I Cannot Get You Close Enough: Three Novellas

by Ellen Gilchrist

In "Winter," "De Havilland hand," and "A summer in Maine," characters explore the love between parents and children

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Southern, Literature, Contemporary, Summer, Novella

391 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

A writer of poems, short stories, novels, and nonfiction commentaries, Ellen Gilchrist is a diverse writer whom critics have praised repeatedly for her subtle perceptions, unique characters, and sure command of the writer’s voice, as well as her innovative plotlines set in her native Mississippi.

As Sabine Durrant commented in the London Times, her writing “swings between the familiar and the shocking, the everyday and the traumatic.... She writes about ordinary happenings in out of the way places, of meetings between recognizable characters from her other fiction and strangers, above all of domestic routine disrupted by violence.” The world of her fiction is awry; the surprise ending, although characteristic of her works, can still shock the reader. “It is disorienting stuff,” noted Durrant, “but controlled always by Gilchrist’s wry tone and gentle insight.”

She earned her B.A. from Millsaps College in 1967, and later did postgraduate study at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

She has worked as an author and journalist, as a contributing editor for the Vieux Carre Courier from 1976-1979, and as a commentator on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition from 1984-1985. Her NPR commentaries have been published in her book Falling Through Space.

She won a National Book Award for her 1984 collection of short stories, Victory Over Japan.

Reviews

[Anne Mattoni · Rating 1 out of 5]

if this wasn’t published in 1990 i would believe that it was written by AI

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddamn this is a good book. Reading one of the novellas just doesn't do the triology justice, and I don't think I really appreciated the detail and nuance of her storytelling until I read all three in succession.

[Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is a fine book, but it never surpasses the mediocrity of fineness. The entire time I read it I was waiting for something to happen that would take me from mild engagement into full-fledged interest, but that something never happened.

The last story is the majority of the reason I can't rank this above 3 stars—talk about a slog. Had it been simply the first two stories in this collection, I could have justified at least a 3.5/5 and been happy to reread this book in the future. Unfortunately, the last story is not only the worst of the bunch but also the longest (running just 4 pages shy of the first two stories combined.)

Both Gilchrist books I've read now have struck me as mediocre, which is unfortunate considering that I'm interested in her characters; I just can't bare the thought of going through the rest of her books if they're all like this.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I cannot get you close enough, I said to him, pitiful as a child, and never can and never will. We cannot get from anyone else the things we need to fill the endless terrible need, not to be dissolved, not to sink back into sand, heat, broom, air, thinnest air. And so we revolve around each other and our dreams collide. It is embarassing that it should be so hard. Look out the window in any weather. We are part of all that glamour, drama, change and should not be ashamed."

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Ellen Gilchrist is like listening to that song that gets you out of whatever reality you need to escape-I re-read her ALOT and always come away feeling better, and grateful that all the voices of her characters can rumble around in my head until we meet again.

[Becky Myrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This collection is suave, cheerful, witty, and appealing." ---Los Angeles Times

This cover quote is a major misattribution.

Gilchrist's characters are shallow, troubled, whiny, and off-putting, corrupted by easy money, meddling, and bored. Character arcs all flatlined.

[Christopher Dionesotes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Truly awful. I had to give this novel 1 star as zero stars isn't an option. No one needs to read this book. Ever.

[Susan Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of three novellas that revolve around members of an extended Southern family who live or vacation in Charlotte, North Carolina, Maine or New Orleans, La. The first book introduces Jessie Hand who is being reared by her father Daniel, assisted by his sister Anna Hand, an author. Novella two brings forth another daughter Olivia Hand, born to Daniel's fiancee Summer Wagoner of Oklahoma prior to his marriage to Jessie's mother. Olivia seeks out her father and his family when she is a teenager and meets her Aunt Anna, then moves to live with her half-sister and father. The third novella takes the reader to Maine for a large family gathering where there are so many characters, the author resorts to putting their names in large capitals whenever she changes point of view. Decisions made during this vacation by the family's young people affect everyone in the extended family. An ambitious project.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of Gilchrist's writing. Her sentences are choppy, which makes it difficult to get into a reading rhythm. I also couldn't really connect to any of the characters because Gilchrist writes them all the same. There are some poignant moments, and I think the third novella is the best:

"We come from the womb and only one touch will heal us. We are born jealous and terrified, hungry and greedy. How many mothers can meet such needs? One in ten thousand, perhaps, and her progeny lead happy lives. The rest of us plod along the best we can and pass the sadness on."
"And fury?"
"Yes. Sadness's child."

