Cherry

by Booth Tarkington

ACROSS the most vital precincts of the mind a flippant sprite of memory will sometimes skip, to the dismay of all philosophy. So it was with me no longer ago than last night; for, as I sat engaged in the composition of a treatise upon a subject worthy of the profoundest concentration, there suddenly fluttered before my mental eye some cherrycolored ribbons; and, quite inexplicably, at the same time, it became clear to me that the most charming morning of my life was that sunshiny one, in 1762, when Miss Sylvia Gray and I went walking.

It may be there are some who will declare that an aging person would do better to get forward with his treatise than to waste the treasure of his talent upon a narrative of the follies of youth; but this I refute. The flicker of cherry color having caused my pen to wander and me to have dreams all night I never dream—what better than to seek relief by setting down the bewildering circumstances connected with the ribbons? Let me say that I have found through many experiences that writing out a thing works to lighten the burden of it, as a full- worded person must be bled of his words, or they coagulate within him and choke the veins of his mind, a condition which, in my younger days, was often near bringing me to the very italics of suffering.

Genres: Fiction

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Newton Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams. He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction/Novel more than once, along with William Faulkner, John Updike and Colson Whitehead. Although he is little read now, in the 1910s and 1920s he was considered America's greatest living author.

Reviews

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tarkington book #3 and another somewhat interesting tale

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Cherry”, was originally published in January and February of 1901 in “Harper’s Magazine”. This made it Booth Tarkington’s third novel in print, though it did not get published in book form until 1903. While I have enjoyed the other Tarkington novels and stories that I have read, I found “Cherry” to be very poor in many ways. It was far too predictable, which leaves the reader waiting and waiting for the story to catch up with them. It could be argued that this adds to the humor, given the nature of the narrator, but it certainly is possible to maintain that humor and perception without boring the reader to such an extent. There is barely enough material here for a short story, let alone a novel.

“Cherry” is the story of a love triangle, as told from the perspective of one of the two suitors. The gentleman in question is Mr. Sudgeberry, a young man who is attending to his studies. The object of his affection is Miss Sylvia Gray, and the competitor for her heart is William Fentriss who is also a young man attending the same school. The story initially deals with the time between terms when both Mr. Sudgeberry and William Fentriss have plenty of time to devote to courtship. The two men are quite unalike, the narrator being very serious and verbose, and Mr. Fentriss delighting in music, poetry, and the company of friends.

The story is readable in its way, but at the same time frustrates the reader with taking so long to reach a conclusion. There is a decent idea behind the story, but it is not executed well. I would recommend that this one be skipped and instead one might read “The Two Vanrevels” for a love triangle story from Tarkington which works far better than this one.

[Meleya]

Not as great as the other Booth Tarkington I've read. Not much more to say.

[Abby Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Behold a perfidious monster!”

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Such a great book.