https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction/yiyun-li-reads-william-trevor
The piano tuner is a blind man who marries Violet and later Belle. This is a ghost story as much as a love story. Belle's real interest is the now dead Violet and her competition with her.
It especially drives her crazy that Owen would have chosen the less attractive woman first. Although the less attractive woman was a devoted wife and companion. And what does a blind man know of beauty. Except that of the soul.
Above the story is read by Yiyun Li who chose the story. I am a great fan of William Trevor's stories and novels. The discussion after her reading of the story is good too if you have an hour and fifteen minutes to spare.
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11 comments:
Interesting. I've read one of Trevor's collections and always meant to read more.
I thought I'd read Lauren Groff's collection of stories, but when I read about her last week, I looked it up and I hadn't, so I got DELICATE EDIBLE BIRDS from the library. For me it was a little uneven, one story I really disliked, mostly good ones, and a couple that stood out for me.
How do you decide what to read next is always a question, right? I was reading the Marcia Talley collection from Crippen & Landru, WITH LOVE, MARJORIE ANN. One story that stood out was an award winner, "Too Many Cooks," about the Three Witches in MACBETH. I saw that it was originally published in an anthology edited by Anne Perry, MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER, which was a collection of stories inspired by Shakespeare, so I got that from the library and read it. That, in turn, led me to a later book (2004; the first was 2002) edited by Perry, DEATH BY DICKENS, with an obvious theme. Talley has a story there too. The real draw for me was a rare story by Bill Crider that I either hadn't read or had totally forgotten, "Mr. Pickwick vs. The Body Snatchers." Bill was a Pickwick fan, I know. Personally, I've never read THE PICKWICK PAPERS. This is just a lot of fun, with Pickwick and Sam Weller and the somnolent Joe guarding the grave of Mr. Wardle's mother from the aforementioned grave robbers. I miss Bill. Martin Edwards, Carolyn Wheat, Peter Tremayne and Gillian Linscott are among the other authors. My library didn't have this one, but I was able to get a new looking first edition for $2.50 plus shipping.
Another comment forthcoming, but here a note that my (augmented redux memorial of sorts) post is up and being slightly augmented further already: https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2025/05/short-story-wednesday-remembering-kit.html
Like you, I'm a fan of William Trevor's short stories. Diane's Book Club is reading a short story collection for June.
This one sounds like an exploration of character as much as anything else, Patti, and that interests me. I like the element of obsession that's woven into the story, too.
I don't have that time to spare, but might use it anyway! To listen to Lee & co., that is. I like what little I've read by both Trevor and Lee.
My review today is on Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked: Crime Fiction Inspired by Waffle House Editors Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson. Went live at Midnight CDT today at https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2025/05/short-story-wednesday-review-scattered.html
KRT
Nice progression, Jeff. Margot, yes.
I have two short story books by William Trevor and I have been wanting to read stories from them. I will check this story out at the New Yorker also.
Jeff, I enjoyed your story of how you got from the Marcia Talley short story book to DEATH BY DICKENS, with a story by Bill Crider. I will look for a copy of that anthology.
Thank you for adding me, Patti. Much appreciated.
Or, even, Li and Trevor. Thanks for the link!
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