"The Five-Forty-Eight" is one of my favorite Cheever stories--a dark tale where Blake discards a mentally disturbed woman after a night of casual sex."The Five-Forty-Eight" is one of my favorite Cheever stories--a dark tale where Blake discards a mentally disturbed woman after a night of casual sex. When he leaves work several weeks later, she follows him through the streets of New York City to the 5:48 commuter train.
Readers will feel like they are walking with Blake since Cheever uses many instances of sensory language such as the rain falling in his face and the sweet smell of bakery goods as he tries to avoid his stalker. Blake's cruel personality is revealed in his thoughts as he encounters various people. There's a lot of psychological tension because we don't know how dangerous the woman might be.
"The Five-Forty-Eight," published in 1954, is story #20 in "The Stories of John Cheever."...more
The Nudd family has a favorite family story about one day at their lakeside summer home in the Adirondacks. It's about the day the pig fell into the wThe Nudd family has a favorite family story about one day at their lakeside summer home in the Adirondacks. It's about the day the pig fell into the well. They each chime in with the parts of the story that has the deepest memories for them.
The family situation changes over the years with World War II, marriages, and aging which brings some sadness. Their friendship with a townie that they once treated almost like a member of the family had also changed. With each year's retelling of the story, we learn a little more about the personalities in the family. Their shared experience on the day the pig fell into the well helps bond the family together. It's a slow-moving story with many characters, but it all comes together in the end.
"The Day the Pig Fell Into the Well" (first published in 1954) is story #19 in the collection "The Stories of John Cheever."...more
Cash Bentley had been a star athlete running the hurdle race during his college years. The 40-year-old man can't accept that he's getting older, his gCash Bentley had been a star athlete running the hurdle race during his college years. The 40-year-old man can't accept that he's getting older, his good looks are fading, and alcohol is affecting his health. His whole identity is tied up in being a superb athlete. Since he cannot keep up with his neighbors financially in the suburbs, his "claim to fame" is his athletic prowess.
"O Youth and Beauty!" is story #18 in the collection "The Stories of John Cheever." ...more
"The Sorrow of Gin" is told from the point of view of nine-year-old Amy, the daughter of alcoholic parents. They neglect Amy, constantly sending her t"The Sorrow of Gin" is told from the point of view of nine-year-old Amy, the daughter of alcoholic parents. They neglect Amy, constantly sending her to spend time with the cook or a sitter, while they drink and party with their friends in their affluent suburban neighborhood.
The father has an opportunity to make a connection to his daughter and to see the world without the fog of alcohol at the end of the story. Sadly, there is a feeling that nothing will change....more
Victor Mackenzie was a young immigrant, and his wife was orphaned at an early age so they had no parents in their lives. They made themselves indispenVictor Mackenzie was a young immigrant, and his wife was orphaned at an early age so they had no parents in their lives. They made themselves indispensable to rich older people who had poor relationships to their own children. Victor and Theresa catered to wealthy lonely people, acting like the caring children the elderly people wished they had, but later were pushed out by the neglectful biological children. They were considered as no more than servants. Eventually they find themselves as the house guests and helpers to a lonely couple whose only child is deceased. Will Victor and Theresa finally be considered as part of the family?
It's an interesting story since the reader's view changes as to which person is trying to take advantage of the situation. 3.5 stars.
"The Children" is story # 16 in the collection "The Stories of John Cheever."...more
The Upper East Side apartments are getting more expensive to rent, and wealthier people are moving there. The super at the apartment building is devotThe Upper East Side apartments are getting more expensive to rent, and wealthier people are moving there. The super at the apartment building is devoted to his job, and takes pride in keeping things running smoothly. But the wealthy residents seem oblivious to how many problems he's dealing with every day, and think only of themselves. The management company that employs the super does not really know their employees. Just a little respect for his skills and acknowledgement of his effort would improve his day.
"The Superintendent" is story #15 in the collection "The Stories of John Cheever."...more
"The Stoker" is an absurdist story about sixteen-year-old Karl Rossmann who is banished to America after he is seduced by an older kitchen maid who be"The Stoker" is an absurdist story about sixteen-year-old Karl Rossmann who is banished to America after he is seduced by an older kitchen maid who becomes pregnant. Karl is young and naive, and foolishly leaves his trunk when he searches for a lost umbrella when the ship docks in New York. Karl meets a stoker on the ship who tells him that he is going to be unfairly dismissed since his chief engineer wants an all-Romanian crew.
Both Karl and the stoker have little power in deciding their fate. Karl has been sent away by his parents even though he was not the seducer, and the stoker is being dismissed although he says he's a hard worker. Kafka often writes about people who are powerless or caught up in an unjust system. Even the Statue of Liberty in the harbor is carrying a sword (instead of a welcoming torch) in judgment or perhaps destruction.
We wonder what the fate of the stoker will be as the story ends. Karl seems to have an opportunity when he is met by a rich, influential relative in a utopian turn to the story. But Karl is so innocent and young, and he's facing a new language and a new world.
