#97 In a Tub- Amy Hempel
When I began this project I asked everyone I knew what their
favorite short stories were, or who their favorite short story authors
were. I got way too many recommendations
for a mere 366 slots, so I had to triage the list a bit. The books I put on the
top of the pile were from passionate recommendations. Amy Hampel came via
those. The friend’s that liked here writing REALLY liked here writing.
So, I have Collected Stories which includes all of her short
story books to date, too many to read this year, but enough to understand what
all the fuss is about. I start with a short In A Tub. I see immediately how
people like this style of prose. Its thoughtful, poetic, musical. Almost every
description is an instruction manual for how to stop and enjoy life better.
“Here is what you do. You ease yourself into a tub of water,
you ease yourself down. You lie back and wait for the ripples to smooth away.
Then you take a deep breath, and slide your head under, and listen for the
playfulness of your heart.”
If formatted differently, this could be read as an unmetered
poem, in fact I’d like to read it that way, slow, purposeful and aloud.
Beautiful. Proving that the short story doesn’t have to be a novella to be
meaningful.
Notable Passage: “My heart—I thought it stopped. So I got in
my car and headed for God.”
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