Patti Abbott mentioned John Cheever’s wicked novel, Falconer, a few weeks ago. It had been decades since I read it so I dug it out of basement bins and reread it. John Cheever made his reputation by writing some of the best short stories ever written. But, occasionally, Cheever turned to writing sophisticated novels. Falconer draws on Cheever’s own experience at teaching in a prison. There are some obvious Crime & Punishment parallels yet Cheever manages to engage the reader in a life that remains tethered to evens in childhood. Cheever remains the best sociologist of dysfunctional middle-class families in America. Yet his story in Falconer swims in Black Humor and cerebral writing. If you find you enjoyed Falconer, I’d further recommend Cheever’s underrated novel, Bullet Park which is even edgier.
Don’t forget Cheever’s THE WAPSHOT CHRONICLE (which I think was his first published novel) about an eccentric Massachusetts family. It was one of my favorite books when I was a teenager. Perhaps I should dig it out and read it again.
I plan to go back and reread Cheever’s novels, Deb. You’re right about THE WAPSHOT CHRONICLE. No one could write about eccentric and dysfunctional families like Cheever.
I am glad it held up for you.
I sometimes forget what a great writer Cheever was, Patti. Thanks for the nudge to reread Cheever’s novels!
Never read it, though I did read BULLET PARK.
BULLET PARK is another underrated Cheever novel, Jeff. I might be posting about it for FFB in the months ahead.
And the Wapshot Scandal I believe.
I have an edition of Cheever with both Wapshot books, Patti. I can’t wait to reread them. But first, I have to read a John D. MacDonald novel!
I’ve always stayed with Cheever’s short stories. I have a huge collection and pick it up every not and then and read two or three over a few days. Really wonder stuff.
You’re absolutely right, Rick. Cheever’s short stories are masterpieces. The novels don’t have the concentrated power of the short stories, but Cheever manages to deliver some memorable scenes.
George, I gotta ask–which MacDonald novel are you going to read? Or is it a future Forgotten Book you don’t wish to reveal yet?
Good question, Drongo! I’ve read 90% of John D. MacDonald’s work. And I’m slowing working my way through the remaining titles. For Patti’s JDM FFB day, I’ll either reread my favorite Travis McGee, A Deadly Shade of Gold or one of the titles I’ve never read before. I’m leaning toward the second option.
I’ve only read some of Cheevers’s short stories, haven’t gotten around to his longer work. As I understand it, he was at one time a pretty big deal, and considered to be a genuinely important writer.
Anyone remember the Seinfeld episode with Cheever’s gay love letters?
I sure do remember “The Cheever Letters” episode, Drongo. I think it was part of Season Four. Cheever is still considered as one of the Great American Short Story Writers. But Cheever’s novels are not to everyone’s taste.
Well, neither is his short fiction…but I’m a fan. One of my fellow grad writing seminar students picked up my copy of “Oh What A Paradise It Seems” (the novelet published as its own chapbook just after Cheever’s death), read the first page with a few references to an industrial process (as I recall), and put it down. “I can’t get into that science fiction stuff.”
Great story, Todd! As much as I admire Cheever’s short stories, I’ve not had much success reading his JOURNAL. Cheever was a tortured man, an alcoholic and bisexual. His JOURNAL just drains me when I read it.