https://www.classicshorts.com/stories/dresses.html
This is one of the great short stories for me. A husband and wife, walking in New York, confront the issue that he cannot stop looking at women passing them on the street . The wife admits that this is ruining their marriage, breaking her heart. She says that he will eventually, if he hasn't already, act on it. And he cannot really deny this. He claims he is helpless not to look over any woman who comes into his view. They have planned a day for just the two of them: a football game, dinner, a French movie, but by the end of their walk they change their plans and go to spend the day with friends.
I am very glad that I did not have a husband that did this. Or if he did, I never noticed.
13 comments:
This does sound memorable, Patti. And I haven't read Shaw's short fiction. I need to do that.
No, Phil was nothing like that.
For years I'd heard of this a Shaw's "The Eighty-Yard Run" before I got his Collected Stories and read them. I liked them too.
I finished the second (first written) Allengra Goodman book of stories, TOTAL IMMERSION, which was published when she was 21. You'd never know that by reading the stories. Most are set in the Jewish community in Hawaii, some dealing with people who moved there - from New York, Miami, Chicago, and even Israel - after WWII and started a temple. I've enjoyed her writing in the two collections and might try a novel next.
Now I'm reading a collection with a very different vibe, Otessa Moshfegh's HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD. Let's just say, wow. Her mind is in a very different place, and some of these stories have a very creepy vibe. No judgment until I read them all, but they are strange.
Please include mine for this week: https://casualdebris.blogspot.com/2024/02/casual-shorts-isfdb-top-short-fiction.html.
Thanks,
Frank
Jeff-you are costing me a lot of money lately!!!
One of my favorite stories. Also the only story by Shaw that I ever read. I wonder if Springsteen ever read it? He has a very good song called The Girls in Their Summer Clothes.
I have read is novels but not sure about other short stories
So Jeff the Tempter is at it again! Like Jeff, I've read Irwin Shaw's COLLECTED STORIES and enjoyed them. Shaw is an underrated writer.
I read this story last week after you put that link in a comment on my post. I liked the story and I agree, I am glad my husband is not like that. I have recently added three Irwin Shaw novels to the kindle, including Rich Man, Poor Man, which is very long.
I have bought several books (mostly last year) that Jeff recommended. Unfortunately have not read any of them yet. Otessa Moshfegh wrote the introduction to the copy of Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson that I am reading.
I clearly should have read Goodman's first collection some time ago, but I still haven't read my copy of THE DESCENDANTS by Kaui Hemmings yet (and my experience with reviewing PUNAHOU BLUES by its remarkably insecure author might've kept me from seeking out too much more that could be taken as poorly, if I reviewed them). Another frosh I knew slightly was one Katie Swift, who was friends (via her parents) with Grania Davis, and friendly acquaintance with Davis's ex-husband Avram Davidson. Hell, I need to finish reading Davis's first collection of short stories, and start a novel or two I have of hers, as well. Met Katie through my best friend in the class of '85, Deb Fox, a cellist and eventually member of such bands as the Dambusters and Virgin/Whore Complex, and scorer of her friend Jenny Cool's 1995 POV documentary episode on PBS, "Home Economics"...
I never have been able to ignore other women even when engaged, but I've never taken simple physical attraction too seriously (never dreamt of the day I'd meet most of my media crushes, for example). Don't gape too much, and less and less over the years. Have none of the women in this discussion ever had their heads turned, even if nothing else, by the men (or others) walking by? (I think this is one of the Shaw stories I've read, but it's been decades and I recall little about it beyond the basic situation.)
Not until recently, Todd.
I think this story is included in lots of anthologies because most everyone seems familiar with it.
I am wondering if any of his novels will hold up, Tracy. More than once i have read his short stories hold up better than his novels. Nick Nolte was the hot item after being on RMPM. Maybe I did turn my head occasionally.
The amount of time we can watch actors and other on-screen/stage performers (including writers doing readings or interviews, and newsreaders/reporters) allows us to take their aspects in at leisure...it would be very rude to look so closely at any but our loved ones and friends, otherwise...
Post a Comment