Die Zigarette und andere Stories

by Paula Fox

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

Genres: Essays, Short Stories, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Paula Fox was an American author of novels for adults and children and two memoirs. Her novel The Slave Dancer (1973) received the Newbery Medal in 1974; and in 1978, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. More recently, A Portrait of Ivan won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 2008.

A teenage marriage produced a daughter, Linda, in 1944. Given the tumultuous relationship with her own biological parents, she gave the child up for adoption. Linda Carroll, the daughter Fox gave up for adoption, is the mother of musician Courtney Love.

Fox then attended Columbia University, married the literary critic and translator Martin Greenberg, raised two sons, taught, and began to write.

Reviews

[Virginia Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each of the seventeen short stories, essays, and the speech in this collection is a gem in itself. However, the whole is less than the sum of its parts. There is no discernible logic to the order of the pieces and nothing but a short preface to help put them in context. I particularly enjoyed "Unquestioned Answers" which the acknowledgements at the back of the book indicated was a Zena Sutherland lecture because of its focus on childhood. But here is a major quibble: nothing in the front or back matter, jacket flap, or content of the pieces indicates that Paula Fox was a noted children's book author.

[Becca Younk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fact, Paula Fox is Courtney Love's grandmother. Also fun fact (that you wouldn't know if you only read this book) Paula Fox is more famous as a children's book author. But anyway, News from the World is a bit disjointed. None of the essays and stories seem to have any rhyme or reason as to why they are included or put in any particular order. Many of the stories are what I like to call "people watching" stories, because there's no real plot or purpose, you're just sort of reading someone's daily life. Which can be enjoyable, with the right author. Not sure if Fox is the right author for me with those types of stories. The standouts in this book are definitely "The Stop of Truth" and "Unquestioned Answers." I'm not sure if you can find these essays anywhere else, but I would for sure recommend those two to read. "The Stop of Truth" is about censorship and "Unquestioned Answers" is about language and how we communicate. Very good, but unfortunately, none of the other pieces quite rise up to the highs of those two essays.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly as the title says, this is a mixture of short stories and essays, the essays being mainly autobiographical. As a children's librarian many years ago, Paula Fox was one of my favorites. She does not disappoint now in this collection for adults that spans several decades. Uncharacteristically, I liked the essays better than the fiction. A recommended read for anyone that enjoys great thoughts with an economy of language.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb muscle-writing, reminiscent of writers from the 60s and 70s eras. Paula Fox is an experienced journalist with a sharp eye and great sensitivity. She is not sentimental. Her pieces are on-target and sound. These essays are the first writings by her that I've read, and I intend to explore her novels. Very highly recommended to readers who enjoy writing that makes them think and feel.

[Iva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a mixed bag of short stories and essays. Some essays are quite personal and overlap with her memoir, Borrowed Finery. Most of the writing is strong and engaging and she has a fresh active voice. The short stories are weaker but worthwhile. Paula Fox is a fine adult and YA novelist; I particularly liked Desperate Characters.

[HansBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deutschspr. Besprechung aus HansBlog.de:

