Here and Somewhere Else: Stories and Poems by Grace Paley and Robert Nichols

by Grace Paley, Robert Nichols, Marianne Hirsch (Introduction)

Husband and wife, parents and grandparents, Grace Paley and Robert Nichols are two writers and activists who constantly engage the world. Here and Somewhere Else , including uncollected or unpublished fiction by both Paley and Nichols, encompasses diverse countries and cultures, and counterpoints stories and poems that reveal engaged artists inventing different ways to illuminate political themes and issues.

Genres: Poetry, Short Stories

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Grace Paley was an American short story writer, poet, and political activist whose work won a number of awards.

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here and Somewhere Else: Stories and Poems by Grace Paley and Robert Nichols brings together a few late-in-life stories and poems by Grace Paley and by her husband, playwright Robert Nichols, in a series called Two by Two, intending the juxtaposition of their writings as a reflection on their lives together as well as their separate works. The introduction by Marianne Hirsch introduced me Robert and his role in Grace's life, and the title, Here and Somewhere Else prepared me to appreciate how his voice complemented hers. Both have passed away now, having advanced the cause of peace and justice, raised families, and brought art to the real lives of ordinary people.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking the point of the thing was to introduce a worthy, lesser-known writer by pairing him or her with a well-establish master. It turns out that these two are (were -- both now deceased) married and perhaps the only reason to read them together is to contemplate what makes one writer a genius (Paley) and another a plodder (Nichols) in spite of similar outlooks, themes, and even some similar formal qualities (on the surface, at least). The difference seems to start at the level of the sentence and the paragraph and in one case the whole equals more than the sum of the parts and in the other case, curiously less. Get Paley's Complete Stories and skip this.

[L.B. Holding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to keep track of where I'm getting my recommendations. Pretty sure this one came from Brain Pickings, maybe because Grace Paley recently passed away, and this is half her work, half her husband's, Robert Nichols. Turns out, I liked her but not so much him. Couple of old hippies who married and wrote, together but on their own. There's a fine line of collaboration going on between them, characters who appear in both authors' works. I'm just not sure if this was too highbrow for me, or if they were high when they wrote it, and I wasn't, when I read it. Sorry. I feel like I'm letting down the little English major inside me.

[Dior]

Beautiful poetry. My favorite poem was "Anti Love Poem" by Grace Paley. It captures everything people love to hate about love; the feeling you get when you love someone so much that it's overwhelming. This poem is perfect for valentine's day.

[Ronda Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative introduction. The stories/poems by Grace Paley are excellent; Robert Nichols, not so much.