I found this story hard to read - and agree with you Huma that it seems brutal. I keep thinking of Raymond and Georgia’s chilly kiss at the end of the story - and chilly seems a good word to describe the story for me. The friendship between Maya and Georgia is central to the story I agree - and I wondered about the other big story that is hiding in this one - the huge betrayal and cruel rejection of Ben and the children by Georgia when she leaves her marriage. Her pride is damaged by Maya and Miles but she really does burn her house down doesn’t she as a result. I do love her passive aggressiveness towards Maya as she cleans the house and completely ignores her friend as she begs for forgiveness. Quite an amusing scene I thought. But, I found Georgia a difficult character - she certainly doesn’t show any remorse or regret. It’s interesting that at the end she tells herself that she would act in the same way again which is honest but then in her final conversation with Raymond speaks of people behaving differently ... if they believed they were going to die. Something of a contradiction.
Gosh, it is so brutal, isn't it? I come back again and again to those words of the creative writing teacher we never actually see - that there's too many things going on at the same time - and I think for Georgia there is so much going on, so much to process that I don't think she can. You are so right - she does burn her house down, doesn't she, in fact I think there's a line to that effect where towards the end of the story she's reflecting on Ben and how it's almost like she can't help herself but destroy things, as if she's punishing herself (although I could be reading into that - but I can imagine that, I can imagine being so furious at myself that I would just bulldoze more disaster). And yet, in spite of it all, the 'too many things,' it still retains that Munro-quality of perfect control over the prose. Goodness, how does she do that?!
Yes! I was wondering how she could treat Ben so badly and I think you are right - she is just so furious with herself for being taken in by Maya and Miles that she destroys everything to punish herself. What’s the phrase my mother uses -‘cutting your nose off to spite your face’! Alice Munro’s stories are so layered and there is so much going on but oh so much to think about. Which story are you going to delve into next Huma?
Ah, well that's the question! After discussing with another lovely subscriber here, Emily, I've decided to stick mostly to online stories. I was thinking... Moons of Jupiter. Or maybe this is where people can tell me what they'd like to delve into? You know that feeling when you've read something and you just want to call someone to discuss, because you just have to talk about it?! That. That's what I'm hoping to do here! So... maybe I'll start a chat and get some suggestions in? I'm also reading some Tessa Hadley short stories and she's definitely going to be first in my '& Others' of 'Reading Alice & Others!'
Love Tessa Hadley too! Don’t you think there’s something about writing down your feelings about a short story too? Your thoughts on these Alice Munro stories are so perceptive and actually lovely to read. So thank you
I found this story hard to read - and agree with you Huma that it seems brutal. I keep thinking of Raymond and Georgia’s chilly kiss at the end of the story - and chilly seems a good word to describe the story for me. The friendship between Maya and Georgia is central to the story I agree - and I wondered about the other big story that is hiding in this one - the huge betrayal and cruel rejection of Ben and the children by Georgia when she leaves her marriage. Her pride is damaged by Maya and Miles but she really does burn her house down doesn’t she as a result. I do love her passive aggressiveness towards Maya as she cleans the house and completely ignores her friend as she begs for forgiveness. Quite an amusing scene I thought. But, I found Georgia a difficult character - she certainly doesn’t show any remorse or regret. It’s interesting that at the end she tells herself that she would act in the same way again which is honest but then in her final conversation with Raymond speaks of people behaving differently ... if they believed they were going to die. Something of a contradiction.
Another great choice of story! Loved reading it.
Gosh, it is so brutal, isn't it? I come back again and again to those words of the creative writing teacher we never actually see - that there's too many things going on at the same time - and I think for Georgia there is so much going on, so much to process that I don't think she can. You are so right - she does burn her house down, doesn't she, in fact I think there's a line to that effect where towards the end of the story she's reflecting on Ben and how it's almost like she can't help herself but destroy things, as if she's punishing herself (although I could be reading into that - but I can imagine that, I can imagine being so furious at myself that I would just bulldoze more disaster). And yet, in spite of it all, the 'too many things,' it still retains that Munro-quality of perfect control over the prose. Goodness, how does she do that?!
Yes! I was wondering how she could treat Ben so badly and I think you are right - she is just so furious with herself for being taken in by Maya and Miles that she destroys everything to punish herself. What’s the phrase my mother uses -‘cutting your nose off to spite your face’! Alice Munro’s stories are so layered and there is so much going on but oh so much to think about. Which story are you going to delve into next Huma?
Ah, well that's the question! After discussing with another lovely subscriber here, Emily, I've decided to stick mostly to online stories. I was thinking... Moons of Jupiter. Or maybe this is where people can tell me what they'd like to delve into? You know that feeling when you've read something and you just want to call someone to discuss, because you just have to talk about it?! That. That's what I'm hoping to do here! So... maybe I'll start a chat and get some suggestions in? I'm also reading some Tessa Hadley short stories and she's definitely going to be first in my '& Others' of 'Reading Alice & Others!'
Love Tessa Hadley too! Don’t you think there’s something about writing down your feelings about a short story too? Your thoughts on these Alice Munro stories are so perceptive and actually lovely to read. So thank you