story: “The Long-Distance Runner” author: Grace Paley year: 1974 where: The Louvre Abu Dhabi & home note: In this story, Paley reverses traditional black-white female race relations. It is a great story to read in conversation with Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers’ non-fiction book They Were Here Property. a line: “You in my house…. You do as I say. For two cents, I throw you out.” theme(s): white flight; social justice; segregation;
story: “The Contest” author: Grace Paley year: 1959 where: casa dolce casa note: Il était une fois, there was a man who was intimidated by a woman who knew what she wanted. Small men call women selfish if they feel like a woman’s life will never revolve solely around them. It was true then, and it can still be true now. a line: “A medium girl, size twelve, a clay pot with handles–she could be grasped. I met […]
story: “Goodbye and Good Luck” author: Grace Paley year: 1959 where: taxi & home note: This is one of Paley’s first three stories she ever wrote. a line: “’I was popular in certain circles, says Aunt Rose.” theme(s): Marriage, love, happiness, polyamory
story: “A Woman, Young and Old” author: Grace Paley year: Grace’s first (of three) story collections was published when she was in her late 30s; this story appeared in that first collection. 1959! where: mio ufficio, before my Italian lesson note: The title of this story comes from a Yeats poem, where the poet explores the idea that sex is the only thing the transcends over time. a line: “’Men are different than women,’ said Joanna, and it’s […]
story: Wants author: Grace Paley year: 1974 where: on iPhone, preparing cinnamon tea note: current library books overdue include One hundred more poems from the Japanese, Lies Across America, & Macbeth a line: “What I mean is, I sat down on the library steps and he went away.”
