Today I want to present a book that is a true little jewel. It is a collection of short stories that is never trivial and often quite touching. I have loved it and I hope you will too!
Author: Claire Rye
This is a truly exquisite, lovely book. One of
the best reads I have stumbled upon lately. It consists of several short
stories, spanning a century, if you also consider events that are narrated by
some of the characters. All the stories are linked by a common denominator: an
old car, a Chevy 1959. Writing interesting short stories is a rather difficult
task, but the author created a real masterpiece here. Each story frames a
detail, a specific situation in the life of each character, and doing so, it
portrays an incredibly rich galaxy of human feelings and behaviours. The former
being a constant, the latter changing with the changing times. I could not but
admire Claire Rye’s insight into the human way of thinking; ability that must
proceed from a careful and sensitive observation of people. Also, the idea of
narrating a piece of common people history through the story of a car is
somewhat poetic. First of all the car is a vehicle, so, even conceptually, what
better prop to transport you across the decades? This car in particular, as it
is also written in the second to last story, becomes a sort of time machine in
order to do just that. I do not have a passion toward cars as such; still, cars
do somehow become part of a family’s life, don’t they? There are many memories
linked to specific vehicles you have owned through your life. I myself have
bought my own little car twenty years ago, and I can say that I have sort of
grown old with her, she has witnessed so many of my experiences, and been a
silent confidante for so many outburst of feelings, that I couldn’t have been
able to share with other people, for matters of convenience… Solitary speeches,
song creations, poetry writing, short naps and much more, have all happened in
that little metal shelter. Maybe also for this reason I was so delighted in
this book. There is so much in it, that I think any person could find a piece
of themselves in one story or the other. If I were asked, I wouldn’t know which
story to pick as my favourite, starting from the first one to the very last
one, none is pointless, no words are wasted, they are all essential parts of
the final puzzle. There are some that are moving, such as the ones regarding
the Richardson family; some contain an element of fun mixed with exasperation,
such as the second one The Beginning; in others you will find the search for
freedom and emancipation, or loneliness and incomprehension, many different
themes. About loneliness and incomprehension, I think the story The Drifter
deserves a special mention because it touches a very sensitive topic, exploring
it from two opposite points of view and without any judgement on either side,
as I intended it. It is food for thought and also very moving.
I will not disclose any details regarding the actual stories because I
don’t want to spoil other readers’ experience. I will say that the book is very
well written, in a sober and elegant style that you cannot remain indifferent
to. As a bonus, although it is not a novel, it still has a surprise ending,
which might even make you go back and pay attention to one detail you could
have missed in one of the previous stories.
This is a truly exquisite, lovely book. One of
the best reads I have stumbled upon lately. It consists of several short
stories, spanning a century, if you also consider events that are narrated by
some of the characters. All the stories are linked by a common denominator: an
old car, a Chevy 1959. Writing interesting short stories is a rather difficult
task, but the author created a real masterpiece here. Each story frames a
detail, a specific situation in the life of each character, and doing so, it
portrays an incredibly rich galaxy of human feelings and behaviours. The former
being a constant, the latter changing with the changing times. I could not but
admire Claire Rye’s insight into the human way of thinking; ability that must
proceed from a careful and sensitive observation of people. Also, the idea of
narrating a piece of common people history through the story of a car is
somewhat poetic. First of all the car is a vehicle, so, even conceptually, what
better prop to transport you across the decades? This car in particular, as it
is also written in the second to last story, becomes a sort of time machine in
order to do just that. I do not have a passion toward cars as such; still, cars
do somehow become part of a family’s life, don’t they? There are many memories
linked to specific vehicles you have owned through your life. I myself have
bought my own little car twenty years ago, and I can say that I have sort of
grown old with her, she has witnessed so many of my experiences, and been a
silent confidante for so many outburst of feelings, that I couldn’t have been
able to share with other people, for matters of convenience… Solitary speeches,
song creations, poetry writing, short naps and much more, have all happened in
that little metal shelter. Maybe also for this reason I was so delighted in
this book. There is so much in it, that I think any person could find a piece
of themselves in one story or the other. If I were asked, I wouldn’t know which
story to pick as my favourite, starting from the first one to the very last
one, none is pointless, no words are wasted, they are all essential parts of
the final puzzle. There are some that are moving, such as the ones regarding
the Richardson family; some contain an element of fun mixed with exasperation,
such as the second one The Beginning; in others you will find the search for
freedom and emancipation, or loneliness and incomprehension, many different
themes. About loneliness and incomprehension, I think the story The Drifter
deserves a special mention because it touches a very sensitive topic, exploring
it from two opposite points of view and without any judgement on either side,
as I intended it. It is food for thought and also very moving.
