A book that must be in your own library

I am not normally a buyer of books. My stack of reading material is borrowed and the books I do buy are surprises taken home on a whim rather than books I’ve read before.

George Saunders’ A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is one of those rare gems that, before I was halfway through, I knew I wanted on my own shelf. Greedy librarian that I am, I needed a copy I could keep all to myself and wouldn’t have to share.

This book is what I imagine it would be like to enroll in a writing course taught by your favourite author (without the pressure of exams). It is casual discussion mixed with passion for storytelling. Saunders presents seven short stories written by four of the greats of Russian literature and he frames these works within a witty and accessible textual analysis.

He peels apart the structure of stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy and Gogol in a way that carries the reader along with him, showing you how to develop your own insights rather than telling you what the pieces mean. While much of Saunders’ commentary comes from the perspective of an author, it is by no means a book solely for writers.

Combining the Russian stories with a lighthearted and enthusiastic style of analysis makes the book just as appealing for the casual reader as it is for those who dream of being authors themselves. This melding of story and discussion also makes Saunders’ book a wonderful introduction to the world of non-fiction for fiction readers, and vice versa. Saunders’ guided reflection enhances the richness of each fictional story. Taken as a whole, the book becomes an impactful exploration of how stories shape us and seduce us. Read it slow and let the experience that is A Swim in a Pond in the Rain sweep you away.

Erin Flynn is a librarian with the Cape Breton Regional Library.