In her revealing “Introduction” Jane Gardam cites James Joyce’s Dubliners as the book that affected her as a writer. Gardam is an award winning writer who shows in this collection of her short stories she likes the best that the people in the background sometimes hold the best story material: the old and shy and reclusive and sheepish, the conservative wives, the stay-at‑home mothers and impoverished ex‑colonials, the dwellers in cottages and suburban villas out of the mainstream.
Take “Grace” as an example. Clockie loses his virginity while Gardam’s crafty story-telling presents the implications. And in “Lunch with Ruth Sykes” the Past reaches into the Present with startling consequences.
The Stories of Jane Gardam (2014) presents three decades’ worth of her short fictions full of surprise and menace. If you’re looking for a master of short story writing, this is the book for you. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION — 13
- Hetty Sleeping — 21
- Lunch with Ruth Sykes — 41
- The Great, Grand Soap-Water Kick — 57
- The Sidmouth Letters — 65
- A Spot of Gothic — 89
- The Tribute — 101
- The Pig Boy — 119
- Rode by All with Pride — 139
- The Easter Lilies — 159
- The First Adam — 175
- The Pangs of Love — 187
- Stone Trees — 201
- An Unknown Child — 211
- Showing the Flag — 227
- Swan — 237
- Damage — 257
- The Dixie Girls — 293
- Groundlings — 311
- Grace — 325
- Miss Mistletoe — 333
- Telegony (a triptych in three parts: Going into a Dark House; Signor Settimo; The Hot Sweets of Cremona) — 341
- The Boy Who Turned into a Bike — 383
- Missing the Midnight — 393
- The Zoo at Christmas — 401
- Old Filth — 411
- The Green Man — 423
- Soul Mates — 451
- The People on Privilege Hill — 459
- About the Author — 477
I read a lot of her work when we spent a year in England.
Patti, Jane Gardam was very prolific. I might try one of her many novels next.
I’ve heard of her, of course, but have never read any of her writing.
Jeff, Jane Gardam is worth a look.
I’ve never seen polar orange, but I doubt I’d trit. I used to be a regular mtn. Dew drinker, but trained myself to drink diet by regularly reducing the non diet and adding diet to a glass until it was all diet. Now I drink some probiotic sodas (poppi ) with interesting flavors (like strawberry vanilla) . They run $2 a can but the grocery outlet chain often has them for 99c. I was thrilled when the best discount chain had them for 35c. I bought 19. I also love Vons (Safeway’s signature select flavored sparkling water in the strawberry creme flavor, which comes in a 33.8 oz bottle, often on sale for 99c).
A little more about GTM, they started by getting stuff from Costco and have incredibly low prices. 2 weeks ago the had jars of Bon Mamman red fruit jam 5 for $1. I bought 50 and gave them to my lunch group, favorite cashiers, bank tellers, friends and neighbors. I wish I could figure out how to post a picture I took of their display of Bon Mamman apricot preserves at 48c a jar. At least 1000 jars still after selling for over a week!!! A year or so ago they had half pints of a liquid egg product that sold in stores for $8 for 10c 2 days before the pull date. I bought a few and froze them. If you ever visit San Diego & have room in a suitcase, stop by!! They also have clothing, furniture, toys etc. Last year I bought 8 Barbies for a toy drive for $5.
Since you’re shopping at Vons (the internet hates apostrophes), if they have Bing juice sodas, you might want to give them a look/taste. The apple/cherry and the blackberry are my favorites of those i’ve been able to try, and have 5g of sugar apiece….hence, i try to drink one or two a day rather than have the cans flying into the air from me constantly. as I pass through the world. The red cherry (Alice’s favorite) might have seven grams.
Todd, I haven’t tried Bing juice sodas but with your recommendation, I will!
Maggie, after many years, Western NY is finally getting a COSTCO! I’m hoping they have POLAR DIET ORANGE DRY when they open in the Fall!
Glad you’re finally getting Costco. We often get a hot dog and drink special and gas up there while shopping there.
We also belong to Vons (Albertsons) and Ralph’s (Kroger Rewards for gas discounts.
Maggie, my sister in Arizona loves COSTCO! It’s her favorite store! She and her husband have booked trips through COSTCO.
Worth asking them, Havent seen it in Costco here.
Possible Cousin Mary–if you’re game for Bing sodas, do look/ask at Von’s–which might well have Cascade Ice and Sparling Ice sodas.
OOPS, I thought I was responding to yesterday’s post. Sorry
Maggie, check your Post Office Box next week. I sent you a box of audio books for Easter!
I have too many genre books to read!
Bob, I know…I sent you some more genre books and DVDs!
Did I mention I got them? If not, I got them and thank you!
Bob, hope you enjoy those books and DVDs!
Todd, I haven’t seen the product you mentioned. I drink the signature select strawberry creme zero calorie sparkling water. I drink up to one bottle a day.
George, thanks in advance for the box. We listened to 2 Stuart Woods books on the trip to spring training. Larry seemed a bit surprised at the sex in them.
Maggie, Larry is in for more STUART WOODS audio books…and their sexy stories! You’ll love what’s in that box!
That is a flavor I haven’t seen in Acme, yet. Perhaps they consider it more California-friendly.
T. I do get sparkling ice when it’s on sale, sometimes to be the 4th of the buy for for a big discount or at GYM for 75c or much less. I’ll check for bing.
Do you have gas rewards? I usually get several $1 a gallon off once or twice a month from both Vons and Ralph’s. Buying gift cards helps & I buy gift cards for places I go like Subway and raising Cane’s
I bought a copy of THE STORIES OF JANE GARDAM at the book sale last September, and I am looking forward to reading them. I have only read OLD FILTH, and I plan to read the sequel to that and whatever other books I find.
Tracy, I liked THE STORIES OF JANE GARDAM and intend on reading more of her work.