able to grab my whole-hearted attention throughout the entire plot. What initially grabbed my attention at first was just how scaringly perceptive our main character was with the way he saw lips in a different angle. Additionally, his attention to fine, sensory details like when he described himself being "settled back with my shoulders against the bar rail", I was able to FEEL the metal, cold bar-rail touch against my back on a cold night. (I might just be crazy who knows). Then came his insanely absurd plot to pull off the "switcharoo". Being extremely jaded to the idea that sinners will get what they deserve (thanks alot Hollywood), I was subconsciously waiting for their plan to be flawed and for them to get whatever hell-fire comes at them. Then lo and behold, they pulled it off and actually coming to a happy ending, destroying all my expectations. It really comes to show you how much BS Hollywood is compared to the possibilities of reality.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Switcheroo was interesting but could tell which way the story was going to go just from the title. It was interesting and a good read, but seems like a story that has been told before in many different ways. This story is very weird because I can't believe people would actually try this out and the wives would not notice, very weird to me, but nonetheless it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteVic came off as a master manipulator in this short story. He is a guy who likes to plant ideas in other peoples heads as if they are their own just so he can do something nefarious. He has probably done things like this in the past, but not to this great of an extent. Jerry is just your average American living the dream that no longer exists these days for my generation. Jerry only brings up the idea, as if it were his own, because Vic planted it in his head that is was a win win proposition for them. The thing is it wasn't. While they did get to sleep with each others wives that they've lusted after for so long, they have no idea what actually went on. It can only be assumed that both of them were caught up in the moment and did things their own way much like Vic was. Now they have to come clean with each other about what really happened to keep this charade up. Neither of them were really pleasing their wives even though they thought they were which is the joke of it all. Different strokes for different folks.
ReplyDeleteVic came off as a master manipulator in this short story. He is a guy who likes to plant ideas in other peoples heads as if they are their own just so he can do something nefarious. He has probably done things like this in the past, but not to this great of an extent. Jerry is just your average American living the dream that no longer exists these days for my generation. Jerry only brings up the idea, as if it were his own, because Vic planted it in his head that is was a win win proposition for them. The thing is it wasn't. While they did get to sleep with each others wives that they've lusted after for so long, they have no idea what actually went on. It can only be assumed that both of them were caught up in the moment and did things their own way much like Vic was. Now they have to come clean with each other about what really happened to keep this charade up. Neither of them were really pleasing their wives even though they thought they were which is the joke of it all. Different strokes for different folks.
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting where this story took a turn. It is like the guy want to sleep with the other guys wife. It is almost like they are just switching cars and making them materialistic.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how this story categorizes men. it may be a story written about the 40's or 50's during the age of cocktail parties. Men cheating, and it's okay. It's interesting how it has changed, because it could be a man or woman, cheating is now acceptable. Why is the bonds of marriage worth nothing? If you aren't happy, why are you still there.
ReplyDeleteI find this story to be promiscuous and extremely enticing. I love how the setting is kind of a breakfast at tiffany's. I find it interesting that it takes a minor action (or sometimes even a major action if men go through with it) and the writer amplifies it by making it a drawn out situation and an out of the ordinary situation at that. Who would be okay with sleeping with each other's wives? It is almost as if the story is materializing women. Not a fan of that but it was a good story to digest.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly I was engaged in this piece from start to finish. Immediately I enjoyed/hated the Vic character, I was interested in the way he thought about people, and I knew that that would make him a fun character to follow. Hearing his plan I thought it was pretty clever to go off that old scenario of if you want something from someone then make it seem like it was their idea. I was hoping a little that the men would be caught only people I think the plan was pretty twisted when you think about it, it was essentially rape, double rape of each others wives and I think that's rather fucked up, so I am glad that at least Vic got screwed in the end since it was initially Vic's plane all along. Something we talked about in class that I hadn't considered is that Mary knew it wasn't him. I'm still not sure, only because I think if she really knew she wouldn't be smart enough to understand that entire plot they had, so she would just have to assume that someone else was in her bed. Maybe i'm underestimating her, but I don't know if I think she knew the plan, but I am certainly happy with how it ended.
