there's a terrific Seinfeld subplot where George's fiancé Susan Ross's father had a clandestine affair with Cheever...Larry David was ahead of the curve on this one
The New Yorker - iconic and in the mid century years the absolute apogee of American-ness. My battered copy of Stories from the New Yorker 1950-1960 contains many of the best. It has survived a recent cull due to downsizing and reminds me of my teenage self over 50 years ago when the world (and these stories) all seemed new.
Btw, have you read "The Trip to Echo Spring" by British writer Olivia Laing.
About six of these famous American writers and their relationship with alcohol and creativity.
It’s interesting to me that you get through an entire long piece about New Yorker fiction without mentioning Tom Wolfe‘s withering — and hilariously funny — two-part take down of the famous magazine. This is from the collection, “Hooking Up.”
NEW YORKER AFFAIR
Foreword: Murderous Gutter Journalism
Tiny Mummies! The True Story of the Ruler of 43rd Street’s Land of the Walking Dead!
Very interesting. I've never read Cheever, except for "The Enormous Radio" -- I'll have to try him.
What was the Shirley Jackson story Angell was rejecting? I know that one of my favorite Jackson stories, "One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts", was published in F&SF instead of the New Yorker. (And I know F&SF readers who complain that it's not fantastical!)
I don't keep up as well with the New Yorker's fiction these days as I used to, but I will say that a recent(ish) writer I've enjoyed is Tessa Headley, and I think you could say her stories are Cheeverish -- or New Yorkerish -- except that they're set in England.
I've only read one of those other 1964 New Yorker stories -- "The Vane Sisters", which I think is great. But I love Nabokov in general. I did start "Hapworth 16, 1924" but didn't get very far. I'll probably try it again just to be finished with Salinger. But I subscribe more or less to a common notion, that Salinger started great and got steadily worse. (Maybe not wholly steadily -- the "Franny" part of Franny and Zooey is pretty good. And I should say that Salinger remained pretty readable, at least until "Hapworth".)
there's a terrific Seinfeld subplot where George's fiancé Susan Ross's father had a clandestine affair with Cheever...Larry David was ahead of the curve on this one
I vaguely remember this episode. It had something to do with one of Cheever's notebooks or journals right?
i have not read much Cheever, but you and Chabon's recent mentions of him have me convinced I'm missing out.
i read a short story by him recently and I see a lot of myself in it. and the middle class themes you've described are really my whole thing.
this will sound gauche but if you like Cheever, check out my stuff. it's clear to me i'm a sort of Millienial-ized Cheever without an editor.
The New Yorker - iconic and in the mid century years the absolute apogee of American-ness. My battered copy of Stories from the New Yorker 1950-1960 contains many of the best. It has survived a recent cull due to downsizing and reminds me of my teenage self over 50 years ago when the world (and these stories) all seemed new.
Btw, have you read "The Trip to Echo Spring" by British writer Olivia Laing.
About six of these famous American writers and their relationship with alcohol and creativity.
It’s interesting to me that you get through an entire long piece about New Yorker fiction without mentioning Tom Wolfe‘s withering — and hilariously funny — two-part take down of the famous magazine. This is from the collection, “Hooking Up.”
NEW YORKER AFFAIR
Foreword: Murderous Gutter Journalism
Tiny Mummies! The True Story of the Ruler of 43rd Street’s Land of the Walking Dead!
Lost in the Whichy Thickets: The New Yorker
The two essays are called:
“Tiny Mummies! The True Story of the Ruler of 43rd Street’s Land of the Walking Dead.”
And
“Lost in the Whichy Thickets”
"The novels just feel like...like...like a guy was trying to write a novel."
This line made me laugh so hard for some reason. Alright, I'll read his stories and give the novels a pass. You've sold me on this guy.
Naomi-
Have you read Mavis Gallant? Big New Yorker author with a terrific collection. Some great stuff there.
Very interesting. I've never read Cheever, except for "The Enormous Radio" -- I'll have to try him.
What was the Shirley Jackson story Angell was rejecting? I know that one of my favorite Jackson stories, "One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts", was published in F&SF instead of the New Yorker. (And I know F&SF readers who complain that it's not fantastical!)
I don't keep up as well with the New Yorker's fiction these days as I used to, but I will say that a recent(ish) writer I've enjoyed is Tessa Headley, and I think you could say her stories are Cheeverish -- or New Yorkerish -- except that they're set in England.
I've only read one of those other 1964 New Yorker stories -- "The Vane Sisters", which I think is great. But I love Nabokov in general. I did start "Hapworth 16, 1924" but didn't get very far. I'll probably try it again just to be finished with Salinger. But I subscribe more or less to a common notion, that Salinger started great and got steadily worse. (Maybe not wholly steadily -- the "Franny" part of Franny and Zooey is pretty good. And I should say that Salinger remained pretty readable, at least until "Hapworth".)