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Men Under Water
In his first collection of stories, Ralph Lombreglia writes about being young and unsettled, about trying to connect and not always making it--or succeeding in startling ways. "A powerful first collection".--The New York Times Book Review.
- GenresShort Stories
212 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1990
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57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 3, 2021
PERSONAL STUFF
After 40+ years of collecting books, I am in my read-them-all-and-set-(most of)-them-free stage. As usual, I will start off my review talking about my physical copy.
Back when I was working a Fortune 500 job, when there were chain books stores downtown, I used to hit the clearance tables once a week during lunch.
Books do a good job of showing how crazy economics are and how the value of stuff is arbitrary. My copy has two stickers on it. One with a $3 SALE PRICE and a second with a $1 SALE PRICE. The list price was $7.95 BTW.
It would seem that this book did not appeal to me at $3 but I decided to buy it when it hit $1. This book has moved house with me three times over 25+ years. I had this book all that time, and I've only just now read it. Turns out I can buy $1 books faster than I can read them.
REAL REVIEW
The great book would have well been worth paying list price for, and well worth not waiting over 25 years to read it.
There are 9 stories here, all about youngish men somewhere between 25 and 40. Most feature first person narrators. None of the premises are life and death, but all have a nice level of tension. Great characters, great pacing. And I learned of a new jazz cat to listen to on YouTube.
I'm excited to read more by Ralph Lombreglia, but it's a shame he only has one other published book (plus a handful of stories at his Website). Economics and life aren't fair. I'm just glad I got to spend a month leisurely reading this book. One of the best dollars I have even spent. Even if it took me 25 years to get some value from that buck.
PS I'm not setting this one free. It's staying in my ever decreasing book collection.
After 40+ years of collecting books, I am in my read-them-all-and-set-(most of)-them-free stage. As usual, I will start off my review talking about my physical copy.
Back when I was working a Fortune 500 job, when there were chain books stores downtown, I used to hit the clearance tables once a week during lunch.
Books do a good job of showing how crazy economics are and how the value of stuff is arbitrary. My copy has two stickers on it. One with a $3 SALE PRICE and a second with a $1 SALE PRICE. The list price was $7.95 BTW.
It would seem that this book did not appeal to me at $3 but I decided to buy it when it hit $1. This book has moved house with me three times over 25+ years. I had this book all that time, and I've only just now read it. Turns out I can buy $1 books faster than I can read them.
REAL REVIEW
The great book would have well been worth paying list price for, and well worth not waiting over 25 years to read it.
There are 9 stories here, all about youngish men somewhere between 25 and 40. Most feature first person narrators. None of the premises are life and death, but all have a nice level of tension. Great characters, great pacing. And I learned of a new jazz cat to listen to on YouTube.
I'm excited to read more by Ralph Lombreglia, but it's a shame he only has one other published book (plus a handful of stories at his Website). Economics and life aren't fair. I'm just glad I got to spend a month leisurely reading this book. One of the best dollars I have even spent. Even if it took me 25 years to get some value from that buck.
PS I'm not setting this one free. It's staying in my ever decreasing book collection.
February 13, 2017
I don't know why this book isn't more popular, but it's one of my absolute favorite collections of short stories.
December 1, 2013
I've read both of his collections. I like "Inn Essence" better than the more widely anthologized "Men Under Water."
Even if stories with rock bands and plugged toilets in them are always likely to be more popular. Even if it's arguably "of its time." Even though the only Thai student I ever met spoke English as well or better than I did. Lombreglia's account of restaurant life seems accurate, (except for the part about raises) and his account of 'justice' is a hoot.
His characters have been described as quirky, fringy, maybe another way of saying that his joi de vivre borders on the mystical. While he's probably guilty as charged of being first and foremost a humorist, he seems to get that body count does not equate to literary merit.
Even if stories with rock bands and plugged toilets in them are always likely to be more popular. Even if it's arguably "of its time." Even though the only Thai student I ever met spoke English as well or better than I did. Lombreglia's account of restaurant life seems accurate, (except for the part about raises) and his account of 'justice' is a hoot.
His characters have been described as quirky, fringy, maybe another way of saying that his joi de vivre borders on the mystical. While he's probably guilty as charged of being first and foremost a humorist, he seems to get that body count does not equate to literary merit.