ReplyDeleteI loved how the story ended with the chauvinistic husband Vic's pride was completely hurt. What was most striking for me was the fact that he was never going to change even if he wanted to after all those years of being "Vic." The story did not reveal if Marry and Samantha were aware of the incident, but they played wisely to make the situation most beneficial for themselves. My personal impression about the story was regardless of the time period it was taking place, men and women have not been so different for decades and possibly centuries. Very interesting story!
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting story with a very cryptic ending. Was Vic found out, Does Jerry have the better outcome because he has willingness change while Vic remains arrogantly consistent? The ending leaves a great del for the reader to interpret.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the title of the story seemed to explain the whole summary, I was thrown off at the end. When Vic saw Jerry jumping up his front steps, I thought that they both had a great time with each other's wives. When I realized that Vic was the one who got the short end of the stick, I felt bad for the guy. But since this was his plan, I think he got what he deserved.
ReplyDeleteAt first I wasn't very excited to read this story but I found it be an interesting and enjoyable read. I thought it was unusual how Vic found the lower lip attractive, and he was very cunning and manipulative when he was telling Jerry the story of how his friend slept with another man's wife. I also feel like I understand the story better after discussing it in class.
ReplyDeleteI cant believe he didn't even realize he sucks in bed.
ReplyDeleteI think the story is very well written, it caught my attention right away. The way he started talking about checking out women, their faces but not quiet their face exactly but their lower lip, it is a very specific part of the face usually not brought out by many people and the fact that will let you know characteristics of a person was very interesting and invited me to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteThe pacing of the story was great. Eventhough the plan was devious and morally wrong, and unrealistic and seems like it would be unsatisfying given all the stress involved with the situation, it was intriguing to read. It puts a bad taste of what an older marriage has to look forward to because these two men seem to be in the older over fifty in age and it is depressing to think that something like this would be a pleasure of an experience and have no repercussions in the end. Jealousy seemed to creep in up to the very end, and there is no way Vic and Jerry can be friends after that. To fantasize about another woman while drinking at a boring party is one thing, but to train another man blind folded the way around your house just to get a different woman in the dark is pretty deranged and twisted. Reminded me of Mad Men when I was watching the story play out in my head.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant sense of structure, it flowed rhythmically, went straight for an assumed crisis that can catch an audience's attention. For instance, I see the structure very similar to what Christopher Vogler's analysis of the Hero's Journey in "The Writing Journey." Vogler states that the crisis hooks the audience and gives enough characteristics of characters for one to feel attached to. The essence of Vogler's words relates to what Dahl wrote about Vic's character and their immediate conflict. That caught my attention immediately.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting, but very very sad... To me, in every aspect...
ReplyDeleteThe story was fantastic and what happened to Vic was well deserved. Vic was the one that planned this 'mission' and insisted with Jerry to follow the rules. When it all comes down to, Vic and Jerry are both human male with lust for new desire and goofed up on the techniques bed which resulted in this hilarious outcome.
ReplyDeleteGreat example of “be careful what you wish for”. At first, I thought how naive of Vic to think he could get away with such an outlandish ruse. The way Vic went about manipulating Jerry into believing this actually happened to his friend was preposterous. Unfortunately in today’s society affairs are such common place that we have become jaded by this type of behavior. I loved the ending because as Jerry skipped up the steps it made me wonder just who was duped in “The Great Switcheroo”. Maybe Jerry was the one who got what he wanted all along!
ReplyDeleteI really liked the story. Vic was smart to come up with a story to tell Jerry about his plan. I don't think this can fly in real life but I'm sure there have been men that have tried it. Well the out come was go or bar, we will never know. Not only men think of things like this but so do women. I got a thrill reading the story and I got a good laugh out of at the end.
ReplyDeleteDang!!! that story was funny, raunchy, and wild...
ReplyDeleteVic really knows how to manipulate the system!!
