The Cost of Living: Early and Uncollected Stories

leondumoulin.nl: The Cost of Living: Early and Uncollected Stories (New York Review Books Classics) (): Mavis Gallant, Jhumpa Lahiri: Books.
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Her earliest works in this collection are well-crafted but thin, very clear views but without much depth, and then over time the stories grow denser and she does more with the language and eventually begins to experiment with form. There were a number of stories I loved -- "Travelers Must Be Content," "Acceptance of Their Ways," "Night and Day" -- but I think my favourite is "Thieves and Rascals" from , which is a cry of grief and rage made all the more powerful by the fact that the viewpoint character is unable to hear or understand it.

Jun 26, Lisa rated it really liked it. I decided to read the collection representing her early career, spanning , as my introduction to Gallant's work. These 20 short stories are less about plot and more about intelligence, language, and milieu. Each is about expats, despondency, and bad relationships of all kinds, not just romantic. The depression of dependency is pervasive as I learned more of the social norms of the time period. I already was grateful for having been born at a time not to have been heavily influenced by t I decided to read the collection representing her early career, spanning , as my introduction to Gallant's work.

I already was grateful for having been born at a time not to have been heavily influenced by the world wars and at a time that I could take advantage of if still not equitable the women's liberation movement but her book made me even more appreciative of the timing of my birth. Women had it much worse in those dead marriages she depicted, fostering dependence on men even when the women had family money. The author's biographical information heavily influenced the themes in these stories. Her father died and her mother remarried when she was 10, moved from Quebec to NYC, and left her with a guardian.

The Cost of Living: Early and Uncollected Stories

She was quoted as saying her mother should never have become a mother. That sums up many of the plots. Feb 07, Jennifer rated it it was amazing Shelves: You will not be disappointed. This is a wonderful collection of short stories by a writer who should be much better known. Mavis Gallant was a Canadian who has spent much of her life in Paris, and many of the stories reflect this expat existence.

My favorites include "The Cost of Living", about two sisters living in a hotel in postwar Paris, and "Autumn Day", about a woman who joins her husband Short story fans: My favorites include "The Cost of Living", about two sisters living in a hotel in postwar Paris, and "Autumn Day", about a woman who joins her husband a soldier who is stationed in rural France.

Most of her characters are a little bit lost, and the stories themselves are a bit melancholy, but in a good way. The writing is fantastic - I will definitely be looking for more of her stories. Thank goodness that the NYRB keeps publishing them! I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of Gallant until her name appeared in a few Books of the Year lists with this collection.


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I love her ability to unsettle with the minutest observation or comment. She manages to throw a situation completely off kilter and portray a sense of dread even in a sunny room on a lovely day. The stories range from Quebec to New York to Paris to Burgundy, and she captures the essence of all of them, while retaining a sense of exile and estrangement. She can I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of Gallant until her name appeared in a few Books of the Year lists with this collection. She can do that rarest of things - create a world in a story of just a few pages.

I shall definitely be looking for more of her work. This collection of stories was assembled by Ms. Gallant from her works that either were never published or had gone out of print. They are her children, left behind. For no other reason, it is a fascinating read. It reassures me, as a writer, that some good work will not find daylight or publication in its youth, but that doesn't mean it has no merit.

The Cost of Living: Early and Uncollected Stories by Mavis Gallant: review - Telegraph

I found myself reading to see why these would have escaped publication, and I'm darned if I know. Some are more accessible than others, but each This collection of stories was assembled by Ms. Some are more accessible than others, but each of them has something remarkable to give. I read the whole collection straight through, and was intrigued by each story. Gallant's short-stories came highly recommended to me so I suspect my expectations were too high.

I had never heard of this author but she was born in Canada and lived in France until her death at 91 this year. I found her stories too foreign for me, not only the countries but the characters as well. There were a couple of stories that I did relate to, although I cannot recall which ones. I realize that the problem is probably with me not with her as she is acclaimed as being one of the best sho Gallant's short-stories came highly recommended to me so I suspect my expectations were too high.

I realize that the problem is probably with me not with her as she is acclaimed as being one of the best short-story authors. I am just not the continental type. Nov 16, Karen Angelico rated it really liked it. Some brilliant short stories here, and a great collection, showing Mavis Gallant's growth as a writer.

