"Like many others, I did not see it coming. But William is a scientist, and he saw it coming; he saw it sooner than I did, is what I mean. "
It was Marc"Like many others, I did not see it coming. But William is a scientist, and he saw it coming; he saw it sooner than I did, is what I mean. "
It was March in the early days of the pandemic, and Lucy's ex-husband takes her up to Maine to escape the threat of infection in New York City. William has rented a home on Maine's rocky coast. It was lockdown for them, punctuated with walks along the shore. Lucy and William had a complicated history, both together and apart. Now they were together 24/7, and their past connection helped them get through the stress of the pandemic and their worries about their daughters' health and marriages.
"Almost always, there was that sense of being underwater; of things not being real."
Much of the book takes place in Lucy's thoughts, and her insecurities from her damaged childhood are still with her. Lucy's voice is conversational, and the reader feels like they are with an empathetic old friend. Lucy is especially kind to people who are experiencing poverty or living alone, such as a woman she meets while volunteering at the food pantry.
This is a thoughtful novel about relationships, resilience, and understanding other people in challenging times. Author Elizabeth Strout has voiced the fears and insecurities we all felt during the pandemic's first year. I just reread the book for a book discussion group, and it made me realize how much better we all feel now--relaxing a bit after living through the worst years of the pandemic....more
Claire Keegan packs a lot into this slim book. This is a rereading for a book discussion.
Bill Furlong delivers coal and logs to families and businesseClaire Keegan packs a lot into this slim book. This is a rereading for a book discussion.
Bill Furlong delivers coal and logs to families and businesses in a small town in Ireland. It is December 1985, and his wife and five daughters are eagerly making preparations for Christmas. When he delivers coal to the convent, he encounters an abusive situation. He is faced with a moral dilemma, and reflects back on his own upbringing. This is a moving story about a generous man with a good heart making a hard choice....more
"Seven Guitars" opens after the funeral of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton in the late 1940s. His friends gathered in Louise's backyard when they returned fr"Seven Guitars" opens after the funeral of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton in the late 1940s. His friends gathered in Louise's backyard when they returned from the cemetery. Floyd was a blues musician who just had his first hit record. The rest of the play lets us know why things went downhill so quickly.
"Seven Guitars" features four men, all with some musical ability, and three women. The women have been disappointed in love. The black men can't achieve success in a white man's world. They can't find good jobs, and they get harassed by the police. All the men need money, including those that need to get their instruments out of the pawn shop so they can play at a dance. While all the characters have had hardships in their lives, they experience real joy when they are creating music. But they can also turn on each other when oppression creates anger.
This is an effective tragic play, and it would be an even more rewarding experience to see it in person. Hearing the blues, the broadcast of the Joe Louis-Billy Conn fight, and the sound of the rooster crowing a warning to the group would draw the theater patron in even more....more
After a shipwreck, four men are in a lifeboat off the coast of Florida. The captain is injured, but is setting the course. The cook is bailing water oAfter a shipwreck, four men are in a lifeboat off the coast of Florida. The captain is injured, but is setting the course. The cook is bailing water out of the dinghy as an oiler and a correspondent row. Nature is unforgiving--wave after wave threaten to overturn the boat. After two days of rowing the men are exhausted. A lighthouse is in sight, but it's uncertain that they can get to the shore.
"The Open Boat" is semi-autobiographical. Stephen Crane was traveling to Cuba on the USS Commodore during the Spanish-American War when the boat sank. He survived and wrote this story. Through Crane's descriptions we can feel the power of the ocean, see the gray bleakness that surrounds the dinghy, and imagine the fatigue in the men's muscles. Is it fate that determines whether mere men will survive when facing the more powerful force of nature?
Single Short Story Only "Why I Live at the P.O." by Eudora Welty
Sister, the narrator, tells about her younger sibling, Stella-Rondo, returning to theSingle Short Story Only "Why I Live at the P.O." by Eudora Welty
Sister, the narrator, tells about her younger sibling, Stella-Rondo, returning to the family home after separating from her husband. The Southern family has communication problems including lying, misinterpretation, denying reality, and jealousy.
Various family members seek refuge from the bickering - the grandfather sleeps on the hammock, the uncle zones out on prescription medication, and Sister feels that even the back room of the post office would make a better home.
Reread for the Short Story Club. The writing was good, but I was glad I wasn't reading a long novel featuring these squabbling characters. There are a couple of casual mentions of the N-word which was unfortunately common for that time and place.
Someone merged this review with the Harbrace Anthology which I have never read....more
I read "Cathedral", the titular short story in this collection. The narrator and his wife are visited by Robert, a longtime friend and past employer oI read "Cathedral", the titular short story in this collection. The narrator and his wife are visited by Robert, a longtime friend and past employer of the wife. The narrator is meeting Robert for the first time and feels superior because Robert is blind.
Robert is able to form a connection with the emotionally isolated narrator after they watch a TV program about cathedrals. The blind man is interested in the human element and sense of community when multiple generations work together to build a cathedral. His vision of a cathedral is more than just a place with gorgeous architecture, but a place for worship and forming human connections.