October 7, 2022
I discovered this while doing my big book cleanout. It's a 1986 copyright paperback by a writer I'm not familiar with. SOME of his stuff has been in the New Yorker - years ago. Looks like his career hasn't really taken off. Acc. to Wiki he's a teacher at M.I.T.
1 - Inn Essence - Pretty darned amusing tale of east meets west in/at dysfunction junction.
2 - Goodyear - A blimp of a tale.
3 - Museum of Love - More male woes. Reminds me of George Saunders.
4 - Purification - ?????
5 - Jazzers - Tries to capture the essence of be-bop improv, but seemed forced to me.
6 - Jungle Video - Or... was it THIS one that equates gorilla and monkey? NOOOOO... a gorilla is NOT a monkey! There IS a guy in a gorilla suit in this story, so...
7 - Citizens - A sketchy portrait of troubled young man. I THINK this is the story that mentions Motorola in Phoenix. The book's stories seem to be set in the early eighties. When I was in Phoenix(Tempe) in the 2007 I rode my bike by the empty parking lot of a closed Motorola plant east of Tempe near the ASU research park(across the street if memory serves). The original Motorola company is now defunct - split of into several other companies, some with the Motorola name still attached.
8 - Monarchs - (As in butterflies). An amusing tale reminiscent of Benjamin Kunkel's "Indecision."
9 - Men Under Water - A fun one - reminded me of "A Confederacy of Dunces" and Ignatius J. Reilly!
- One of these stories mentions Eric Dolphy, which kind of rang a bell in my memory = A pioneering jazz instrumentalist who died(medical neglect) in Europe at a very young age.
1 - Inn Essence - Pretty darned amusing tale of east meets west in/at dysfunction junction.
2 - Goodyear - A blimp of a tale.
3 - Museum of Love - More male woes. Reminds me of George Saunders.
4 - Purification - ?????
5 - Jazzers - Tries to capture the essence of be-bop improv, but seemed forced to me.
6 - Jungle Video - Or... was it THIS one that equates gorilla and monkey? NOOOOO... a gorilla is NOT a monkey! There IS a guy in a gorilla suit in this story, so...
7 - Citizens - A sketchy portrait of troubled young man. I THINK this is the story that mentions Motorola in Phoenix. The book's stories seem to be set in the early eighties. When I was in Phoenix(Tempe) in the 2007 I rode my bike by the empty parking lot of a closed Motorola plant east of Tempe near the ASU research park(across the street if memory serves). The original Motorola company is now defunct - split of into several other companies, some with the Motorola name still attached.
8 - Monarchs - (As in butterflies). An amusing tale reminiscent of Benjamin Kunkel's "Indecision."
9 - Men Under Water - A fun one - reminded me of "A Confederacy of Dunces" and Ignatius J. Reilly!
- One of these stories mentions Eric Dolphy, which kind of rang a bell in my memory = A pioneering jazz instrumentalist who died(medical neglect) in Europe at a very young age.
February 11, 2009
I found this book for a dollar at an overstock sale in Portland, years ago--probably around the time Lombreglia's 2nd collection, Make Me Work, came out. I read it and promptly returned to the overstock sale to buy as many copies as I could to give away. More recently, during my rare snippets of down-time after the birth of my 2nd child, I picked this book up again and read it whenever I could.
These are brilliant, beautiful, hilarious stories about people just living their lives, as beautiful or moreso the second time through. My favorites are the opening story "Inn Essence," about a conflict between an insane pastry chef and a group of foreign exchange students without a work visa, over the carriage house behind an upscale restaurant in New Jersey; Monarchs, about a couple deciding the future of their relationship amid strange culinary dreams and a butterfly migration; and the title story, about the pathological relationship between a young writer/handyman and the slumlord/aspiring filmmaker he works for. Also check out the story "Jungle Video," which, while it doesn't shine quite as much as the others, sets the stage for "Late Early Man" and "Heavy Lifting" in his next anthology "Make Me Work."
