Big Books of 2026
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

Questions About A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

by George Saunders

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Answered Questions (7)

Does anybody know which seven short stories the book covers?
Jennifer I just asked someone on Goodreads who read and reviewed an advance copy. He replied: IN THE CART (Chekhov), THE SINGERS (Turgenev), THE DARLING (Chekh…moreI just asked someone on Goodreads who read and reviewed an advance copy. He replied: IN THE CART (Chekhov), THE SINGERS (Turgenev), THE DARLING (Chekhov), MASTER AND MAN (Tolstoy), THE NOSE (Gogol), GOOSEBERRIES (Chekhov), ALYOSHA THE POT (Tolstoy)(less)
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Does someone who's read an advance copy know if he includes the 7 short stories in his book?
Ally Yes, the stories are all there. Each text is followed by analysis, food for thought, if you will. It is a wonderful read!
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If this is the best book ever written about writing and reading, which book is the second best?
Francisco Díaz I love Francine Prose's Reading like a writer. …moreI love Francine Prose's Reading like a writer. (less)
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I fell hard for the great Russians while studying English at UVa. Another gift, I took a class with Andrew McAndrew (really) who translated the works of Dostoyevsky that we read and discussed. Thusly, this work sits right in my zone of love. Why didn’t Saunders choose a Dostoyevsky story?
Bee Bee Well, since no one else answered your potentially rhetorical question, I guess I can meaningfully speak up from my perspective. I think he chose stori…moreWell, since no one else answered your potentially rhetorical question, I guess I can meaningfully speak up from my perspective. I think he chose stories that were more challenging to appreciate than a standard Dostoevsky that you might have been thinking of. He at least mentioned Dostoyevsky for those of us who care. Additionally, I think that the critical approach to writing and reading presented here can easily be applied on our own if we want to revisit one of Dostoyevsky's classic (and long) tales.(less)
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on p.16 of the hard back, Saunders writes "The story has said of her, 'She is unhappy and can't imagine any other life for herself.'" Why put this statement in quotes? It isn't found in the text.
Kumari de Silva "has said" indicates a bit of dialogue is about to follow. As in She said, "It's hot outside." In this case the speaker is a story, but it is dialogue…more"has said" indicates a bit of dialogue is about to follow. As in She said, "It's hot outside." In this case the speaker is a story, but it is dialogue none the less.(less)
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Unanswered Questions (1)

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