Growing up, reading was a solitary activity. Even when I was lucky enough to live near someone else who had a similar connection to books and stories, we never did that together: we played. We might swap books, under the best of circumstances, but we never had our own copies to read the same book at the same time. Whenever anyone complains about the impact of the internet and technology, I recognise how some of those complaints and concerns are true, but how thrilling it’s been to have bookish friends.
All year, Rebecca @ Bookish Beck and Mel at The Reading Life and I have been reading Carol Shields Collected Stories (2004). Rebecca has done a fabulous job of summarising the three collections in that omnibus edition: Various Miracles (Rebecca), The Orange Fish (Rebecca), and Dressing Up for the Carnival (Rebecca). Mel has written about ten of the stories so far: Segue, Various Miracles, Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass, Sailors Lost at Sea, Purple Blossoms, Fitting Behaviour, Pardon, Words, Poaching, and Scenes. We’ve largely been reading at our own paces, but somehow it all works.
“Segue” is the first in Collected Stories but the last Shields wrote. It was new-to-me and, to begin with, I read it so quickly that I was too caught up with the details of the woman’s day-to-day to peer beneath the surface. Then, I was struck by the fact that, within 24 hours, I’d had to think about the words ‘anapest’ and ‘dactyl’, which I’d not thought of since English class (and hadn’t properly understood then). Jane writes sonnets (her husband’s a novelist) and my weekly poem in Ruth Padel’s book of 52 poems for a year was a sonnet too.
When I reread Shields’ story, I considered that title like the title of Unless, of “joining words”, and how that works in that novel, how it fascinated her. Once I started to look for the hinge, the turn, the sense of alteration in “Seque”, the questions the narrator poses took on a fresh significance. When I scanned the story, these questions seemed to appear in bold. And even though the story itself slanted towards one perspective on the woman’s life, her questions slant quite the other way. It’s an unexpected delight to unravel.
I made a list of 1937 options months ago and landed on these three for Kaggsy and Stuck in a Book’s event this week. First, I love mouse stories and I trust Nancy Pearl’s judgement and I lamented that I’d not read any children’s books at all last year (weird). Next, to include some CanLit in the event: a Morley Callaghan novel. And, finally, I’ve had The Nutmeg Tree, unread, on my shelves for ages, and everyone seems to love it.
Walter’s tiny epic is captivating. In short, he must fend for himself and, so, makes friends with other animals who help him. It’s funny to see how his perspective on things change, and how others around him begin to see him differently too. Somehow it’s a tender but not saccharine tale, and he comes to see possibilities where it seemed there were none. And I really loved how the characters (three frogs and a turtle are key) share their ideas and strengths, and we observe what sticks and what doesn’t; it’s an interesting take on culture and discovery, which affords everyone the chance to be themselves, regardless of definitions and expectations, while learning to keep others in mind.
For a completely different reading mood, Morley Callaghan’s More Joy in Heaven is a fictionalized exploration of Norman Ryan, the Jesse James of Canada, who’d committed a series of crimes in Canada and the United States, he’s called Kip Caley in the novel. Callaghan (1903-1990 and, Bill, this Wikipedia link is for you) was born and raised in Toronto and, in the 1920s, he worked at The Toronto Star. (Hemingway worked there at the same time and they became friends; his 1963 memoir, That Summer in Paris, includes talk of his bookish friendships and evokes the summer of 1929.)
Stylistically you feel the journalistic tone: direct, clear, and purposeful. Thematically, Callaghan is concerned about matters of morality and spirituality: how does one lead a good life. And, if one’s not led a good life until now, how does one repent. “I’ve made some mistakes. But I found out that the thing I got hold of belongs to me—it doesn’t depend on anyone else.” He focuses on the kind of characters often overlooked in fiction, and often the themes remain relevant today.
I’m still reading Margery Sharp’s The Nutmeg Tree and it’s just as fun as everyone has said. There are bailiffs looking for money and women throwing parties. There are headaches that require retiring to one’s room and someone retires to read The Forsyte Saga. Style-wise, it reminds me of Edna Ferber’s Emma McChesney stories: light reading that’s surprisingly revealing of social norms and expectations—and subversions.
It’s always a treat, reading in company. Thanks for the good times!
It is a joy to be able to find community among readers on the internet. I was part of a book group for over ten years and it never quite felt as fulfilling in that regard as one might think. Invariably half the people didn’t read the book, or it was a book I didn’t enjoy, or whatever. I stayed so long for the friendship part of it more than the bookish part of it. I do talk about books with a few library patrons and co-workers, though, so that’s fun. But the readalongs on the internet – those are great bonding experiences!
I have read only a bit of Carol Shields, but everything I’ve read, I’ve really enjoyed. She is definitely one of those authors that when I get the time, will spend more time with 🙂
I totally missed the 1937 club this time around because I was out of town. (In a good cause!) Callaghan’s More Joy in Heaven is a great choice, and something I mean to read one of these days.
I didn’t exactly read the same Nancy Drew mystery with my best reading friend when I was young, but we read them so close together, it was almost as if we did… But after that it was either in classes, or nothing, until the Internet.
I hope you continue to enjoy your Carol Sheilds reading. I think I have just read one of her novels a long time ago. I had contemplated reading that Margery Sharp but chose Busman’s and instead,I would probably have been better to go with the Sharp.
I have had a wonderful reading group since 1988, and it grew out of a bunch of mums after we realised we were sharing our reading. That group is to this day my most precious group. However, then I discovered an online reading group in 1996/1997 and the intensity of our two-week discussions was a joy. But in 2009 I let myself be drawn into the litblogging world. And I just couldn’t keep up, so the internet group, which was slowing anyhow due to the uptake in blogging, fell away. In terms of “real”, lively discussion, though, it was the best because we all read the same thing and discussed it over 2 weeks (though some spin-off groups did monthly reads.)
Now, your post proper! I’ve heard of Flack and Sharp, and both books appeal. I’ve never heard of Callaghan, nor of your “Jesse James”. That interests me, as does your discussion of its theme re good life and how do you repent what’s not been good. I love how this year club throws up such a variety of different authors and writing.
My parents and brothers, my wife and children,my grandchildren were/are all readers, but we still don’t discuss books much. We do a bit, of necessity, because books are all I buy as presents. I guess you never had the related problem of someone else beating you to your new book, turning the text grey.
I did my Lit degree remotely, so no tutorials, but when a friend introduced me to Lit Blogging it was a whole new world of discussion, much more involving than newspaper reviews (sorry!), and I have been wholehearted in my participation ever since.
Thanks for these fab contributions! I bought my first Ferber while in Canada, so if she’s as fun as Sharp then I’m in for a treat.
Glad you have found Ruth Padel — she’s one of my valued poetry gurus. The Walter the mouse book looks so cute! Thanks for the reading company.
I agree Marcie – I set up my blog to talk about books because none of my friends or family are big readers. Finding an online community has been such a joy.
So glad you’re enjoying The Nutmeg Tree! I’ve not read Edna Ferber – I’ll look out for her.