These are brilliant, beautiful, hilarious stories about people just living their lives, as beautiful or moreso the second time through. My favorites are the opening story "Inn Essence," about a conflict between an insane pastry chef and a group of foreign exchange students without a work visa, over the carriage house behind an upscale restaurant in New Jersey; Monarchs, about a couple deciding the future of their relationship amid strange culinary dreams and a butterfly migration; and the title story, about the pathological relationship between a young writer/handyman and the slumlord/aspiring filmmaker he works for. Also check out the story "Jungle Video," which, while it doesn't shine quite as much as the others, sets the stage for "Late Early Man" and "Heavy Lifting" in his next anthology "Make Me Work."
December 25, 2011
This collection of short stories is so stellar, so unique and so human that I can't believe it is as obscure as it is!
November 20, 2021
When I first read the story "Men Under Water," I couldn't stop raving about it. I felt like that girl from your high school who won't stop trying to sell you products from her pyramid scheme—except I was doing it with another man's fiction.
Anyways, I came across the story in an anthology, so I didn't actually buy the collection until several months later. If you come across it at a used book store, I'd say it's worth buying for the titular story alone. Especially if you like stories that are woven from humor, absurdity, and tenderness.
"Goodyear" is my second favorite and "Jazzers" contains a lovely passage of writing about music (James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" has the best). For maximum effect, you've got to read the story and know the characters, but here is an excerpt anyways:
"The bursts of music detach themselves from us and float among Tamara's paintings like bubbles we're blowing ... His playing hits me as a series of excavations of himself, one layer after another revealed by the notes ... I think I hear the agony of marriage to Chris, the many years of not knowing what to do next, the broken motorcycle against the wall in his living room, the arc of his rival's painting sailing out the window and over the street ..."
There's some other solid stories in the collection and at least one dud. Also, many people love "Inn Essence." I felt like it was a lesser version of "Men Under Water" with a backwards portrayal of Thai exchange students that makes you realize we've come a long way since it was written in the 80s or 90s.
Finally, make of it what you will, but most of the stories are made of the same ingredients: first person young-ish male narrator who has an unfulfilled creative side, problems with his female partner, and finds himself in ridiculous situations with ridiculous people. Lombreglia did not stray far from the edict to "write what you know." It often works, but skip to "Men Under Water" if you feel yourself getting bored. Your life will be a little bit better having experienced that story.
Anyways, I came across the story in an anthology, so I didn't actually buy the collection until several months later. If you come across it at a used book store, I'd say it's worth buying for the titular story alone. Especially if you like stories that are woven from humor, absurdity, and tenderness.
"Goodyear" is my second favorite and "Jazzers" contains a lovely passage of writing about music (James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" has the best). For maximum effect, you've got to read the story and know the characters, but here is an excerpt anyways:
"The bursts of music detach themselves from us and float among Tamara's paintings like bubbles we're blowing ... His playing hits me as a series of excavations of himself, one layer after another revealed by the notes ... I think I hear the agony of marriage to Chris, the many years of not knowing what to do next, the broken motorcycle against the wall in his living room, the arc of his rival's painting sailing out the window and over the street ..."
There's some other solid stories in the collection and at least one dud. Also, many people love "Inn Essence." I felt like it was a lesser version of "Men Under Water" with a backwards portrayal of Thai exchange students that makes you realize we've come a long way since it was written in the 80s or 90s.
Finally, make of it what you will, but most of the stories are made of the same ingredients: first person young-ish male narrator who has an unfulfilled creative side, problems with his female partner, and finds himself in ridiculous situations with ridiculous people. Lombreglia did not stray far from the edict to "write what you know." It often works, but skip to "Men Under Water" if you feel yourself getting bored. Your life will be a little bit better having experienced that story.
September 5, 2025
PERSONAL STUFF
After 40+ years of collecting books, I am in my read-them-all-and-set-(most of)-them-free stage. As usual, I will start off my review talking about my physical copy.
Back when I was working a Fortune 500 job, when there were chain books stores downtown, I used to hit the clearance tables once a week during lunch.
Books do a good job of showing how crazy economics are and how the value of stuff is arbitrary. My copy has two stickers on it. One with a $3 SALE PRICE and a second with a $1 SALE PRICE. The list price was $7.95 BTW.
It would seem that this book did not appeal to me at $3 but I decided to buy it when it hit $1. This book has moved house with me three times over 25+ years. I had this book all that time, and I've only just now read it. Turns out I can buy $1 books faster than I can read them.
