Recent Reading: American Short Stories

Winter Dreams by F. Scott Fitzgerald – ★★★★1/2

“As so frequently would be the case in the future, Dexter was unconsciously dictated to by his winter dreams“. Apparently, this is the story that Fitzgerald fleshed out to then produce The Great Gatsby. The focus is on Dexter Green, a very dreamy and aspiring young man who loves all things prestige and luxury, and who gets infatuated with one lovely, rich girl, Judy Jones. The issue though is that Judy is very popular and he faces much competition: “She had brought him ecstatic happiness and intolerable agony of spirit”. The Great Gatsby themes are everywhere in Winter Dreams: the abundant, unreasonable hope, the rags-to-riches narrative, one beautiful, unattainable and fickle woman. It is a flowing narrative that necessarily invites much comparison with Fitzgerald’s most famous novel and, therefore, feels lacking and less subtle, almost an exercise in the anticipation of a real thing. Still, there is this nostalgic, melancholic quality to this tragic tale that simply spellbinds.

Neighbour Rosicky by Willa Cather – ★★★★1/2

“Maybe…people as generous and warm-hearted and affectionate as the Rosickys never got ahead much; maybe you couldn’t enjoy your life and put it into the bank, too”. Starting reading any story by Willa Cather (My Ántonia, Death Comes for the Archbishop, A Lost Lady) is like stepping into a rich country-life world of simple people with big hearts and gentle smiles you never want to leave. It is a sense of rural simplicity and warmth that is so addictive in her narratives. In this story, everyone is concerned about the failing health of Mr Rosicky, a kind, self-giving man who was once a tailor in New York and London, but now is a farmer with a loyal wife and many children, mostly boys. He reminisces about his earlier life having just received bad news from his doctor about his heart that won’t last long. He bonds with his daughter-in-law, and tries to understand what his boys’ lives would be after he is gone: “What Rosicky really hoped for his boys was that they could get through the world without ever knowing much about the cruelty of human beings”. As usual, Cather excels in characterisation. Mr Rosicky comes alive in a way few characters do – slowly, but confidently. This is one heart-warming story gently dramatized.

A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner – ★★★★1/2

“She carried her head high enough— even when we believed that she was fallen.” The death of Miss Emily Grierson caused quite a stir but only because she was “a tradition, a duty, and a care” of the city, the last remaining “pillar” of the antebellum society that is now completely overtaken by modernity. Emily Grierson once refused to pay taxes because one gallant Colonel promised her that she would not have to, and also had a tragic history of romantic, familial and financial disappointments. Abandoned by her fiancé and remaining without any family, she was soon called “Poor Miss Emily”, growing old and reclusive. But, as it turns out, she was not without layers of mystery and her deep-seated secret is about to be spilled, now that she has died and one of her locked rooms is forced open. Faulkner pays homage to the days long gone as his vivid story indirectly comments on the iron grip of the past, patriarchy and societal judgements that exacerbate the isolation and loneliness of misunderstood town figures.

Everyday Use by Alice Walker – ★★★★

Alice Walker (The Colour Purple (1982)) drew on her own humble upbringing to tell this story of two contrasting sisters: shy Maggie, who stayed at home, and bold Dee, who is making something of herself in the big world. The story is from the point of view of their “manly”, practical mother, who never had an education herself, and whose only pride, joy and hope for the future is bright Dee, whom they are now expecting to come for a visit as the narrative starts to unfold. When Dee comes, they learn that she changed her name (to Wangero), dresses flashy now, looks haughtily around her childhood home, and comes with an eccentric man in tow. Then, Dee (Wangero)’s eyes spot two old, but pretty valuable for the family, quilts. Dee wants them for herself. The premise may appear slight, but much can be read into it, with the two daughters symbolising two paths of the history concerning black people, and the quilts – the practical, down-to-earth, “hands-on” approach to valuing and respecting one’s heritage, which feels more authentic than the performative, superficial version that Dee now embodies.

The Quest for Blank Claveringi by Patricia Highsmith – ★★★1/2

“That’s man’s fate, I suppose, the pursuit of the non-existent“. Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr Ripley, Edith’s Diary, The Tremor of Forgery) penned this short story about one Professor of Zoology embarking on a journey to find mythical, giant, man-eating snails of the Matusas Islands. His aim is to locate one remaining snail (allegedly) so that the new species is named after him – Blank Claveringi. It is a fantastical tale that quickly turns into horror, and Highsmith knows how to thrill. We are often so caught up in the (pursuit of) future, and in its possibilities and impossibilities that we ignore the present, underestimating it and its possible dangers. Be careful what you wish for. If you enjoy this kind of short horror stories, do also check out my post “Plant Horror”: 3 Classic Short Stories about “Monster” Orchids.