San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Acclaimed author takes readers through Russian short stories
As the coowner of an indie bookstore, I always look forward to a new release by a proven, awardwinning author. So, when “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life” by George Saunders was announced, there was no doubt we’d order a big pile. Saunders has won the Booker Prize and received a MacArthur Fellowship (a.k.a. genius grant), and his books have sold millions of copies worldwide — as well as thousands at my store alone. But when I saw that this new book was adapted from his lectures at Syracuse University on classic Russian short stories, it gave me pause. Would people buy this? Readers love his fiction — it’s quirky, surprising, creative without being alienating and always filled with heart and kindness. And many readers enjoy his reportage and essays — his 2016 piece on the Trump campaign in the New Yorker was textbook Saunders: inquisitive, curious, generous and funny. But would they buy a book of lectures on Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy and Gogol?
Now, maybe I’m biased as a former English major, but “A
Swim in a Pond in the Rain” is refreshing, warm and educational in the best sense of the word. For me, the best nonfiction books — like the best teachers — open your eyes and engage you with personality and passion. And as Saunders takes us through six short stories by Russian masters, we learn to read differently. We slow down. We feel his passion. And we ask questions.
The first story Saunders helps us tackle is Chekhov’s “In the Cart.” He gives us one page of the 1897 short story about a teacher returning to her village, followed by a few pages of Saunders asking
“A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life”
By George Saunders (Random House, 432 pages, $28)
leading questions. What do we know so far? What do we expect to happen next? Then we read another page of the story, followed by more of Saunders’ illuminations. Don’t worry — “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” is not a workbook with all questions and no answers. An experienced, generous teacher is leading you along. The subsequent five stories appear in full, followed by Saunders’ take on each one. This isn’t esoteric literary criticism or dry, mansplaining lectures. Saunders’ book will help you enjoy fiction more.
Months after reading an advance copy, the title has stuck with me — it’s such an evocative image (pulled from “Gooseberries” by Chekhov). And it really fits; the book is a splash in the face. You can dive deep or lie on your back and let the words wash over you.
Pete Mulvihill is the coowner of Green Apple Books.