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The Stories of John Cheever
The Stories of John Cheever | John Cheever
NATIONAL BESTSELLER Winner of the Pulitzer Prize When The Stories of John Cheever was originally published, it became an immediate national bestseller and won the Pulitzer Prize.In the years since, it has become a classic.Vintage Books is proud to reintroduce this magnificent collection. Here are sixty-one stories that chronicle the lives of what has been called "the greatest generation."From the early wonder and disillusionment of city life in "The Enormous Radio" to the surprising discoveries and common mysteries of suburbia in "The Housebreaker of Shady Hill" and "The Swimmer," Cheever tells us everything we need to know about "the pain and sweetness of life."
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Schwifty
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Pickpick

Cheever‘s stories primarily deal with postwar American east coast suburbia, juxtaposing its superficial, idyllic “leave it to beaver” facade with its underbelly of competition, alcoholism, gossip and promiscuity. Some stories have a twilight zone feel without the sci-fi, while others are quirky and humorous. One of the stories in this volume, “The Swimmer,” was adapted into an off-beat film starring Burt Lancaster in 1968. It‘s essential Cheever.

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rakeshpm

The first two stories are finished. Interesting writer indeed!!!

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Woozy-Shooz
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Pickpick

“I can barely recall the old house where I was raised ...down the long corridor, past the seven views of Rome, up two steps and down three, one entered the library, where all the books were in order, the lamps were bright, where there was a fire and a dozen bottles of good bourbon locked in a cabinet with a veneer like tortoiseshell whose silver key my father wore on his watch chain.”

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Litsi
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These are stories about the void that the safe, select, suburban life can be.
Writing a masterpiece, just one, is a miracle. There are a few here. If you ever get the chance to read “The Swimmer” or “The Death of Justina” read them. Many of the other stories stop short of greatness. It feels like he didn‘t realize how good of a writer he was. Or he was just frequently bad at endings.

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rakeshpm

Started.

DrexEdit I really like this collection. I love The Swimmer, mostly because I first saw the Burt Lancaster movie, but the story is amazing as well! 4y
rakeshpm @DrexEdit so far I'm enjoying it. Thank you so much. 4y
21 likes2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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#swimming or drowning? I thought of the Cheever story (1964)that was turned into a film (1968).As Ned Merrill lounges by a neighbors pool he decides there are so many pools in the neighborhood,he could cut through the backyards & swim the 8 Miles home.As he reviews his own life of mistakes , disappointments, & failures ,comparing notes with the neighbors, everything takes a darker turn.Brilliant early questioning of upper middle class America.

ValerieAndBooks That was one memorable story 😯 ! I recently finished his short stories — had been reading them over the last few years. 6y
Leftcoastzen @ValerieAndBooks Yes , it is intense and one of my all time favorite short stories. 6y
Suet624 Jeesh, I have to find that book now. 6y
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Leftcoastzen @Sues423 He really captures a sixties of 2 martini train rides back to the burbs.and all is not well.. 6y
peacegypsy Your posts make me happy. Peace out! ☮️ 6y
Leftcoastzen @peacegypsy yours make me happy too! 6y
35 likes6 comments
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ValerieAndBooks
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Pickpick

Finally! Finished! I‘ve been reading on and off this chunkster of a short story collection for the past 4 years or so. He‘s pretty good, even if I don‘t remember all of them 😊

LauraJ Impressive! 6y
85 likes1 comment
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Eugeniavb
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Pickpick

It‘s a very Cheever book club. Loved this collection!

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Eugeniavb
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“We are a family that has always been very close in spirit. Our father was drowned in a sailing accident when we were young, and our mother has always stressed the fact that our familial relationships have a kind of permanence that we will never meet with again.” From “Goodbye my brother” #firstlines

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Eugeniavb
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Day 26: short stories. I must admit I had never even heard of Cheever until a few months ago. Now a good friend has picked a selection of his short stories for #bookclub2 next month and of course, now I see him everywhere. Looking forward to reading him. Sounds right up my alley. #readathon #30daysofreadathon @DeweysReadathon

24 likes3 stack adds
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ValerieAndBooks
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Good morning from Pennsylvania! I'm loving the current weather, perfect for reading outdoors! That's what I'll be doing until it's time to do some back to school shopping with my son (torture for him and me)! My current reads. Tagged book is one I've been reading forever. Cheever is a short story master. Thanks @Liberty for your giveaway and for the opportunity to share my current reads! #STACKEDUP