The story has a theme about seeing with one's eyes contrasted with seeing and understanding things below the surface. Robert may be blind, but he has the greater understanding and forms deep, meaningful relationships.
"Barn Burning" is a short story that is a prequel to William Faulkner's Snopes trilogy set in the American South during the late 19th Century. It show"Barn Burning" is a short story that is a prequel to William Faulkner's Snopes trilogy set in the American South during the late 19th Century. It shows the conflict between the father and son, and the inequity between classes. The son has to decide whether to do what he considers to be morally right, or be loyal to his destructive father. It's a story to be read more than once for its many layers of meaning.
At a party in the evening before her daughter Alia's wedding, Salma reads the patterns in the coffee grains in her daughter's cup. She's frightened atAt a party in the evening before her daughter Alia's wedding, Salma reads the patterns in the coffee grains in her daughter's cup. She's frightened at the unsettled life she sees predicted. She does not want to spoil Alia's happiness and only tells part of her fortune. Salma, a Palestinian from Jaffa, had been displaced and was now living in Nablus with her family. The Six Day War in 1967, and Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 forced the family to migrate several more times until family members were living around the world.
This is a multi-generational novel about a Palestinian family trying to make a home and hold on to their culture. It's about how this family copes with war, with very little about soldiers, politics, and the actual wars. Salma's family was educated with the resources to make moves to a safer place, unlike some other Palestinians who went to large camps. Like every family, there were times when the younger and older generations didn't understand each other. They had the additional stresses of trying to adapt to the cultures of other countries over and over again. After the towers fell on 9/11, the grandchildren who had moved to America were regarded as possible terrorists.
Hala Alyan is a good storyteller who created vibrant characters with strong personalities. Although this is her first novel, she has also written three books of poetry. I enjoyed her beautiful, lyrical writing in "Salt Houses". The book has a family tree in the front which helps in keeping the sixteen family members (in four generations) straight, but the number of characters might bother some readers. I just reread this book for a book discussion....more
"The trouble with him was that he was not able to imagine."
In "To Build a Fire" a man is traveling with a wolf dog through the frozen Yukon on an extr"The trouble with him was that he was not able to imagine."
In "To Build a Fire" a man is traveling with a wolf dog through the frozen Yukon on an extremely cold day. It was his first winter in the Yukon, and he had ignored the advice of the experienced old-timer to travel with a companion when the temperature falls colder than 50 below. The descriptions are ominous and chilling.
The wolf dog has a thick fur coat and uses its instinct to survive in bad conditions. The man had not given enough thought to the perils in the natural world. Nature is what it is, so it's up to mankind to respect it.
Reread for the Short Story Club. This survival story never loses its intensity....more
The Sheridans, a wealthy family, are hosting a garden party on a perfect warm day with lavish flowers, a bounty of food, and a band. A delivery man teThe Sheridans, a wealthy family, are hosting a garden party on a perfect warm day with lavish flowers, a bounty of food, and a band. A delivery man tells them that a poor young man, who lived in a small cottage down the hill, was killed in an accident. This sets off a series of events which show the class division between the rich and the poor. Images are light and beautiful when the preparations for the Sheridan's party are described. In contrast, dark and dreary images describe the grieving people at the Scott's small brown cottage on a gloomy lane.
Daughter Laura Sheridan is a young woman who has some sensitivity regarding the situation, but this is her first encounter with death.(view spoiler)[She concentrates on the beauty of the young man sleeping the sleep of death, rather than the grief and hardship that the working class mourners are experiencing. Laura is coming of age, and still learning about life and death. Her wealthy upbringing allows her to retain some of her dream-like illusions about both life and death.(hide spoiler)]Katherine Mansfield's writing is lovely in her wonderful collectionThe Garden Party and Other Stories.I enjoyed reading "The Garden Party" again with the Short Story Club....more
This short story is chilling, and very well written. I was shocked at the ending of the story when I first read it years ago. But then I started thinkThis short story is chilling, and very well written. I was shocked at the ending of the story when I first read it years ago. But then I started thinking about things that society accepts for no reason other than unquestioned tradition and crowd mentality. Sometimes we don't even remember the reasons behind a harmful tradition but continue to follow it. A mob of people will do things together that an individual would be appalled to do. Even though I've probably read this story at least five times over the years, the end of the story still sends shivers through me....more
I enjoyed my reread of "Travels with Charley" for a library book discussion. John Steinbeck took a road trip around the United States in the fall of 1I enjoyed my reread of "Travels with Charley" for a library book discussion. John Steinbeck took a road trip around the United States in the fall of 1960 "to try to rediscover this monster land." He bought a pick-up truck with a camper top, and named it Rocinante (after Don Quixote's horse). Charley, an older large French poodle, was Steinbeck's traveling companion. Charley served as an ice-breaker, making it easier for Steinbeck to meet strangers. Steinbeck had a chronic illness at the time of his trip, and Charley had his own set of veterinary problems, but they offered emotional support to each other. Charley also added some humor to the story, such as when he turned into a vicious barking beast when he spotted and smelled the bears in Yellowstone Park.
