The Journals of John Cheever

by John Cheever | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 0345358961 Global Overview for this book
Registered by winghaahaahaa98wing of Watertown, Massachusetts USA on 6/16/2016
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by winghaahaahaa98wing from Watertown, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, June 16, 2016
Interesting -

Journal Entry 2 by winghaahaahaa98wing at Watertown, Massachusetts USA on Monday, December 16, 2019
These are really tough to get through. It's hard to feel sympathetic for the character.

Journal Entry 3 by winghaahaahaa98wing at USPS in -- BookRing, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, July 19, 2020

Released 3 yrs ago (7/19/2020 UTC) at USPS in -- BookRing, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing into the "Begins with the Letter J" bookring.

Journal Entry 4 by winghaahaahaa98wing at Watertown, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, July 21, 2020
The Journals of John CheeverThe Journals of John Cheever by John Cheever

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Finally finished this massive collection from one of America's leading literary stalwarts. It's not easy getting through this. Cheever's entries are for the most part unedited, he meanders from idea to idea within each entry, and it's hard sometimes to follow what he's referring to; it's better to place the type of writing somewhere between prose and poetry.

It's also difficult to get through the level of disdain, murky cynicism that he holds for those close to him, especially his wife Mary. It reads as if he was battling not only alcoholism, but depression, and at life's end, bone cancer. And indeed much acreage is spent on his coming to terms with his homosexuality. His critique of post-war and late 20th century suburban life is incisive, yet I wish it had more of the satire that makes this writing like this more delightful (viz Jonathan Franzen). Close readers might advise that the point of Cheever's writing is not to please or delight, but I still find it off-putting.

I'm glad I got through this, and am hoping that with more formal writing I can examine what his short stories and novels are like.



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Journal Entry 5 by BookLovinMama at Arnold, Missouri USA on Friday, August 21, 2020
I received this as part of iwillrejoice's ABC Title Bookring – J Titles. Opted to pass it along as the other book just grabbed my attention a bit more.

Journal Entry 6 by iwillrejoice at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Friday, August 28, 2020
Arrived safely yesterday to complete my ABC (Alphabet) Bookrings - US version - Books Beginning with the Letter J - Round 2. Thanks for sharing!

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