Night Thoughts

"Night Thoughts" was definitely an interesting read. The opening paragraph was absolutely depressing and desolate with the main character giving scenes from what seems to be the inside of a hospital "of death". He is surrounded by the dead and dying (of AIDS possibly?) who seem to be in agony. As the story progresses and the main character continues to share his story I found it a little confusing in my own mind to understand how in a particular time their can exist 1) a ruling king, 2) cars, and 3) tabloids! The tale that the main character tells is basically a story about the king in power during his lifetime and all of the "rumored stories" surrounding that king. The character is speaking to someone who has already passed on. Finally towards the end of the tale we learn that this man is confined to a hospital with a brain tumor that is slowly killing him, surely a painful way to die. I found it very odd that this man would think to himself that his brain tumor was the only thing he had ever "owned". Was his body and mind not ever his own? It almost seemed like this guy welcomed his prognosis and was eager to die.