Mit In fremden Kleidern und Der kälteste Winter schrieb Paula Fox zwei knappe autobiografische Bücher. Weitere autobiografische Skizzen, die an diese zwei Bände anschließen, liefert die erste Hälfte von Die Zigarette und andere Stories (2011, engl. News from the World: Stories and Essays); es gibt nur zwei kurze punktuelle inhaltliche Überschneidungen (1). Den autobiografischen Stücken folgen ohne Trennung oder Kennzeichnung Kurzgeschichten und Essays.
Ich kenne nur die US-TB-Ausgabe von Norton und kann die Eindeutschung nicht beurteilen. Meine US-Ausgabe hatte etwa 202 äußerst locker bedruckte Seiten Haupttext (zzgl. Inhalt, Danksagung und Quellenhinweisen) mit 18 einzelnen Texten (einschl. Vorwort).
Autobiografisches:
Während Paula Fox (1923 – 2017) im Bändchen In fremden Kleidern etwas aufdringlich ihre Mutter anprangert, bekommen hier ihr Vater ("a drunk") und der Schwager Clem ihr Fett weg. Über einen anderen Mann sagt sie (S. 39):
His criticism of his father had had an unpleasant tone, making public feelings and opionions he should have kept to himself.
Genau das dachte ich manchmal über die Darstellungen der Paula Fox.
Ihre autobiografischen Geschichten hier liefern neue Details zu Fox' Leben; sie wirken jedoch weniger rund und poetisch als die Skizzen von In fremden Kleidern, fast wie Outtakes oder gescheiterte Ansätze zu einem größeren Memoirenband über ihre erwachsenen Jahre. Gelegentlich schien mir die Sprache unterredigiert. So schreibt sie (S. 130):
…he didn't know what it was that was made easier.
Warum sagt sie nicht, "…he didn't know what was made easier"?
Auf Seite 133 in einer Kurzgeschichte echauffiert sich ein pingeliger junger Mann, man könne "impact" nicht als Verb verwenden. Das geht aber. (Sie gibt wohlgemerkt die Meinung einer fiktiven Figur wieder, nicht die des allwissenden Erzählers; die Figur soll jedoch offenbar nicht einen Fehler aussprechen; also sollte Fox ein eindeutigeres Beispiel verwenden.)
Manchmal klingen Kombinationen unterschiedlicher Themen in einer Geschichte unrund (selbst wenn Fox eine Verbindung herstellt). Die Geschichten sind nicht chronologisch geordnet und schließen nicht aneinander an, einmal gibt es einen Querverweis.
In "Cigarette" schildert Fox nicht nur ihr wechselndes Verhältnis zum Rauchen, sondern auch den Überfall mit Kopfverletzung, der dazu führte dass sie Alltagsdinge und wohl auch das Schreiben neu lernen musste; zu ihrer Genesung würde man gern auch die Außenansicht ihres Mannes hören.
Kurzgeschichten und Essays:
Es gibt nur etwa fünf fiktionale Kurz- und Kürzergeschichten. Die Story um das junge Paar in Taos, New Mexico, deutet verschiedene Geheimnisse an, die dann nicht aufgeklärt werden – sie lässt sich teils mit Fox' autobiografischer Skizze von Taos verbinden, die weiter vorn im Buch steht, aber das klärt die offenen Fragen auch nicht.
Die weiteren Kurzgeschichten unterscheiden sich in zwei wesentlichen Punkten von bekannten Paula-Fox-Romanen:
- sie stellt hier Männer in den Mittelpunkt
- bei nur geringen Anklängen an die eigene Biografie
Die zweite, wohl stärkste Geschichte, in jeder professionellen Rezension erwähnt, handelt einfühlsam von einem sensiblen jungen Mann und dessen sensiblem Hund. Oft erwähnt wird auch die Geschichte des Mannes, den der Briefwechsel mit einem fast vergessenen Schulfreund in einen bizarren Bann zieht. Fast ebenso gut ist die Slang-Tirade eines Afro-Amerikaners mit zerfallender Familie, der seinen Sohn zu Grabe trägt. Dem folgt eine weitere kurze Geschichte um Afro-Amerikaner, die ich nicht verstand. Diese zwei Texte standen zuerst in den 1960er Jahren in The Negro Digest (sic); die neuesten Stücke aus dem Sammelband erschienen erstmals 2010.
Die kurze Geschichte von der Haushälterin am Meer verwendet das Haushälterinnen-Thema aus Fox famosem Roman Luisa/A Servant's Tale, hat aber eigene Schwerpunkte.
Die Essays streifen menschliche und soziale Themen. Dabei redet Fox auch über Literatur, Moral und ausgiebig von persönlich Erlebtem. Sie mischt überrraschend sehr unterschiedliche Themen und Inhalte und hat auf jeden Fall eine sehr persönliche, fast lyrische, lakonische Stimme, nicht aufdringlich und auch nicht öd.
Inhalt der Geschichten:
Scheinbar Autobiografisches:
Verhältnis zum Rauchen, Überfall mit Kopfverletzung
Verhältnis zu Schwager Clem (autobiogr.)
Umzug Manhattan-Brooklyn, Schusswaffengebrauch, L.J. Davis' Roman A Meaningful Life
Der homosexuelle Nachbar
Einfaches Leben in Taos, New Mexico sowie Frieda und D.H. Lawrence
Schauspieler Franchot Tone a.d. Leinwand und a.d. Parkplatz
WG-Leben in New Orleans
Kurzgeschichten:
Junges Ehepaar besucht sterbenden Vater u.s Pflegerin nh. Taos
Einsamer (sprach-)sensibler Mittdreißiger u.s. (ebf. sensibler) Hund in NYC
Junge Haushälterin eines alten Malers
Kinder sehen Henne u. deren Ermordung am Strandgrill
Afro-amerikanische Familie beerdigt Sohn
Afro-Amerikaner und ?
Essays:
Verbotene Bildmotive, z.B. anat. Details
Sprachtics wie sinnloses "like" u. vernebelndes Substantivieren
Formeln, Gefühle, junger Theaterbesucher weint bei vermeintl. lustigem Stück

