I See a Long Journey

by Rachel Ingalls

Magic infuses these three novellas which tell of a woman's long-awaited vacation with her husband, a college student's ski holiday with her German boyfriend, and a California monk's visit from the Angel Gabriel.

Genres: Short Stories, Literature, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Rachel Ingalls grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She held various jobs, from theatre dresser and librarian to publisher’s reader. She was a confirmed radio and film addict and started living in London in 1965. She authored several works of fiction—most notably Mrs. Caliban—published in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Reviews

[lark benobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three interesting novellas. They unfold in unexpected ways. Fascinating and haunting.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Mrs. Caliban, but this wasn't as good. Three novellas, all vaguely eerie. The first one is the most successful, and left me feeling deeply unsettled at the end--in a good way. The last one was a little too preachy and extreme, and I've forgotten the middle one already, even though I just read it yesterday.

Anyway--she's still an author that I'm interested in, but I wouldn't recommend this collection to anyone new to her.

[Rick Seery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I had read I See A Long Journey previously in a different collection, I'm still logging this as I'm not sure the other two stories are featured in a compendium or other volume...

[Arnie Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

These novella each have and ending that hits you over the head: Patriarchy can kill, the good life is not all it's cracked up to be, and the perils of pregnancy if you're a man.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

On famous women:
“What is the difference between the great and the infamous?”
“The great were artists and heroic workers for mankind. The infamous were the ones in a position of power.”

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a hidden gem. I was quite surprised the more I read. It so cracked me up. I had to run and give it to a friend immediately upon finishing it, admonishing him to tell me his reaction after reading the 3rd story in particular. I am the type of reader who doesn't read the blurbs on the back cover, nor the reviews that can be found in the first several pages of a book. I usually read the intros, especially the "learned" ones, after I've read the story. I want to read with as few preconceived notions as possible. Plus, so many intros contain spoilers!! However I do take quick note of who wrote the reviews or if the author was nominated for any awards. Have to have means of narrowing down the field! This approach is one of the main reasons I rated this book a 5.

[Alicia Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story is the best. All are about women who find themselves trapped in circumstances because they put their trust fully in a man.

[David Juliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three very well constructed "short" stories. Great character development combined with very interesting subjects and excellent pace of the stories. Definitely want to read more of her work!

[CJ]

I had read "I See a Long Journey" and "On Ice" previously in a different collection but "Blessed Art Thou" was new to me. All bangers.

[Erica]

godDAMN can ingalls write a story

[Keith zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so glad to have discovered Rachel Ingalls. There’s no one like her. Each of these three novellas is subtle and fantastic, violent and funny, understated and outrageous, feminist and humanist.

I See a Long Journey 4.5
On Ice 2.5
Blessed Art Thou 4

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final novella is one of the funniest send-ups of Catholicism I've read, alongside Firbank's Concerning the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli. In Ingall's story a monk has a one-night stand with the angel Gabriel, then turns into a pregnant woman. Hysterics ensue when this pregnant (large-breasted) monk becomes the object of affection among all of his (once chaste) colleagues.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been this excited about a fiction writer since reading Barbara Comyns. Which wasn't that long ago...but still - am very excited about her work! Want to read everything! A mix of high modernism & fantasy/sci-fi. Beautifully crafted & moving, utterly strange & weird & disturbing.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Ingalls kicks my ass.

[Laura]

short fiction,women authors