The Stories of John Cheever | 
pickCheever‘s stories primarily deal with postwar American east coast suburbia, juxtaposing its superficial, idyllic “leave it to beaver” facade with its underbelly of competition, alcoholism, gossip and promiscuity. Some stories have a twilight zone feel without the sci-fi, while others are quirky and humorous. One of the stories in this volume, “The Swimmer,” was adapted into an off-beat film starring Burt Lancaster in 1968. It‘s essential Cheever.
The first two stories are finished. Interesting writer indeed!!!
pick“I can barely recall the old house where I was raised ...down the long corridor, past the seven views of Rome, up two steps and down three, one entered the library, where all the books were in order, the lamps were bright, where there was a fire and a dozen bottles of good bourbon locked in a cabinet with a veneer like tortoiseshell whose silver key my father wore on his watch chain.”
pickThese are stories about the void that the safe, select, suburban life can be.
Writing a masterpiece, just one, is a miracle. There are a few here. If you ever get the chance to read “The Swimmer” or “The Death of Justina” read them. Many of the other stories stop short of greatness. It feels like he didn‘t realize how good of a writer he was. Or he was just frequently bad at endings.
#swimming or drowning? I thought of the Cheever story (1964)that was turned into a film (1968).As Ned Merrill lounges by a neighbors pool he decides there are so many pools in the neighborhood,he could cut through the backyards & swim the 8 Miles home.As he reviews his own life of mistakes , disappointments, & failures ,comparing notes with the neighbors, everything takes a darker turn.Brilliant early questioning of upper middle class America.
pickFinally! Finished! I‘ve been reading on and off this chunkster of a short story collection for the past 4 years or so. He‘s pretty good, even if I don‘t remember all of them 😊
pickIt‘s a very Cheever book club. Loved this collection!
“We are a family that has always been very close in spirit. Our father was drowned in a sailing accident when we were young, and our mother has always stressed the fact that our familial relationships have a kind of permanence that we will never meet with again.” From “Goodbye my brother” #firstlines
Day 26: short stories. I must admit I had never even heard of Cheever until a few months ago. Now a good friend has picked a selection of his short stories for #bookclub2 next month and of course, now I see him everywhere. Looking forward to reading him. Sounds right up my alley. #readathon #30daysofreadathon @DeweysReadathon
Good morning from Pennsylvania! I'm loving the current weather, perfect for reading outdoors! That's what I'll be doing until it's time to do some back to school shopping with my son (torture for him and me)! My current reads. Tagged book is one I've been reading forever. Cheever is a short story master. Thanks @Liberty for your giveaway and for the opportunity to share my current reads! #STACKEDUP
Final day of classes, I had my juniors read "The Swimmer." A great short story, it has an interesting mix of postmodern characteristics. They complained about how depressing it was, but all I said was good thing we didn't have time for Death of a Salesman, like I had planed! I definitely understand Neddy much more now at (the still young) 25 than I did at 19 in college. #americanlit #postmodernism #teachersoflitsy #teacher
Adult story time at the library exposes me to John Cheever. Now I've got to read the rest of his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection and watch the Burt Lancaster movie.
If we're talking #shortstories, you have to start with the master. #somethingforsept
Haven't dived in yet, but every book I read on writing holds up Cheever's work as an example. Can't wait to see what he's about.
I have many, many #TBRTuesday books throughout the house but almost none on my nightstand! Hubby usually goes to bed before I do and book lamps don't work well for us. When I do get to read in bed I usually just bring up a current read which is the one on top of the pile. The rest have been there seemingly forever📚.
pickI fell in love with short stories after I pulled this off my parents' shelf at age 13. My favorite story is still"The Enormous Radio." I now have my own paperback copy but I still love the look and feel of this tome.
Pick this one up if you miss this guy, this show, and having your heart gently split apart every Sunday night. One of the oft-rumored inspirations for Mad Men, this one holds strong.
