I fell off the blogging wagon. The pandemic, winter, and holidays ended up being a depressing cocktail, although I can't imagine why.
I read 45 books in 2020, a little short of normal. I blame lack of commute since I don't listen to audiobooks too much around the house. My list is here if you want to take a peek: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2020/21324
My first book of 2021, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories by Carson McCullers, is one I've read before back in 2007. I was looking for a short, familiar book to pass along to my postal book club and found this very old copy in my stacks (price 75cents). I kind of remembered the short stories and thought "This is it, this is what I'll send out into the world"
Carson McCullers is an excellent writer, there isn't one word that shouldn't be there, every word has its place. The stories are spare. Except for the title story, not much happens here. They are really just a moment in time, plucked out for your scrutiny, then you walk away into the next story. Honestly, that's where she shines.
The title story, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, introduces us to Amelia. She owns the general store in a small mill town and is the richest woman for miles. She's shrewd, she's strong, and she likes to sue people. Add in that she is also the local medicine woman and moonshiner and well, everyone loves her even if they don't like her. Out of the blue, a hunchback appears on her step. Cousin Lymon comes to live with Amelia and, to the shock of the townspeople, she lets him. You can watch the course of Amelia falling in love with Lymon and Lymon just being a general ass to everyone. When Amelia's ex-husband comes back to town, Lymon takes a new dastardly turn.
Wunderkind is the next story that follows a gifted young pianist at her teacher's home. This story starts the slice of life view that we see. The narrator gives us some history and, while it's not explicitly said, we understand that love may have gotten in the way of genius.
The Jockey story takes place very quick but you can still feel the anguish of the jockey whose best friend was badly hurt in a race and the give-a-damn attitude of the rich men who win big from the races. The situation is still the same in 2021, the rich get richer and care less while those below are trampled on.
Madame Zilensky and the King of Finland and The Sojourner give us background into the lives of the main characters who use their interaction with others as a wake call to their own lives. The Domestic Dilemma ends on a vague note. An alcoholic unhappy wife and her husband are at odds. These things never end well, do they?
A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud is the last story and it, in essence, teaches about the science of love. See below for a video narration of the story.
This is a great little book, so well worth the read.
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