"The Sorrows of Gin"

Do you ever come across an author that you've heard of, heard good things about, but aren't all that familiar with.  And then when you read him, you realize that you are in the presence of greatness?   This week I chose a story from The Stories of John Cheever.  I know he is a well known short story writer, and something I hadn't realized until I found this book on the library's shelves--he won the Pulitzer Prize for this collection in 1979.  I also took advantage of my library's media collection to watch a theatrical performance of the story as well.

When I decided to read something by Cheever and was looking for some of his story collections I discovered that several of his stories had been filmed and were available from the Broadway Theatre Archive.  As I've never read anything by Cheever and am not familiar with his work, I picked a story randomly that I could also watch.  I'm assuming this is fairly representative of his work.  One somewhat cursory reading of the story, I can already tell, is not enough for me to give you a really good impression of just what Cheever is about.  I did find an excellent analysis of the story, however (am guessing from the URL that he might possibly be an academic) in case you want to know more.

"The Sorrows of Gin" is an interesting look at affluent suburbia through the eyes of a child.  The story is told almost entirely through the eyes of eight-year-old Amy Lawton.  The Lawton's lead a somewhat vapid existence.  Their days and nights are filled with tennis and cocktail and dinner parties.  Rarely do they pass an evening at home alone with their daughter, although that's the one thing she wants most.  She seems to spend more time with baby sitters and the endless stream of cooks that pass into and out of her life.  One of the cooks, Rosemary, shares the sad story of her sister who died from too much drink with Amy.  She tells Amy she'd be proud if she would occasionally pour her father's gin down the sink--"the filthy stuff".  Amy takes her advice to heart and does just that, though the blame generally falls onto the hired help with disastrous results.  What Cheever excels at is showing the hypocrisy of the gin-soaked adults.  While they criticize Amy for her failures, they can't see their own.

"The voices woke Amy, and, lying in her bed, she perceived vaguely, the pitiful corruption of the adult world; how crude and frail it was, like a piece of worn burlap, patched with stupidities and mistakes, useless and ugly, and yet they never saw its worthlessness, and when you pointed it out to them, they were indignant."

It was a new experience to see a short story performed.  The adaptation was really well done and featured Sigourney Weaver and Edward Herrmann.  It was fairly faithful to the story though there was more to it--sometimes in a short story less is more, if that makes any sense.  I'd like to read more Cheever and am not sure what to choose next.  Suggestions are (as always) welcome.  He has so many short stories (this collection has 61 alone) as well as novels.  I am in the process of mooching The Wapshot Chronicle, which sounded very appealing.  If you are looking for a very good short story craftsman, John Cheever looks to be an excellent example.

Comments

[Jaimie]

That sounds very interesting. I will definitely look for this author. You are not helping me clear my TBR shelf! :)

[BooksPlease]

I'm coming round to reading short stories, and this collection does sound very interesting and more satisfying than some. I find if the stories are too short they leave me feeling bored and dissatisfied. I looked at the Barnes and Noble link and there is a complete short story extracted - wonderful.

[litlove]

Do you know, I'm actually jealous because I'd love to read some Cheever, but he's hard to get hold of in this country. He's on my wish list, though, so I will definitely get around to him in time.

[Victoria]

I've had the same problem as litlove. Several times I've gone into a bookshop and thought, 'ah I'll have a look for some Cheever', and turned up nothing. Would you say he was a very American writer? Perhaps that is why he hasn't found an audience in the UK?

[Dorothy W.]

I've never read Cheever or even thought about it, really, but he sounds very interesting. Cool that you could see an adaptation, too.

[Andi]

The only Cheever I've read (that I remember right now) is "The Swimmer." It's a breathtaking short story...very strange and twisted in some ways...and was also adapted into a film.

[Danielle]

Jaimie--I'm always happy to enable another reader! :)
BooksPlease--Really short stories can be sort of hard to decipher (well, if they are meant to be deciphered)--so I know what you mean. It's great B&N has a short story available in its entirety, so you can get a feel for his work! The story I read was about 12 or so pages and I really should have read it twice. But I do plan on reading more of his work!
Litlove--I was thinking about you when I was reading him as I know you are on the look out for good American fiction and I think you would like him. Let me know--I would always be happy to keep an eye out for a used copy for you of his stories.
Victoria--Ditto the offer I made to Litlove. I'd be happy to look for a used copy for you. I've only read the one story, so I'm not sure how to characterize him, but he does seem very American. The Wikipedia said he usually uses the settings of Upper East Side in Manhattan and New England suburbs and his works "express a nostalgia for a vanishing way of life"--so that does sound quite particular to old time America. His writing is really very good though and I'm glad I finally have read something by him.
Dorothy--I'm not sure I would have gone looking for him if I wasn't reading a short story a week. I am trying to find authors that are known for their abilities as short story writers.
Andi--I thought that was his story and had heard of the movie. I would have liked to have read that one over the weekend, but it isn't in the anthology I have. I will have to look for it however!

[bybee]

There was a movie that came out in the 1960s called "The Swimmer". It was based on a Cheever story. Very odd, for a movie. Today it would be an indie-production. Burt Lancaster starred.
I didn't like Cheever when I was in my 20s, but I think I would now. He seems to speak to the disillusionment of middle age.

[litlove]

How lovely - if you ever do come across a second hand copy, then yes, please! We'll mooch.

[Danielle]

Bybee--Yes, from what I've heard he does deal with that subject. Since I am feeling in a disillusioned stage in my life--that must be my attraction! :) I have to see if Netflix has that movie!
Litlove--Sounds good! I will see if my favorite used bookstore has any of his story collections. He is exactly the sort of author they would carry, so I will check it out next time I drop by there.