Publication Date: 14th Nov 2023
Genre: Short Stories
One Liner: Beautiful!
Claire Keegan could be the only author whose vague and open-ended short stories are my favorite. I love how she writes, be it the setting, emotions, or the inherent intricacies of human nature – good, bad, and ugly. Almost every detail is significant, even when it seems inconsequential.
The writing is poetic, beautiful, and immersive. She knows how to weave magic even with unlikeable characters. The stories are layered and have much to offer to readers. It’s up to us to take what we want and how much we want.
So Late in the Day – 4 Stars
Cathal seems to be having a routine day at the office. However, we see that it is far from an everyday occurrence. As Cathal thinks about the past, Sabine enters, bringing affection, warmth, and love, all of which are missing from his present day. So what happened and why?
The entire story comes from the man’s perspective, providing insight into his upbringing, his flaws, patterns, parallels, and what they did to him. Of course, knowing the author, I knew this wouldn’t have a resolution. But it ends on the right note, confirming what the reader has already guessed. We also see what is likely to happen based on Cathal’s responses to his thoughts or the lack of them.
The story deals with themes like family, relationships, marriage, toxic cycles, love, compromise, priorities, expectations, etc. The subtle and distant tone perfectly presents the characters, leaving the rest for the reader to decide.
The Long and Painful Death – 4 Stars
An unnamed woman, a 39-year-old writer, gets to stay at a popular writing residency for two weeks. She has plans, which have to be adjusted when a German professor wants to see the residence before he leaves. This visit by him ignites a tiny spark, leading to a long and painful death (of a character) but with great satisfaction.
The story is dreamy, languid, and meanders aimlessly, just like the woman. However, none of it goes to waste. She may be a random explorer with half-written ideas for her book, but there’s more to her than hope. Deep inside is her determination, one that runs in parallel to the heroine of a book she’s reading. And when the right trigger flips the switch, she knows to make the most of it.
NGL, I could be missing something deeper (or maybe not). There is loneliness, yearning, determination, judgment, resentment, and much more.
Antarctica – 4 Stars
Bored with her routine life, a married woman and mother of two wonders how it would be to sleep with another man. That December, she decides to find out before it’s too late. Her trip to the city begins well. She even meets a man interested in her. However, she realizes that everything comes at a price, and this one may not leave her with anything.
The story begins with speculation, which soon becomes action. There’s excitement, danger, recklessness, and a sense of freedom. However, the unspoken unease lingers in the background. It becomes more powerful, but not until it is too late to act or react.
The setting suits the theme, Christmasy yet uncomfortable and threatening. The ending is more definite in this story, though it is still open and left to the reader’s interpretation.
To summarize, So Late in the Day is a collection of three short stories dealing with several themes but with a central thread of loneliness, one that you feel so late in the day, left alone with nothing but uncomfortable thoughts for company.
Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Press, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #SoLateintheDay
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