REAL REVIEW
The great book would have well been worth paying list price for, and well worth not waiting over 25 years to read it.
There are 9 stories here, all about youngish men somewhere between 25 and 40. Most feature first person narrators. None of the premises are life and death, but all have a nice level of tension. Great characters, great pacing. And I learned of a new jazz cat to listen to on YouTube.
I'm excited to read more by Ralph Lombreglia, but it's a shame he only has one other published book (plus a handful of stories at his Website). Economics and life aren't fair. I'm just glad I got to spend a month leisurely reading this book. One of the best dollars I have even spent. Even if it took me 25 years to get some value from that buck.
PS I'm not setting this one free. It's staying in my ever decreasing book collection.
After 40+ years of collecting books, I am in my read-them-all-and-set-(most of)-them-free stage. As usual, I will start off my review talking about my physical copy.
Back when I was working a Fortune 500 job, when there were chain books stores downtown, I used to hit the clearance tables once a week during lunch.
Books do a good job of showing how crazy economics are and how the value of stuff is arbitrary. My copy has two stickers on it. One with a $3 SALE PRICE and a second with a $1 SALE PRICE. The list price was $7.95 BTW.
It would seem that this book did not appeal to me at $3 but I decided to buy it when it hit $1. This book has moved house with me three times over 25+ years. I had this book all that time, and I've only just now read it. Turns out I can buy $1 books faster than I can read them.
REAL REVIEW
The great book would have well been worth paying list price for, and well worth not waiting over 25 years to read it.
There are 9 stories here, all about youngish men somewhere between 25 and 40. Most feature first person narrators. None of the premises are life and death, but all have a nice level of tension. Great characters, great pacing. And I learned of a new jazz cat to listen to on YouTube.
I'm excited to read more by Ralph Lombreglia, but it's a shame he only has one other published book (plus a handful of stories at his Website). Economics and life aren't fair. I'm just glad I got to spend a month leisurely reading this book. One of the best dollars I have even spent. Even if it took me 25 years to get some value from that buck.
PS I'm not setting this one free. It's staying in my ever decreasing book collection.
September 7, 2020
The title story "Men Under Water" is the reason I bought this collection. It's a great story about two fellows who are down on their luck. That's all you need to know. It was published in Best American Short Stories a good while back. That's the final story.
The story that leads off the collection is called "Inn Essence," and it mainly concerns a man who works at a restaurant trying to keep immigration away from some illegals that work at the restaurant. It's a great story.
This collection of stories is book-ended by A pluses, and in the middle? Perfectly competent stories, fine to pass the time with, but nothing to write home about. I wish they were as great as the first and last.
The story that leads off the collection is called "Inn Essence," and it mainly concerns a man who works at a restaurant trying to keep immigration away from some illegals that work at the restaurant. It's a great story.
This collection of stories is book-ended by A pluses, and in the middle? Perfectly competent stories, fine to pass the time with, but nothing to write home about. I wish they were as great as the first and last.
January 6, 2022
Men in trouble, depressed, devalued, dumb. A couple of clever characters and a couple of unreal plots
December 7, 2013
I've read both of his collections. I like "Inn Essence" better than the more widely anthologized "Men Under Water."
Even if stories with rock bands and plugged toilets in them are always likely to be more popular. Even if it's arguably "of its time." Even though the only Thai student I ever met spoke English as well or better than I did. Lombreglia's account of restaurant life seems accurate, (except for the part about raises) and his account of 'justice' is a hoot.
His characters have been described as quirky, fringy, maybe another way of saying that his joi de vivre borders on the mystical. While he's probably guilty as charged of being first and foremost a humorist, he seems to get that body count does not equate to literary merit
Even if stories with rock bands and plugged toilets in them are always likely to be more popular. Even if it's arguably "of its time." Even though the only Thai student I ever met spoke English as well or better than I did. Lombreglia's account of restaurant life seems accurate, (except for the part about raises) and his account of 'justice' is a hoot.
His characters have been described as quirky, fringy, maybe another way of saying that his joi de vivre borders on the mystical. While he's probably guilty as charged of being first and foremost a humorist, he seems to get that body count does not equate to literary merit
March 5, 2008
Men, read this book. It isn't always bad to be underwater.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews