A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain 

by George Saunders 

Published in 2021 by Random House 

I think you should read this book. If you’re not into fiction, much less literary fiction, this makes a good case for it and gives you the tools to enjoy and appreciate reading more of it. And if you are into that stuff (like me), there’s still so much here.

This might as well be called “A Defense of Reading and Writing,” or maybe more appropriately “A Justification for Reading and/or Writing,” or maybe more-more appropriately “How to be a Better Reader and/or Writer and Why You Might Want to do That.” It’s a collection of short stories by Russian authors (specifically Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol) which are then analyzed/explained/evaluated by Saunders. He breaks down their structure, themes, potential worth, and more to help give you confidence while reading and thinking about them. 

It’s less what to think and more how to start analyzing the things you are reading. It includes what George calls the “ruthless efficiency principle,” and this is such a great codification of an idea that I’ve always felt regarding the need for writing to operate under guidelines that ultimately support or build and drive the narrative at all times. There’s more to it, but I’ll let you discover that for yourself.

You’re basically paying $20 to get a streamlined version of a graduate literature course without  much homework…and it’s fun. Really fun. That’s pretty good bang for your buck. 

I don’t want to oversimplify points made over the course of the 400 or so pages. Give it a shot (it’s a bargain anyway). The audio book is also great and some celebrities like Nick Offerman (who I’ve heard is buddies with Saunders…isn’t that nice?) give readings of the Russian stories while Saunders reads his essays about the stories. Extremely fulfilling, entertaining, and worthwhile. 

Heavy Lit rating: Recommended

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