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The Rose Garden Short Stories Maeve Brennan 9781582431192 Books

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The Rose Garden Short Stories Maeve Brennan 9781582431192 Books

Maeve Brennan wrote for THE NEW YORKER for many years, as did John Cheever, but that is only one thing they had in common. The other is their talent for observing--with only a little smidgen of a judgmental attitude--the foibles and hobbies of the wealthy and the social climbers of their particular world (specifically, Manhattan in the 1930s through the 1950s).

In THE ROSE GARDEN, Brennan--an abundantly talented Irish native who spent many years living and writing in New York--examines most particularly the social comings and goings of the residents of a neighborhood closely modeled on Sneden's Landing, the clubby, cloistered, wealthy weekend getaway for many Manhattanites. Brennan repeats characters freely from story to story, which lends the book a richness it might not otherwise have, and she skewers with extraordinary precision and delicacy the foolishness her characters indulge in--knowingly sometimes, but mostly in complete oblivion to their idiocies.

Special treats in THE ROSE GARDEN include "The Divine Fireplace" (which features possibly the funniest conversation I've ever read between a wife and a woman she sees as a threat to her marriage); "The Stone Hot Water Bottle" and "The Servants' Dance," which brings into sharp focus the "Upstairs, Downstairs" observations at which she excels. These stories are deliciously readable--and re-readable.


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The Rose Garden Short Stories Maeve Brennan 9781582431192 Books Reviews

The Rose Garden is a collection of short stories by the late New Yorker writer Maeve Brennan. The book feels split into two collections. The first half of the book is a collection of stories about the fictional "Herbert's Retreat" an exclusive enclave of a few dozen houses 30 or so miles up the Hudson from New York City. Brennan captures the minor social adventures of the wealthy denizens through some of the sharpest humored dialogue and descriptions I have ever read. At the same time as the homeowners vie to capture for the best river view and to throw successful parties with the most desirable guests - in short, to be the envy of their neighbors - their Irish maids ruefully observe - and occasionally subvert - their antics.
Unfortunately, the Herbert's Retreat stories only constitute half of this book. The second half of the book is less enjoyable. The remaining stories rely heavier on description rather than dialogue, and the characters - which range from cafe regulars to a dog named Bluebell - are far less entertaining or memorable. Nonetheless, Brennan is an expert in capturing New York, and this book is must have in a library of books describing 20th century New York, to be placed in the vicinity of fellow New Yorker writer Joseph Mitchell's great social observations. The Herbert's Retreat stories alone make the book essential reading.
This book was in our rental house on Nantucket; I Ioved it so much I wanted to own this book for my own library. I've picked it up and read these stories again and get something new every time that makes me smile or ponder. This is a book that nuances of the characters and stories can be enjoyed again and again. The humor about class distinctions and stores that tell the socialite point of view counter to the service staff's point of view is hilarious and poignant. I especially enjoyed the short stories about the posh little socialite community on the Husdon River in upstate New York, these stories are by far my favorites in the collection. These stories are the first ones in the book.
Ms. Maeve Brennan wrote for and about, "The New Yorker", magazine for over four decades. The New Yorker is many things including a publication known for excellence. To have been a part of such an institution for so long is enough to place this woman in a very small group if not alone for her tenure there. "The Rose Garden", is one of two books that collect short stories Ms. Brennan created, and they are without exception excellent.
Of the twenty stories there are a few that are stand-alone tales. The book opens and then closes with a series of stories that share place and characters but also could stand by themselves as well. The first grouping is a brilliant and savage attack on a small community north of Manhattan, which is based upon a community the writer, lived in. She has a rapier wit and she uses it to dismember the people and their pretensions that occupy this community. She does it with such style that some of the targets would probably lack the insight to see just how badly she savaged them and their affected lifestyle. There are two stories that on their own are worth owning the book, one is, "The Servant's Dance", and the other begins with, "The Holy Terror". Writing such as this is a rare event.
The cover of the book is a picture of the writer from 1949. If those Irish Eyes of hers ever focused on a person and identified them as a target, it would be akin to being told Mike Wallace of 60 minutes was waiting to speak with you.
A wonderful writer and a woman that must have been a daunting presence to be in the midst of. Fantastic reading!
This book arrived timely and in great shape. It was a wonderful book to read! I rarely ever read short stories but these were lovely.
Great stories of both fun and frivolity, and most of them tasking place in an upstate neighborhood in New York. Maeve Brennan is somewhat lesser known to other writers of her time, she takes a place on my eternal bookshelf.
I'm glad to have stumbled upon this collection. I don't think it's for everyone, but I certainly understand why Brennan had such a long-spanning career. Her stories are a nice escape and give us a peek of a world pretty much long gone.
Maeve Brennan wrote for THE NEW YORKER for many years, as did John Cheever, but that is only one thing they had in common. The other is their talent for observing--with only a little smidgen of a judgmental attitude--the foibles and hobbies of the wealthy and the social climbers of their particular world (specifically, Manhattan in the 1930s through the 1950s).

In THE ROSE GARDEN, Brennan--an abundantly talented Irish native who spent many years living and writing in New York--examines most particularly the social comings and goings of the residents of a neighborhood closely modeled on Sneden's Landing, the clubby, cloistered, wealthy weekend getaway for many Manhattanites. Brennan repeats characters freely from story to story, which lends the book a richness it might not otherwise have, and she skewers with extraordinary precision and delicacy the foolishness her characters indulge in--knowingly sometimes, but mostly in complete oblivion to their idiocies.

Special treats in THE ROSE GARDEN include "The Divine Fireplace" (which features possibly the funniest conversation I've ever read between a wife and a woman she sees as a threat to her marriage); "The Stone Hot Water Bottle" and "The Servants' Dance," which brings into sharp focus the "Upstairs, Downstairs" observations at which she excels. These stories are deliciously readable--and re-readable.