High Ground: Stories

by John McGahern

Those who have called John McGahern a modern Chekhov are struck by his ability to transform commonplace experiences into moments of epiphany. In “Parachutes,” the narrator reels in the aftermath of a breakup with the woman he loves; “Oldfashioned” isthe story of Johnny, a country boy oddly drawn to the elderly English couple for whom he represents the son they lost in the War; and in “Eddie Mac” and “The Conversion of William Kirkwood,” a wealthy family and its hired help learn that the relationship of master and servant is the most enduring relationship of all. In High Ground , John McGahern displays all of his acclaimed mastery, and both deepens and extends the world of his generous imagination.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Irish Literature, Ireland, Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

McGahern began his career as a schoolteacher at Scoil Eoin Báiste (Belgrove) primary school in Clontarf, Ireland, where, for a period, he taught the eminent academic Declan Kiberd before turning to writing full-time. McGahern's second novel 'The Dark' was banned in Ireland for its alleged pornographic content and implied clerical sexual abuse. In the controversy over this he was forced to resign his teaching post. He subsequently moved to England where he worked in a variety of jobs before returning to Ireland to live and work on a small farm in Fenagh in County Leitrim, located halfway between Ballinamore and Mohill. His third novel 'Amongst Women' was shortlisted for the 1990 Man Booker Prize.
He died from cancer in Dublin on March 30, 2006.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over a period of about a week, finishing one story and giving myself a pause before the next. That's because each one is such an understated model of perfection. They are beautifully observed vignettes, compressing a lifetime - sometimes several lifetimes - into the space of a few pages. Certain images remained with me for days, such as watching the floating parachutes of dandelion seeds drift past an open doorway. The only detraction to me is that many were a bit too modernist for my taste, with the end dropping off enigmatically rather than sewn up neatly (being a lazy reader, I like the writer to do the thinking for me). But that's a quibble. Delighted to find someone I enjoy as much as William Trevor.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished: 18.03.2021
Genre: short stories
Rating: D
#ReadingIrelandMonth21
Conclusion:
John McGahern writes good novels and
a very touching memoir.
He should keep his day job (novels, memoirs)...
...and leave the short stories to others.

My Thoughts

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divided loyalties, disappointed expectations, and rocky father/son relationships predominate in these ten short stories set in Dublin and the Irish countryside. Well written, often ironic, most of these stories focus narrowly and cover a limited emotional range for a book I could admire but not love.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good stories giving a glimpse of a life in Ireland with some interesting explorations of disappointments and unhappiness. However for me some finished too abruptly so felt unfinished. I enjoyed the Gold Watch best.

[Chet Makoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the short stories of William Trevor, James Joyce and Benedict Kiely. Now I can add John McGahern to my list of favorite short story writers.

[Sanjuro · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I have particular ideas about what makes a good short story; counterintuitively, they require a bit more closure than novels, not less. Open-ended stories feel incomplete as a matter of laziness rather than necessity - any story can drop off for an uncreative shortcut to an ending, but the truly well-written stories know how to encompass a full creative world in a short word count. That's what makes it difficult and therefore admirable.

I say this because McGanhern, more than most, knew how to flesh out characters and give rise to full worlds in short spaces. Some of these stories are fully realized in just 10 pages. McGahern's prose is always patient, and always eloquent without bells and whistles. I felt these characters like I knew them.

I took off a half-star because there is one exception here. "The Conversion of William Kirkwood" is one of the best stories here until the end, when he leaves the reader hanging in the most frustrating way. This is thematic - the story is about colonization, and so the colonization of William's home, and the uncertainty of it, is the very intentional reason that the story does not have a proper ending. However, it is exactly a sort of failure, in my opinion, when themes override what's best for the stories and the characters, and I think that's what happened here.

If one loves short stories, this is an essential collection. If one doesn't, it's more essential still.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I'm a short story person. Most of these stories seemed like part of a story and ended leaving me wanting to know more.

[Heidi Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a few short pages, in spare and beautiful prose, he captures life's highs and lows. McGahern was amazingly observant and skilled.

[Victor Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved Parachutes and Gold Watch. Bank Holiday was nice. None of the rest did much for me though.

[Russell George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as fluid as the other collection I recently read. Still, I'll definitely read a novel of his at some point.

[Marie Schuh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories was a nice reprieve from the GOT series, though I had a hard time connecting with most of them...thus only 3 stars.