“Beyond Imagining”
by Lore Segal
from the June 10, 2024 issue of The New Yorker
Just a couple of weeks after we got new fiction from Thomas McGuane, who is 84 years old, we get new fiction from Lore Segal, who is 96! I love it! Segal’s first novel was published 60 years ago, in 1964, when she was in her mid-30s. What a treat to get something from her now. For those interested, we have gotten a few stories in the magazine from her over the past few year (“Ladies Lunch” in 2017, and “Dandelion” in 2019; each has a bunch of comments on this site, and you can see those posts by clicking on her name below this post).
Here is how “Beyond Imagining” begins:
RUTH
Bessie, Lotte, Ruth, Farah, and Bridget, who had been lunching together for half a century, joined in later years by Ilka, Hope, and, occasionally, Lucinella, had agreed without the need for discussion that they were not going to pass, pass away, and under no circumstances on. They were going to die. It was now several years since Lotte had died in an assisted-living facility. Then, when covid worried their children, Ruth had undertaken to Zoom ladies’ lunch. She suggested that anyone who had something to say should show a hand.
I’m excited to read this and I will post my comments below! In the meantime, feel free to do the same! I look forward to reading your thoughts!
This is the first I’ve read of Lore Segal. It seems unfair to start here, with no familiarity with her long writing history that led to this. I ought not feel that way, of course. This stands on its own. Right?
Then I read that this is the latest in a series of stories featuring these senior ladies. It would be nice right now to read the series! But never mind. It’s probably intended to stand in its own. Although I did feel (even before learning about the series) that it would be too much trouble, reading the story right now, to try to keep track of each lady, what each said and her particular personality. Let it be. l may get a chance to read the other stories sometime.
I don’t need to probe deeply. I get the point: experiencing elderly life, experiencibg the deaths of friends. I’ve known some of this, myself, though I’m not 96…
The first thing that grabbed me was the little conversation about “wokeness”. The story seems to be set a few years ago, before the term became corrupted in usage beyond likely repair. The definition given here no linger works, after being redefined by its detractors’ attitudes. A decent idea turned into slur. Not fair to even use the term anymore. No need to elaborate here.
After reading the story, I went to her audio reading. Interesting to hear her 96 year old voice. But I fell asleep listening. What did I expect? I was in bed! Besides, again, too many different ladies to follow.
I don’t care to belabor the themes of this story. It’s good. I imagine it’s better in context. But more than that, I’m interested in reading some of her earlier work. If you’ve read some of my other posts, you may know that it’s more short stories I’ll be looking for. Novels take too long! Don’t get me wrong: I still love novels (only the best!), but there’s only so much time, especially to know as many authors as I want to do.
I looked at her bibliography. Many collections, but even at age 96, I don’t see that she has yet put out a collected or selected stories. Is anyone familiar enough to recommend an especially good collection to start? I take it _Shakespeare’s Kitchen_ is well liked…
Meanwhile, I checked out her previous New Yorker story online: “Dandelion”. I read it along with the author’s audio reading. What a contrast of style to “Beyond Imagining”! Beautiful writing, and a better reading from Lore. I enjoyed the flow of language, scarcely following the meaning. It will take repeated readings to absorb that. I tend to think it will be worth it.
I also looked at the M & G post on “Dandelion”. I didn’t but sample Trevor’s review. I felt it best to really read the story first. As for the conversation between Trevor and David: Wow! I won’t be able to fathom that until I’ve studied the story thoroughly! But do I really want to? I’m tempted. I can’t help wondering where I might stand on whatever the heck the issue is! So you see: a story can be as much as a novel. Or more!
But what is the story Segal is revisiting? I want to read the original first. Anyone know where I can find it?
I’m afraid I didn’t connect with this one as I’d hoped. I am sure there is more here than I was accessing, particularly later on when I started to lose some of my energy. I think you say it well above, Eddie!