American Women
It’s a constant, noble aspiration of mine to read more widely, not just English-speaking, white, middle class authors. Unfortunately, it’s not going well. Partly because I can only read in Estonian and English – my German, Russian and Danish are no longer good enough and even if they were, these hardly qualify as the most exotic of languages. But I’m also lazy and tend to go with things that are readily available and written about in The Guardian.
Plus, I get these inexplicable cravings for entirely unexpected themes that screw with my plans. After all those promises to read Asian and African literature, what did I actually read this summer? Books by American women. I guess it could have been worse, I might have read books by American men – one cannot really get less progressive than that. Well, maybe reading dead British and French men.
It all started with Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I read a while back and absolutely loved (as you might already know). Then I came across Kate Chopin’s short stories in the Penguin Little Black Classics: I picked the collection up mostly because it was called A Pair of Silk Stockings. I had never heard about this Catholic proto-feminist writer from New Orleans, but enjoyed her take on the American South in the second half of the 19th century.
And then Lupo said in the comments that I should read The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers, which I did. I have no real knowledge of the South – I have been to Atlanta, once, to the Coca-Cola headquarters – but the title story seems quintessentially southern to me. I think for a person of my background, the American South is bound to be exotic by default – the nature and the presence of black people, not to mention the (legacy of) slavery, immediately create a totally alien environment, even if nothing strange happens. The otherness is somehow only increased by the fact that people speak English and you tend to presume a cultural closeness with them that isn’t necessarily there.
My favourite story in the McCullers book was not the most famous one (it’s close a small novel, really), but The King of Finland. This read almost like Neil Gaiman and had the most delightfully puzzling ending – not a grand twist, but a small, strange detail that made me suspicious of everything that had happened before.
McCullers brought me to Flannery O’Connor, another Southern Gothic writer. Her stories don’t make for very comfortable reading, but are so sharply observed and precisely written that you’ll admire them anyway. I’m still quite shaken by A Good Man is Hard to Find. In addition to The Complete Stories there are two novels, but what I’d really love to read next are her letters – I cannot help but think that the mixture of a brilliant mind, devout Catholicism, a tragic disease (she died of lupus at 39) and living with 100 peafowl must result in some extraordinary letters.
To come full circle, I’m now back to Shirley Jackson and her Let Me tell You, a posthumous collection of unpublished stories, essays and lectures. She isn’t from the South, but the horror and supernatural elements in her writing connect her to Southern Gothic, at least in my mind. Let Me Tell You is occasionally surprisingly light in tone and often funny – especially when it comes to the pieces on her family and writing advice. Not grand literature, maybe, but nice reading.
Now I just need to find the courage to start Go Set A Watchman…
PS I am aware that the cover photo doesn’t entirely correspond to the text of the post, but several of the books mentioned I’ve got only in the Kindle edition. Not really useful for illustrations.
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Flannery O’Connor was my mom’s contemporary and neighbor in Milledgeville, Georgia back in the early 20th century. My mom knew her and her family quite well. In my family, Flannery has always been described as “quite a character.”
Both of my parents came from that area, which has often been described as the Deep South. Although the US has often been thought of as homogenous, there are cultural pockets here that defy the “norm” and Flannery’s writing definitely reflects that. The particular culture and mores that she wrote about are still a vital part of that area of this country.
Another favourite female American author of mine, Alice Walker, also has roots in that same area of the country. Her writing might be considered antithetical to Flannery’s. I find both of them to be relevant, thought-provoking and disturbing.
One thing I missed while my parents were alive was to be truly open to hearing what they had to say about their personal experiences with life in that world as they saw it. I found myself pointing out their errors , their flawed logic, and of course that does not invite intimate understanding.
What a cool connection to have! Estonians always talk about how small a place Estonia is, but somehow, much bigger places turn out to be small, too. Where do you live yourself, if you don’t mind me asking?
A Greek reader also mentioned Alice Walker on Facebook, so looks like there is no choice but to read her books. I need to make a separate list with recommendations from the blog, so that I don’t forget…
To answer your question, I’m currently in northern Virginia about 15 miles outside of Washington, DC. I’ll be here until I can settle my parents’ estate which may take until the spring. Eek! Home to me is NYC to which I will return. I think. 😉
Ah, New York. I’ve been once and like Poirot, I loved the streets of Manhattan. So logical! Even I cannot get lost there.
Dear Anniki,
glad you liked Carson McCullen, and yes – the King of Finland is a brilliantly odd short story. If I may drop more exotic reading, try Gioconda Belli: The Inhabited Woman is her signature book, a beautiful story of love and revolution. Gioconda Belli is a true Nicaraguans “pasionaria”, and a wonderful writer. Her Waslala is also quite a remarkable book. Nothing remotely American about any of those, but there you go! Greeetings from Kathmandu, where fuel shortage is quite some problem – other than that, have a good day!
Belli sounds – and looks – incredible. Thank you for recommending, I would never have found her otherwise. I hope you’re having fun in Kathmandu, fuel shortage or not.