Interesting read! In the beginning I felt Vic had a clever scheme up his sleeve, but the outcome of the story was a bit predictable. Vic totally manipulated Jerry into lustfully thinking what he wanted all along. In the end, his plan backfired on him, giving him what he rightfully deserved! Just shows you to be careful what you wish for...
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting story. Within the first page, I could tell Vic wanted to experiment with other women, obviously he wasnt into his wife anymore. I think Vic has put a lot of time and effort coming up with this story. Even though it might be assumed that Vic is coming up with the story while talking to Jerry, I think all the questions have a lot of thought out answers, and he has spent a lot of time trying to decide who will make this plan carry out the best. I think its Ironic that this was Vic's goal all along, but he finds out that Jerry was better than he was. This opens up a lot of questions.... Is Vic mad at Jerry? Vic got what he deserved. Is Vic going to ask for tips? Are they going to keep this D Day going, or is it a 1 and done type of thing? I wish the story had a better ending, I want to see the conversation after the event took place.
ReplyDeleteComment by: Travis Mossbarger
ReplyDeleteIt was a very interesting story. Vic knows how to manipulate a person into wanting to try an idea. The one thing I got out of this story though is that communication is needed in every part of a relationship. The story unfolded how I thought it as going to. I still read on to make sure it unfolded that way.
Comment By Frank Cervantez:
ReplyDeleteFrom the very beginning, we get the picture that Vic is observant, cunning, and treacherous. After manipulating his friend into the creation of his scheme, and then enacting it, the joke then lands upon Vic as he ends this story now feeling inadequate. When reading this for the first time, I wished for an ending in which everything went wrong but this nuanced ending may be more impactful that something with a lot of confrontation. Overall, I feel this was a very good story.
I love how this was introduced, one guy at a bar seeking other women. The whole idea of switching for wives would be crazy but also giving a rush.
ReplyDeleteVic was extremely cunning. To play the role of the trickster you have to be observant and be patient enough to wait for an opportunity. What does he care if Jerry satisfied his wife better that he had. He said he was bored of his wife. He got what he wanted, didn't he? I love that he was the only one who learned his lesson. Maybe something will happen that will make him more interested in his wife, and he will take it as a challenge to try and satisfy his wife the way that Jerry had. Hopefully he learns his lesson about wanting to cheat.
ReplyDelete-michelle beaune
The ending is what i believe delivers the true moral of the story. The fact that these men succeeded in their plan, only for the man who came up with the plan to not feel as victorious due to not satisfying his wife. Even though you may succeed in your plots, the outcome may not be what you expect.
ReplyDeleteUnderwoods cool #browniepoints
ReplyDeleteI found the story very weird with two guys trying to get with the other guys' wife. Using manipulation and practicing to pretend to be each other. But in the end it was very cleverly done.
ReplyDeleteHA! - showed Vic what for. Although the ending does raise a myriad of questions, most notably 'What did Jerry do so differently?', and even more so - what was Samantha's feelings regarding the night before - was she too caught up in herself to notice anything, or was she thinking 'that was the worst ever'.... Either way, the buildup was excellent, and the whole description of lip types to personalities is an interesting study.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting story. Started slow but quickly picked up. I most enjoyed the part where the two guys were taking notes on how they had sex and found each others methods very different from one another and thought the other needed tips.
ReplyDeleteThis story was very wrong in so many levels. I mean the fact that Vic and Jerry found this idea to be considered "normal" and okay was just morally wrong. But Vic got what he deserved for being selfish and not considering the feelings of the women involved in this plan. Makes you think twice before planning something so cruel like this again, hopefully Vic learned his lesson in all of this.
ReplyDeleteThis story was very wrong in so many levels. I mean the fact that Vic and Jerry found this idea to be considered "normal" and okay was just morally wrong. But Vic got what he deserved for being selfish and not considering the feelings of the women involved in this plan. Makes you think twice before planning something so cruel like this again, hopefully Vic learned his lesson in all of this.
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