>The New Yorker: "Someone" by Alice McDermott

>

January 30, 2012: “Someone” by Alice McDermott
In the Q&A with Alice McDermott, we learn that this “story” is taken from her novel in progress, which, presumably, is the one the contributor notes tell us is coming out later this year.  Even so, it seems to work very well as a standalone story. It centers on Marie, a young woman in Brooklyn in the 1930s, who begins dating Walter, a man who walks with a limp. They begin to date—Marie’s clueless and Walter imposes himself on her—but things don’t work out.
Early in the story we know Marie doesn’t end up with Walter because she jumps ahead to the point in time where she tells her daughters stories about Walter, to the point that they’re sick of hearing about him. Presumably, in the novel, that’s an important element. In this excerpt we also see Marie’s older brother who has recently resigned the priesthood and moved home. He tries to comfort her after Walter breaks up with her, but he doesn’t do a very good job of it.
The writing is beautiful, as we might expect from McDermott. And for a “short story,” there’s enough plot. I sure hope more is going to happen in the novel, though, because feels like it might be a bit slow. Even McDermott, in the interview, worries about it being a “novel about an unremarkable woman,” and I think she’s right to worry. But she’s been there before and won the National Book Award, so maybe we’re both wrong.

About the author

Comments

  1. >Hm, I just have finished it and now I wonder what made you think the brother didn't do a very good job comforting her – because I thought quite the opposite ;-). The walking, the story of Walter regarding blind Bill, the "Someone will." in the end.
    This part with her and her brother talking a walk was the strongest part of this "short story" for me btw.

  2. >Your comment made me go back and reread the ending. First, he says she'll be lucky if that's the worst she tastes of cruelty, meaning there's worse to come in her life. Not very comforting. Then she realizes he bears a vision of a "lost future." She touches him and feels him withdraw from her. And while he says that "someone" will love her, his own aloofness makes this less than convincing.

    I agree that the walk was very powerful, but it left me even more depressed than the rest of the story!

  3. >Thank you for your response – it's very interesting to see how the same words can convey an absolut contrary reaction with the reader. That forces one to read again and think it over again.
    For me, there is a brother who cares, who tries. The atmosphere changed from hazy to clear and sharp: everything will be all right. Some day. 😉 Perhaps I am an optimist … .
    Thanks again 🙂

  4. The priest was more interesting to me than Marie. He seemed to have lost his vision (perhaps that fits with his sister). The world is a cruel place; always has been; always will be. He can offer her no more solace than any decent person would. He has come to accept life for what it is. He seems heartbroken that over the realization that pain, in large and small doses, is part of the nature of life. Remember Father MacKenzie in the Beatles’ “All the Lonely People”? No one was saved.

Leave a Reply to Cliff Garstang Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.