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Shakespeare's Kitchen by Lore Segal

After Ann Patchett mentioned she was reading a book by Lore Segal, I remembered I had Shakespeare's Kitchen on my list. Another novel in the form of short stories, like Olive Kitteridge, this plot revolves around academics at a Connecticut think tank and their relationships with one another. I thought it had a wry sensibility and the dialogue realistically represented how people behave with one another. I found myself chuckling often, but I'm not sure if it was intentionally funny or just my mood. Like this passage, when the directors meet to discuss firing one of their inept staff members:

Zack said, "Amazing! We say, 'Let's give this incompetent time to prove himself.' The incompetent proves himself to be incompetent and we worry about wasting his time! While Jimmy's chums congratulate themselves on the milk of their human kindness, they might ask themselves if it mightn't be humane to relieve the young man of the awful experience of not being capable..." (p.130)

This is a smart book - the dark humor doesn't undermine the more serious examination of how we relate to one another and our desire to belong in an adult world. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it hit the spot.

4 stars

The End.

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

You already know, I'm not a well versed student of the short story. So if you are like me, this would be an excellent place to start.  I liked EVERY story in this collection. From the first page, each story feels like the beginnings of a novel, but then you realize the sweet payoff is in getting to the end quickly. As soon as I wondered what would happen...the story was finished.  And very satisfying, not in a trite happy ending sort of way.

She is a genius, masterful in her ability to communicate deep human longings through the lens of an immigrant. Each of her characters straddle the cultural line between old and new while desiring connection and understanding, and in some cases you are able to see how this impacts the next generation and their choices.

In this collection, there are 8 stories that are more like novellas than shorts. I must say having read both her novel The Namesake and her other collection of stories Interpreter of Maladies, her gift is truly in writing shorts. And developing characters that are relatable regardless of how or where you grew up. This is the closest to perfect storytelling that I've read.

I'll be curious to see how Jill likes this one, she being my short story reading analysis mentor.

Bravo.

5 stars.

The End.