The reviewer initially found John Cheever's stories antiquated but later came to appreciate their enduring beauty and questing soul. They recommend reading the entire collection to experience the deep calm of Cheever's universe and the unfolding of society from the 1940s to the 1970s.
The reviewer initially dismissed John Cheever's stories as antiquated and out of touch with the experimental narrative styles of the time. However, they later discovered the profound depth and beauty in Cheever's work, particularly after reading his collected stories. The reviewer highlights Cheever's painterly precision in describing nature and his ability to capture moments of transcendence and rebirth. They recommend reading the entire collection in chronological order to fully immerse oneself in Cheever's universe and witness the evolution of society from the end of World War II through the late 1970s. The first story, 'Goodbye, My Brother,' is singled out as a favorite, showcasing Cheever's skill in contrasting different perspectives and ending with a life-affirming moment in nature.
Quick quotes
But oh, how wrong I was! That came home to me in force five years later, when he published his collected stories
There is a great, questing soul alive everywhere in these stories, a soul trying to come to grips with the parameters of human experience amid the ravishing beauty of nature.
My recommendation? Read the entire book through, the stories unfolding in chronological order, and you will feel the deep calm of immersion in Cheever's universe, even as you see the world of his society, our society, unfolding in all its fads and obsessions from the end of World War II through the late 1970s.