Saunders is an enchanting writer. He captivates the reader and takes him into the new worlds of his short stories. Saunders does this through the use of stream of consciousness. In his short story “Victory Lap,” Saunders explores the perspectives of three different characters: Allison, Kyle, and the kidnapper.
Saunders is able to fully engage the reader in Allison’s thoughts because he so vividly describes her imagination. Allison has a very active imagination, and a seemingly naive mind, and through access to all of her thoughts, and their sometimes disorganized manner, the reader can fully appreciate the character. Yes, at times it may be distracting as a reader to have to put so much concentration into simply understanding the sequence of events, but it is in those moments of confusion that the reader is enchanted.
In Nabakov's eyes, making connections with the story is an egregious error that distinguishes good readers from bad readers. This ideal may seem counter-intuitive, but it actually contributes to a story's enchantment. Because Saunders gives the reader no time to connect the character or events to one’s own life, the reader wholeheartedly assumes the role of the character and thus inhibits this new world that Saunders created. The reader is immediately submerged into Allison's mind and her fantasies about walking down the stairs, her analysis' of her teacher's character, her beliefs about mankind. The reader has no time to think, "Ah, I too think everyone is a rainbow," because by the time one thinks that, Allison is already opening the door to her kidnapper. Through the use of stream of consciousness, Saunders continually progresses the stories, constantly changing the dynamic and direction of the character's thoughts. Saunders makes the reader faithfully follow these trains of thoughts, becoming fully enchanted and engaged with the story. It is in these seemingly random series of thoughts, that upon further analysis reveal a great deal about the character, that Saunder's true magic of enchantment lies.
I think you're correct to analyze Saunders in this format. He has a very unique style that enables the reader to indulge in the reading without forming a connection with the character.
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