[Deborah LeCroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I cannot get you close enough, I said to him, pitiful as a child, and never can and never will. We cannot get from anyone else the things we need to fill the endless terrible need, not to be dissolved, not to sink back into sand, heat, broom, air, thinnest air. And so we revolve around each other and our dreams collide.”

In her masterful storytelling style Ellen Gilchrist delivers her gut-punch in a gloved fist. Three okay novellas elevated to greatness by their connectivity. This may not be a likable book for readers who prefer plot-driven narratives. I took this one slow to savor the nuances of it as part of my project to read or reread all of her books in publication order.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading Ellen Gilchrist's writing in the 90s so was disappointed I didn't like this more. Not sure if it's this set of novellas or a change in my own taste.

[Mckochan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 2 parts are great, and the 3rd part is a hot mess. Also, adoption? It’s a thing.

[Thomas Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few really nice passages in here, but the myriad writing styles Gilchrist used resulted in more misses than hits for me. The third novella was unfortunately both the longest and the weakest.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty great moments.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellen Gilchrist was recommended by another reader with similar tastes to mine, so I thought I would start with novellas and see if I liked her work. And I am not sure that this is indeed three novellas, I would call it one novel in 3 parts, because each part is interwoven with the previous one, and they are all about the same families.

I am on the fence about this book. The writing was fine, better than fine in some places, but I always felt like I was on the outside looking in, and I think that the best books are where you are so involved that you feel as if you are breathing the same air as the characters. I never got that with this book.

Something that was very surprising was the vehemence with which the author,through her characters, espoused two contradictory ideas. One thread through the novels was that children are the most precious things on earth. The opposite of that, expressed repeatedly, was that having babies ruins a woman's life--her looks, her future, her individuality, her ability to do anything other than bear children. I don't know if this book (written in the 80's) is a feminist diatribe, but I find it hard to reconcile the two points of view.

Not recommended for content, but nicely written.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading "Franny and Zooey" recently, the back of this book said it was very similar to that type of story. That was correct, but these stories seemed to be a little more dysfunctional and not has polished as "Franny and Zooey." The three short stories in this collection flowed very nicely together, yet it dragged in some parts, but than it picked up. It was vulgar at times, and sort of made you uncomfortable that a 16-years-old would say certain things, but I guess that is how it was similar to "Franny and Zooey." Ellen Gilchrist is an interesting writing, and I'm glad that I found this book in the clearance section of Half Price Books for 25 cents because it was a gem.

[craige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by Catie. Picked up at Powell's.

Wonderful, quirky characters who I did not want to let go when the book was over. I will definitely seek out more books by Gilchrist.

If you would like to read this, I'd be happy to send you my copy. I'm making a habit of no longer keeping every book I read.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The family saga moves to Maine which doesn't tell us much about Maine, but does show how some folks deal with being away from home for the summer. Tragic, funny, confusing and even a bit boring when our narrator slips too far from intuition to rational thinking. If you want some "light" summer reading, try Ellen Gilchrist.

[Delany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the first of the three novellas in this volume. It was good -- well-written. After finishing the first one, however, I did not feel any desire to read the other three. I think it was because I developed a dislike for all the main characters in the first one. Did not want to spend more time with the people she was creating.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cover of this book. "I Cannot Get Your Close Enough" and the woman seems to be trying to get away, out of the window. Don't remember much about this book, just that I really like it. Time to reread!

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give the 4 stars for the first two novellas, particularly the second one, no - the first one, no I loved them both...the third one with the multiple points of view was clumsier. The Southern parts are ringing my bells, bells of recognition.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love good ol' southern women writers. Ellen Gilchrist is one of the best. Her characters weave in and out of most of her books and they are so real, like they are your friends or maybe neighbors.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of Ellen Gilchrist's books contain the same characters. This book revisits characters from previous books.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite southern writers. The characters are very real and Gilchrist write them with such sadness.

[Diane C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to read more of Ellen Gilchrist. It was the first book of hers I'd read.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sickenly sweet. Gilchrist's novellas portray wealthy southerners in the 1980s or so--but she also shows what happens when their wealthy worlds collide with other populations.

[Lisa]

I Cannot Get You Close Enough: Three Novellas by Ellen Gilchrist (1991)

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lifeboat for me when I read it. Gilchrist strikes again!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of a sequel and prequel all at the same time of the previous book. I love reading about the Hand family, and can't wait to read the next installation.

[Sooz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book drove me crazy. Random nonsequitors and neurotic people.