Her writing is insightful, concise and powerful. Everything that a short story should be. I discovered Gallant recently and it is a shame she is a writer that was mostly undiscovered in her time. There is a wit and yet a melancholy tinge to each of these stories - characters who are slightly adrift from the rest. Gallant nails the emotions, thoughts and characterisations giving the reader lots Some brilliant short stories here, and a great collection, showing Mavis Gallant's growth as a writer.

Gallant nails the emotions, thoughts and characterisations giving the reader lots to muse over. Apr 25, Seaofstories rated it it was amazing.

Short stories are my favorite things to read, so I was overjoyed to see that Mavis Gallant is an absolute master. From the first story on, she managed to tell snippets of lives in a crisp, concise manner that went down like a cool drink of water. The stories were often somewhat sad, the problems of people's lives murmured about through a lovely tale by a master of language. Sometimes the prose was fantastically beautiful, in other spots it was plain, but only because necessary.

I thought, after Short stories are my favorite things to read, so I was overjoyed to see that Mavis Gallant is an absolute master. I thought, after reading this book, Mavis Gallant writes the types of stories that I've been trying to. Feb 03, Robert rated it really liked it Shelves: Every story in here is painstakingly beautiful, and a wonderful example of post-WWII writing style. Reminds me of Salinger in the way Gallant's characters observe the world around them, particularly when surrounded by the bourgeoisie.

Many say Gallant is underrated; while it sounds like she experienced a fair deal of success while alive, I am surprised her name doesn't fall from others' tongues too quickly or often. A perfect p Every story in here is painstakingly beautiful, and a wonderful example of post-WWII writing style.

A perfect point of entry for this collection. Feb 24, Ariadna73 rated it liked it Shelves: I am not cut out for short stories. I acknowledge that they are very well written and that the pictures and scenery are like a beautiful painting, but the sense of looking only at a little bit of the big picture is so overwhelming for me that I can't just bear it any more. I don't deny that I liked some of the stories, but they are dang too short and incomplete in my eyes. Maybe another book by this same author would be better to try. May 13, James rated it liked it Shelves: Jhumpa Lahiri's introduction is excellent: I'd never heard of Gallant before reading this, and Lahiri succintly convinced me of Gallant's importance.

I found myself drawn more to the earlier stories, which are shorter and seem to be less complicated.


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The stories are arranged chronologically, so the later ones are the product of Gallant's living in Europe longer. She takes some things for granted that an American audience might not grasp as quickly. Sep 09, astried rated it liked it Shelves: Aug 25, Raquel rated it really liked it Shelves: This collection takes us all over including Montreal, New York, and Paris.

The stories are melancholy, if not sad, but there is an intriguing humour in every one of them. A word of warning, the introduction is a wonderful tribute to Gallant by Jhumpa Lahiri but is so detailed that I wished I had read it after reading the stories themselves the title of this review is taken from that Introduction.

What an extraordinary writer! Exquisite glimpses into characters, their lives, their times and their scenes. Can anyone write like this anymore? No annoying preaching, gotchas, or personal intrusion Put down your "smart" phone If you're the type of reader who loves well-observed, well-drawn "slice of life" stories, this collection should prove very satisfying.

Gallant's prose is excellent, even if, in my mind, the narrator of these stories was always Judi Dench. I look forward to reading more by this author. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Mavis Gallant has an uncanny ability to create and develop interesting characters within the confines of a short story. She is a master of her craft. Most compelling author I have ever read. One person found this helpful. See all 7 reviews.

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Alexa Actionable Analytics for the Web. AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally. Amazon Inspire Digital Educational Resources. Amazon Rapids Fun stories for kids on the go. Amazon Restaurants Food delivery from local restaurants. Gallant is, obliquely, a political writer. Her characters are the flotsam and jetsam thrown up by the Second World War, not obvious war victims so much as people cast adrift and forced to redefine themselves in alien circumstances.

About The Cost of Living

But the winds of change can be heard whistling through the chinks in the shutters. Gallant skilfully provides the reader with the minutiae of a particular moment in a particular life while allowing a glimpse of the vast world? Avoid people on farm. An Australian in Paris, an American in Salzburg, a London girl among Algerians, a dirt-poor girl from the French Canadian backwoods living in suburbia with a cultured middle-class family — Gallant, herself an expatriate in Paris since , specialises in people isolated by temperament, by circumstances, or by both.

Sinking into quicksand, their response is to grasp at the flimsy but familiar promises of marriage and traditionally feminine behaviour; not many have the courage to leap to the shore of liberation. She never judges, only observes. All those girls have ruined feet now. They smiled and smiled and wanted to get married.