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This was a solid 'read to write' book, from a course the eminent short story writer George Saunders has taught for 20 years in the MFA program at Syracuse. We examine seven short stories of varying lengths and levels of realism or surrealism from the great 19th century Russians--Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol (all but Doestoyevesky who never wrote anything short enough to use in such an exemplar-driven writing class.)

It was a pleasure-- first, just to read these stories and savor the various flavors, voices and styles. Each story--except the first--is read in its entirety and then Saunders walks us through the story pointing out the underlying structural elements which which I for one would have missed. In the first story he walks us through a page at a time, watching for the moves the author is making on the ultra-micro level, which I really loved. In the others, you read the story in its entirety, watching and wondering what element he will pick out for examination. it really is a class in active reading.

Each story becomes an exemplar of a certain issue that Saunders feels is essential in short story writing--looking at patterns in storytelling, finding the 'heart of the story', and so on. At the end, there are three exercises the reader can try, in cutting, escalation and translation. One doesnt have to agree with him to find the book useful, and I like the way he modestly says 'this is not "the right way," but only a way to see these stories.

I found the examination of endings particularly useful--he has us imagining the story ending somewhat sooner than it does, and picturing how that would change the story. I've already put that to use. Also what seeming digressions can add to the story--sometimes the digression is where the story really is.

An excellent addition to the writers' library, helping to understand how short stories work, these classic stories , and one's own.. Can you trace the escalation in your own story, the patterning and so forth?

Personally, I have never really gotten my mind around Chekhov's subtle stories--they've always been a head-scratcher for me, so it was such a joy to see Saunders analyze the three Chekhov stories, "In the Cart," "The Darling" and "Gooseberries", from which the book's title comes--and based on a swim Chekhov took with Tolstoy. Now I would like to see someone as acute and generous and plain-spoken as Saunders write a book about seven contemporary stories with this same love and appreciation.