by John Cheever
First published 1986
A prosperous suburbanite stands at his charcoal grill, fantasizing about a beautiful lover who seeks his strength and counsel. His wife has joined the cast of a nude show, leaving him to contemplate his bewildering situation. Meanwhile, a worn-out poet carries his Lermontov medal to place at the foot of a sacred angel, seeking the peace that has eluded his heart. A romantic well digger travels to Russia in search of a bride, falls in love, and returns home singing what he calls "the unreality blues." These characters share a common thread: strange and improbable circumstances force them to question the values they were raised to believe in. Decency, common sense, nostalgia, and truth all come under scrutiny when life takes unexpected turns. Though stunned by their encounters with the absurd and inexplicable, Cheever's people endure. They are innocent and old-fashioned, yet painfully self-aware as they navigate a world that refuses to conform to their expectations.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Suburbia
Period: 20th Century
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