LauraBeth I always love to see what your reading! 7y
WarpedSweetness Where at in PA are you? I just moved from there. 7y
Leftcoastzen Love Cheever!City book is on my TBR 7y
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cathysaid LOVE Cheever! I compare him to Richard Yates. 7y
QuintusMarcus Loved these stories, they are all masterpieces! 7y
ValerieAndBooks @LauraBeth aww thanks 😘📚📚📚 7y
ValerieAndBooks @WarpedSweetness we moved here a few years ago -- West Chester; outside of Philadelphia. What part were you from? 7y
ValerieAndBooks @Leftcoastzen How to Kill a City is so eye-opening! 7y
ValerieAndBooks @cathysaid Ooh, I have not read Richard Yates yet but I have this one in my TBR-- think it'll be my Letter Y for Litsy A to Z. 7y
ValerieAndBooks @QuintusMarcus I'm really enjoying the Cheever stories. Most short stories (for me, anyway) are easily forgettable even if I liked them, but not so with Cheever! 7y
WarpedSweetness @ValerieAndBooks I know where that is! I lived in the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area, which was only about two hours from Philly. 7y
ValerieAndBooks @WarpedSweetness Cool! Where are you now? 7y
Jinjer I read his journal or letters a long, long time ago but never his stories. I should. 7y
ValerieAndBooks @Jinjer so many good stories by Cheever. You'd probably like them. 7y
91 likes3 stack adds14 comments
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Saknicole
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Final day of classes, I had my juniors read "The Swimmer." A great short story, it has an interesting mix of postmodern characteristics. They complained about how depressing it was, but all I said was good thing we didn't have time for Death of a Salesman, like I had planed! I definitely understand Neddy much more now at (the still young) 25 than I did at 19 in college. #americanlit #postmodernism #teachersoflitsy #teacher

Kimberlone Haha Death of a Salesman is kind of a major bummer. Not as depressing as Jude the Obscure though. 7y
Saknicole @Kimberlone oh you know I love Jude. So depressing! 7y
7 likes2 comments
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Curley_Bender
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Adult story time at the library exposes me to John Cheever. Now I've got to read the rest of his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection and watch the Burt Lancaster movie.

MMenefee ❤️ 8y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
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GinaAnderson
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If we're talking #shortstories, you have to start with the master. #somethingforsept

KVanRead My mom has that exact edition! I remember reading it many years ago and loving it! 8y
ValerieAndBooks I have this one by my nightstand but rarely get to read in bed; need to move it down to my reading chair! 8y
60 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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84charingcross
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Haven't dived in yet, but every book I read on writing holds up Cheever's work as an example. Can't wait to see what he's about.

MrBook Welcome to @Litsy ! We hope you enjoy your stay, I think you'll like it here 😎👍🏻. 8y
7 likes1 comment
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ValerieAndBooks
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I have many, many #TBRTuesday books throughout the house but almost none on my nightstand! Hubby usually goes to bed before I do and book lamps don't work well for us. When I do get to read in bed I usually just bring up a current read which is the one on top of the pile. The rest have been there seemingly forever📚.

ValerieAndBooks Just noticed the flashlight lol...it's there just in case of power outages...summertime here we get a lot of late day or night storms ⛈ 8y
LauraBeth I like that you are prepared 😀 8y
Reviewsbylola I always lay in bed with my kids as they go to sleep and they don't tolerate book lights either so I always have a book going on my kindle app on my phone too so I can read in bed. 8y
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ValerieAndBooks @LauraBeth after we lost power for four days last summer it has stayed by my bedside! 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Reviewsbylola good idea -- why did I never think of that 🤔? Wonder if it would still distract hubby though. 8y
Reviewsbylola For what it's worth, it doesn't distract my kids and EVERYTHINg distracts them. 8y
SaraFair I have the same issue with husband going to bed before me. I have a new book light that I love. Rechargeable, bright, and aims right at the page. Available at B&N. 8y
27 likes7 comments
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Britafish
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Pickpick

I fell in love with short stories after I pulled this off my parents' shelf at age 13. My favorite story is still"The Enormous Radio." I now have my own paperback copy but I still love the look and feel of this tome.

brendanmleonard I ❤️ Cheever 8y
14 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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MarisaColaneri
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Pick this one up if you miss this guy, this show, and having your heart gently split apart every Sunday night. One of the oft-rumored inspirations for Mad Men, this one holds strong.

jeff Love this rec! 9y
thepaulhoa Yes still need to do this. Thank you for the reminder! 9y
8 likes4 stack adds2 comments