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Marchpane's Reviews > A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
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A book that achieves exactly what it sets out to, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is essentially a writing class in book form. Your instructor is George Saunders, and while his personality shines through, please note that this book could not be further from the experience of reading Saunders� fiction.
For a start, a good chunk of this book is not by Saunders at all, but a bunch of dead Russians. Seven short stories by Tolstoy, Chekhov, Turgenev and Gogol to be precise and no, you can’t skip the homework. I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t always enjoy the homework, but Saunders� breakdown and analysis of the stories more than made up for that. And while this is specifically a class about the short story form, and specifically about these Russian authors, the insights provided here apply to any kind of fiction.
Forgoing lofty academic concepts, Saunders focuses on just the important stuff: What makes a story work? What makes it good? What makes a reader want to keep reading? What makes the reading experience satisfying (and what doesn’t)? It’s both a practical approach for aspiring writers, and a fascinating exercise for readers who like to think about what they read (hello Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friends!). Take George’s class and come out of it cleverer than you were before.
For a start, a good chunk of this book is not by Saunders at all, but a bunch of dead Russians. Seven short stories by Tolstoy, Chekhov, Turgenev and Gogol to be precise and no, you can’t skip the homework. I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t always enjoy the homework, but Saunders� breakdown and analysis of the stories more than made up for that. And while this is specifically a class about the short story form, and specifically about these Russian authors, the insights provided here apply to any kind of fiction.
Forgoing lofty academic concepts, Saunders focuses on just the important stuff: What makes a story work? What makes it good? What makes a reader want to keep reading? What makes the reading experience satisfying (and what doesn’t)? It’s both a practical approach for aspiring writers, and a fascinating exercise for readers who like to think about what they read (hello Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friends!). Take George’s class and come out of it cleverer than you were before.
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Reading Progress
December 10, 2020
– Shelved
December 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
2021-releases
December 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 13, 2021
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Started Reading
January 13, 2021
– Shelved as:
read-in-2021
January 17, 2021
–
40.0%
January 23, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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Lisa (NY)
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 24, 2021 06:46AM
Great review - I want to read this.
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Love the sound of this Marchpane...added...thanks for the intro to the book !
My library continues to promise availability for this one but...still eagerly waiting. So glad you loved it!
David wrote: "My library continues to promise availability for this one but...still eagerly waiting. So glad you loved it!"Hope it comes in soon David! You are such an attentive reader already, I'm really looking forward to seeing how you get on with this one.
So glad you liked it so much as I bought a copy and look forward to reading it even though, as you say, I'll be reading some "precious filler" in parts thanks to the Russkies. Chances are, I've read the stories already, but I plan on reading them again for "class," as you say.
I'll read anything he writes! Great review. I don't know if you listen to podcasts, but he just did a great interview on So Many Damn Books about this book. He is so fascinating.
I'm looking forward to reading this.
My IRL good book friend just recommended this to me. Sounds great! Thanks for your thoughts.
I want to read this but feel kinda weird about the stories by the dead Russian dudes - I assume I'll have to find the original versions of them since reading them in English would be a bit absurd :)
Megan wrote: "I'll read anything he writes! Great review. I don't know if you listen to podcasts, but he just did a great interview on So Many Damn Books about this book. He is so fascinating."
Thanks Megan, I'll definitely check that out! I heard him on Literary Disco, it was a fantastic discussion. Saunders always gives a great interview.
Anna wrote: "I want to read this but feel kinda weird about the stories by the dead Russian dudes - I assume I'll have to find the original versions of them since reading them in English would be a bit absurd :)"Anna! Hi - it's been a while :)
This book mentions that English readers are getting inferior versions of the stories compared to the Russian originals, so I think you have the right idea there!
Marchpane wrote: "Anna! Hi - it's been a while :)This book mentions that English readers are getting inferior versions of the stories compared to the Russian originals, so I think you have the right idea there! "
It has been indeed! Life gets in the way sometimes, unfortunately. But I am happy to be back and hope it's gonna last :)
Ah, that's interesting. Btw, does Saunders say anywhere whether he actually speaks Russian?
Anna wrote: "Btw, does Saunders say anywhere whether he actually speaks Russian?.."No, he doesn't speak Russian. The few times he mentions translations it's to quote opinions from colleagues or the translators themselves.
After your great review, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Thanks for mentioning the So Many Damn Books podcast, Megan. A great supplement to the wonderful book.
Kathy wrote: "Thanks for mentioning the So Many Damn Books podcast, Megan. A great supplement to the wonderful book."No problem. Hope you like it! I could have listened to him talk all day.
He occasionally provides alternate translations, which give a sense of what the range of meanings might be.The only thing you seemed to have overlooked in your otherwise excellent review is Saunders's
profound insights into human nature he finds in these stories as a result of careful exegesis.
I can’t wait to find the podcast and if specifically on this book, even better! I have neither intention not talent to write a book, but love the insight he gives on the process. Also, the poignancy of the stories he dissects still resonate with me.
I have found this much more helpful than academic approaches to the short story form
I'm learning, although didn't see what was so great about the Singers, that was one tough read!
totally agree with your comment '' this book could not be further from the experience of reading Saunders� fiction.'' I hated Lincoln in the Bardo, but ' A swim in the pond' is probably my favourite audiobook of all time - even though its a class not a book !