"The Stoker" is the first chapter of Kafka's unfinished novel, "Amerika" which is also called "The Man who Disappeared." "The Stoker" can also be read as a stand-alone short story. ...more
"The Judgment" is a work that Kafka wrote in a single night in 1912. It has many autobiographical elements, and the two characters of Georg and his fr"The Judgment" is a work that Kafka wrote in a single night in 1912. It has many autobiographical elements, and the two characters of Georg and his friend show two sides of Kafka. Kafka had recently become engaged to Felice Bauer, and a part of him wanted the love of a wife which is reflected in Georg's situation. But Kafka, like Georg's bachelor friend, also enjoyed being single since it gave him quiet time after work to be creative and write. Georg was ambivalent about writing to his friend about his engagement.
Kafka's father, like the father in this story, was constantly judging his son. His father did not value his writing, and was pressuring him to spend time working at the family business after he finished his daytime legal job. Kafka's father had a negative psychological impact on him; his son did not fit the tough masculine image that his father had in mind. In "The Judgment," the father sentenced Georg to death by drowning. This was interesting as a story, and also as a window to see what was concerning Kafka at this point in his life. 3.5 stars....more
"Call Me Joe" is a science fiction story set on both Jupiter's surface, and on a space station orbiting the planet. Joe, a genetically engineered life"Call Me Joe" is a science fiction story set on both Jupiter's surface, and on a space station orbiting the planet. Joe, a genetically engineered life form which looks like a centaur, was designed to explore and thrive on Jupiter. Humans cannot survive Jupiter's harsh conditions so a disabled scientist, Ed Anglesey, is controlling the intelligent life form through mind-linking technology from the space station. The artificial life form, Joe, has been picking up Ed's knowledge and personality during several years of training. Another scientist, Jan Cornelius, arrives at the space station to determine why a part of the mind-linking technology has been malfunctioning.
This is a well-written 1957 novella from Poul Anderson. The story has some psychologically interesting characters, some gorgeous descriptions of Jupiter, and a great ending. "Call Me Joe" can be found in several science fiction anthologies.
I have not seen the movie "Avatar," but its basic idea is similar to this story....more
This is a wonderful work of psychological fiction. The narrator has been separated several times from his wife, and she recently left him again, takinThis is a wonderful work of psychological fiction. The narrator has been separated several times from his wife, and she recently left him again, taking their three children with her. He's trying to cure himself of this difficult marriage. He's spending as little time as possible in their suburban home, heading to the bar and drive-in movies after working in the city. The narrator is resolved not to answer the phone if she calls.
"If it rained for five days, if one of the children had a passing fever, if she got some sad news in a letter—anything like this might be enough to put her on the telephone, and I did not want to be tempted to resume a relationship that had been so miserable."
Cheever does a great job writing about a man who is suffering from insomnia, tossing and turning, listening to the sounds of the summer nights. The narrator is becoming lonelier and more desperate, and it is questionable whether his sleep-deprived mind is actually seeing and hearing things in the night. His behavior is becoming stranger. How long will he ignore the ringing of the phone?
"The Cure" was published in the July 5, 1952 edition of The New Yorker, and the story has lots of summer vibes. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
This is story #14 in the collection, "The Stories of John Cheever."...more
"An Invitation to the Hunt" was first published in the March 1960 issue of the San Francisco Review. It's best not to read any reviews of this story b"An Invitation to the Hunt" was first published in the March 1960 issue of the San Francisco Review. It's best not to read any reviews of this story before reading the story so you don't spoil the ending.
Baxter is described as pleasant and good looking, "but his two divorces, his promiscuity, his stinginess, and his Latin complexion had left his neighbBaxter is described as pleasant and good looking, "but his two divorces, his promiscuity, his stinginess, and his Latin complexion had left his neighbors a vague feeling that he was unsavory." He's taking the ferry to upscale Martha's Vineyard when he meets Clarissa Ryan, a gorgeous redhead with white skin, whose husband is working in France.
Baxter is a womanizer, and he searches for an opportunity to seduce Clarissa. Clarissa is so extraordinarily gorgeous that she's been labeled as beautiful and stupid. But she wants someone to really listen to her opinions, and to be perceived as intelligent. Baxter tells her what she wants to hear.
It's a skillfully written story, but I imagine that a very attractive woman would be able to spot a womanizer a mile away....more
"Gentleman Prefer Blondes" was first serialized one hundred years ago in "Harper's Bazaar" magazine. It was published as a novel later in 1925. The hu"Gentleman Prefer Blondes" was first serialized one hundred years ago in "Harper's Bazaar" magazine. It was published as a novel later in 1925. The humorous book is written as diary entries of a blonde flapper, Lorelei, as she pursues wealthy men. While she seems like the stereotypical "dumb blonde" in some ways, she is quite clever in reading people and twisting men around her little finger. Lorelei had a fondness for gifts of expensive jewelry from her gentlemen friends. The book follows Lorelei and her friend, Dorothy, on their adventures in New York and various European cities. This is a lighthearted, satirical work that was very popular internationally. ...more
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