I recently read Susan Orlean’s "Buttons" in The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup.

What makes it stand out:

  • An intriguing lede that begins, "Diana Epstein bought seventeen thousand buttons…."
  • Physical description of the main character
  • Detailed, specific lists of buttons. For example: "Eskimo buttons of ivory in the shape of seals and walruses, Victorian daguerrotype portraits of babies, large yellowish 1940s buttons made of Lucite salvaged from Second World War bombers…."
  • Dialogue that informs me about the main character’s personality
  • An evocative ending that ties buttons to society at large
The comments above are part of my homework for an online essay writing class.