Steinbeck tried to talk to the "everyman" during his journey--farmers, migrant workers, and waitresses--to take the pulse of the country. Although Steinbeck has associated with many famous people, he has never forgotten his humble roots as a dock worker. As one who has lived through the 1960s, I felt that he gave a true sense of the era. He traveled through the Northeast, then took a northern route to the west coast, then headed home by taking a southern route eastward.
The most awe-inspiring stop on his journey was at a forest of majestic redwoods. The most upsetting incident was in New Orleans where a group of women (called the Cheerleaders) shouted racist comments at small black children walking to their recently integrated school. His visit to a bar in his hometown in California showed that you really can't go home again after an absence of many years--people change and the town changes.
Steinbeck got lost quite often during his trip. He seemed to suggest that America was also getting lost as the population moved from the country to the city to work in industry. He was concerned about damage to the environment as factories, garbage dumps, and interstate highways ringed the cities.
There has been some controversy about the accuracy of Steinbeck's tale, especially in journalist Bill Steigerwald's book, "Dogging Steinbeck". Steinbeck did not camp out as often as his book relates, his wife flew out to meet him quite often during the trip, and his conversations with people seem to often be composites of several people. That really did not bother me since I find that most travel books give the flavor of a location, and are not a day-to-day diary. I can also understand why Steinbeck would be spending many nights in motels, considering his poor health. The hours I spent with Steinbeck and Charley on the road were very entertaining....more
It was a brilliant summer day, but Richard and Joan's relationship was crumbling as much as the clay on the tennis court. How were they going to tellIt was a brilliant summer day, but Richard and Joan's relationship was crumbling as much as the clay on the tennis court. How were they going to tell their four children that they were separating?
"Separating" is a semi-autobiographical story from John Updike's 1979 collection "Too Far to Go." The story was first published inThe New Yorkerin 1975. It was interesting to see how the six family members each reacted during this difficult time. 3.5 stars, rounded up....more
The Metamorphosisis an absurbist story about Gregor Samsa, a man who finds he has been transformed into a giant beetle during the night. No reason isThe Metamorphosisis an absurbist story about Gregor Samsa, a man who finds he has been transformed into a giant beetle during the night. No reason is given for Gregor's metamorphosis, and he acts calm about the situation. Gregor is such a good dependable traveling salesman that he only seems upset that he is going to be late for work. His supervisor from work is unsympathetic, and the business is portrayed as uncaring toward its employees. His family seems to worry more about the loss of income than for Gregor's welfare. As the story progresses, Gregor's emotions stay very human while his behavior becomes more and more like an insect. Gregor is so emotionally conflicted that he loses his appetite for food.
Gregor's family is undergoing a metamorphosis as much as he is. Although his sister tries to take care of him in the beginning, his family reaches the point where he is too much of a burden and they no longer value him. His father is abusive, and the family is stressed, embarrassed, and financially struggling. Gregor had been carrying the weight of supporting his whole family. As his condition became worse, the other three family members became more self-sufficient and they are anticipating a bright future.
Gregor's work was portrayed as unfulfilling drudgery, and he felt like he was unappreciated by his supervisors and his family. The father-son conflict might reflect Kafka's real life. Perhaps it was a protective fantasy to escape reality that caused the transformation of Gregor into an insect. Gregor was unhappy in his human existence as he tried to do all the things that society, his boss, and his family demanded of him. Gregor's metamorphosis allowed the psychologically fragile man to escape into a fantasy world by changing his outer appearance while he was true to himself on the inside. The delightful thing about reading Kafka's stories is that the reader can see something new and different with each reading. This was a reread for the Short Story group....more
"A Monkey's Paw" is a classic tale of terror. The mummified paw has the magical power to grant three wishes. However, whoever makes the wish is playin"A Monkey's Paw" is a classic tale of terror. The mummified paw has the magical power to grant three wishes. However, whoever makes the wish is playing with fate. So they'll get their wish, but other consequences will come with it.
Be careful what you wish for... and don't read this story right before bedtime.
"A Monkey's Paw" is in many anthologies, including "Black Water" which I'm reading with the Short Story Club. ...more
"No one had ever spoken to him of how a man might fall in love with a piece of ground."
This award winning novel tells the story of the settlement of t"No one had ever spoken to him of how a man might fall in love with a piece of ground."
This award winning novel tells the story of the settlement of the New South Wales colony in Australia. William Thornhill, an impoverished boatman in London, was convicted of the theft of a load of timber in 1806. He was deported to the New South Wales penal colony with his family as a way to avoid swinging from the gallows. After serving his time in Sydney, Will claimed a beautiful piece of land along the Hawkesbury River in the frontier. However, this was land that the Aboriginal people had loved and considered their territory for years.
Kate Grenville wrote wonderful descriptions of the hard life of a boatman on the Thames, the relationship between Will and his wife, the difficulties of a new settler, and the confrontations with the indigenous people. The characters come so alive on the page that they are hard to leave at the end of the book....more
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