(1) Junge in poln. Kinderheim; Preisschild an Kleid bei Kinobesuch

[Kallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book are clumsy compared to Paula Fox's novels, but the deeply felt observations are there, and the occasional brilliant illuminations into human nature, life, and psychology (through character thoughts/observations) that distinguish Fox's writing. Without having to impose moral order and sentiment on her characters and their actions (or an omniscient, superior voice), Fox evokes the moral order that clarity and honesty and compassion bring, without the need to judge or be 'right' or hold forth in any pedantic way. This and a sort of emotional dynamism that is both abandoned yet responsible -- in the way described above, through keen observation of the human condition -- are hallmarks of Fox's writing, and something rare in fiction OR memoir. I always feel close to her characters, that they share their lives without trying to make themselves look good; that they are imbued with conscience and integrity because they are aware of how random, arbitrary and diverse one's own feelings can be. This book certainly did not disappoint in that way, and the memoirs are wonderful as are all Fox memoirs. Fox got a rough start in life and remained sensitive while weathering abandonment, betrayal, emotional abuse, hard times, the indifference and scorn of a society that values status, money, and obvious success. Though she herself became successful, there is no indication that she ever became entitled, or complacent.

[Brenton Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an odd collection of works - essays, memoirs, stories, all spanning 5 decades. If anything ties them together it's a fierceness. In the fiction this manifests as a sparseness. In the essays and memoirs there is strength and conviction.

I appreciate the essays, though the style is a bit foreign. It feels disjointed and jumpy, though ultimately interesting and well-written. The short stories weren't particularly compelling, though I loved them as glimpses of lives and times.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are wonderful, but the collection --- with its blend of personal essays, short fiction and lectures and criticism --- feels a bit haphazard. Still, Fox writes with such insight and precision --- she doesn't miss a thing. I loved especially "Freida in Taos," about D.H. Lawrence's widow Freida, whom Fox knew when she was a young woman, and "The Tender Night," a beautiful yet clear-eyed eulogy to a friend and former neighbor who led a bohemian and tragic life. Also, I didn't realize that Clement Greenberg was her brother-in-law and that L.J. Davis was her neighbor (her writing on his masterpiece "A Meaningful Life" is sharp, as always).

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5

A hodgepodge of memoirs, essays, and story snippets, and I had a hodgepodge of feelings about them. At times I was bored, other times completely drawn in. The essays were my favorite.

[Lorri Steinbacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Fox's Desperate Characters so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this collection of essays and short stories. Grace was my favorite selection in the book, although I do love any kind of memoir about NYC, which this book has no shortage of. I felt very conflicted at the end of Grace because on the one hand, you feel that the protagonist made a breakthough and on the other hand you feel two people making choices based on some kind of emotional shorthand. He is crying so maybe I can get through to him change him. I am sad, I am afraid to be alone. Still, you felt that the main character would revert to his old ways (no one that obsesseed with word usage is likely to turn himself around, judging is ingrained, deeply, I would think).

[cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the grande dames of essays and short stories. an intimate view into her family life and early years as a writer. and the title story - although brief - is vivid and powerful. "words are nets through which all truth escapes." beautiful.

[Richard Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven, but still a lot of good material from a neglected author.

[Thing Two · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index...

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this collection of short stories. Beautiful writing. Paula Fox is excellent.