Last week I mentioned checking out The Best American Short Stories from the library and this weekend I decided to read a couple of the stories. I felt a bit like a rebel just opening the book and starting off somewhere other than the first page although I did read the intro by Salman Rushdie which touched upon what is an American story and how the stories in this collection were selected.
The first story I read was Man and Wife by Katie Chase. This is the author’s first story published (originally published in The Missouri Review) and it takes the reader to a nondescript town where young girls talk about Barbies and riding bikes, and where parents host dinner parties. Sounds like any other kind of town, right?
“They say every girl remembers that special day when everything starts to change. I was lying under the tree in my parents’ backyard, an oak old enough to give shade but too young to be climbed, when Dad’s car pulled into the garage. All afternoon I’d been riding bikes with Stacie, but we had a fight when she proposed we play in my basement – it was getting too hot out, but I was convinced she was only using me for my Barbies. This was eight years ago. I was nine and a half years old.”
Mary Ellen will soon find out that her parents have arranged for her marriage to the much older but wealthy, Mr. Middleton. They’ve signed a contract offering her hand in marriage and not only will Mr. Middleton take care of Mary Ellen but he’ll also be taking care of her parents when they get older.
The summer months will now be used to train Mary Ellen to be a perfect wife and to prepare her for the Fall when she go to Mr. Middleton’s home. There will be no more school and probably no more Barbies but her parents got her a very good contract for very little in return so everyone is happy.
What makes this story interesting to me is that everything seems so normal but as a reader I’m wondering when is this taking place, what year? Or is this really a cult or a religious group? There is no mention of any of that, but the practice of child brides is what it is. Mary Ellen is a wonderful character because although she will do what is asked of her, she displays small acts of defiance. A very interesting story indeed.
I’ll keep you posted on the other stories. But does anyone regularly read The Missouri Review? Or, is there another literary magazine you turn to for your short stories? Let me know if you’ve got any you recommend.
I enjoy short stories when I read them, but I never seek them out. This one sounds interesting, and I want to know what happens!
LOL – “I felt a bit like a rebel just opening the book and starting off somewhere other than the first page . . .” I know the feeling. 🙂
I’m glad you liked the story! It does indeed sound so normal, I was taken back by it. Have you heard of One Story magazine? You receive one short story in the mail a month.
http://www.one-story.com
One Story has been hit or miss for me. Agni has some really intellectual stories in it, but I prefer short stories in The Virginia Quarterly. There are other magazines too, but I’m at a loss right now. 🙂
I read the New Yorker – or maybe I should say, I “thumb through” the New Yorker, reading the occasional editorial and essay, but always read the short fiction. You can find many of their short stories online on their web site. Plus, a publisher – Harper Collins, maybe? – has a new site called Fifty-two Stories, where they post a new short story every week. Here’s the linK:
http://www.fiftytwostories.com/
jenclair – I know what you mean – I don’t typically seek out short stories either. I’m just in a mood now 🙂 This one was really good. unsettling but good.
Joy – Ha,ha… I knew I wasn’t the only one 🙂
Vasilly – Exactly, it all sounds perfectly normal yet something is so off! I have heard of One Story but never checked it out. That’s really cool though -thank you for the link. I’ll keep you posted on it!
Serena – Never heard of Agni bu thave heard of Virginia Quarterly… Again, not a publication I typically see at the bookstore though. Granted, maybe I’m just missing them! I’ll be on the look out next time I go 🙂
Carrie K. – Very rarely do I read the New Yorker although when I do, I really like it. I should seek that one out more often. And, had never heard of fiftytwostories… That’s great. Thank you for the link!
I don’t know why but I have always been drawn to short stories. For me, one of the signs of a good writer is someone who can make a huge impact on me in only a few short pages. I have been moved by some great short stories. They are great also when you don’t have a lot of time to read. I need to check out that Fifty-two Stories!
I just received The Baltimore Review in the mail, but I haven’t done more than glance at it. I’ll let you know when I get a chance to read it thoroughly.
Christine – You are so right about that. Have you checked out this book yet? I think you’d enjoy it. So far I’ve read three stories out of it… All were a bit unusual and just good. Which means, I’ll be looking for more stuff written by those authors! 🙂
Anna – Oh please do… I don’t think I’ve heard of that one and am really curious about literary mags. I just never really pick them up with the occasional Tin House and really should strive to read more of them.