This story is from Table for Two, a short story collection by Amor Towles. Table for Two is book #3 that I am reading for my 20 Books of Summer.
"The Bootlegger" is my favorite short story in the book, and it was the one that affected me emotionally the most. The story was told by Tommy's wife, Mary. Mary and Tommy's two young children were finally old enough that they could take one night a week to go out and get away from the kids. So, in the month of April, they were attending a concert series at Carnegie Hall every Saturday night. This is not Mary's idea of a great night out but it is what Tommy has chosen, so that is what they are doing.
At all of the concerts, Mary and Tommy are seated right next to an older man, and Tommy has noticed that the man is recording the show. Tommy is incensed. Mary tells him not to worry, it is just a harmless old man who loves music, but Tommy will not let it go. By the third Saturday concert, Tommy is so perturbed and outraged that he leaves his seat to go report the man to the usher.
From that point on, things don't go the way that Tommy expects. The story is not especially fun or uplifting but it is a compelling story and very well told.
I like the way that Towles builds up the story bit by bit and along the way reveals a lot about the characters and their relationships.
From the book's dust jacket:
Millions of Amor Towles' fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood.
The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages.
At this point I have read the six short stories in the book and they are all good stories, all between 30 to 40 pages. There were two other short stories that I especially liked: "Hasta Luega" and "I Will Survive."
I have not read the novella yet, but I do want to point out that it is 220 pages long in the hardback edition I read, and that does not fit my definition of a novella.
In the novella, "Eve in Hollywood," Towles returns to a character in his first novel, Rules of Civility. It has been long enough since I read the book and I don't remember much about any of the characters; I am assuming that won't make any difference to my enjoyment of the story.
Check out another review at FictionFan's Book Reviews with her thoughts on each story.
Diane's Book Club are reading THE BOOTLEGGER by Amor Towles this month. Diane has read several of Amor Towles' novels...and enjoyed them all!
ReplyDeleteGeorge, I have read all of Amor Towles novels and for the most part I liked them all. The Lincoln Highway did not work as well for me as the others. His style of writing works well for short stories.
DeleteI have actually been with a friend who taped most of a concert for her grandson. Finally an usher did that I didn't have the nerve to do and made her stop.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an interesting experience, Patti. It is amazing that she was doing it that obviously.
DeleteDelicate mechanics always at play, even when one mechanic or another tries to force an issue...I am of mixed minds about such unauthorized recordings, and less so in how the arguments can get at things that the arguments aren't really about...
ReplyDeleteTodd, this story was really more about both the younger man's attitude and the older man's motivation, and further repercussions. Towles really packed a lot into this story.
DeleteI do like the music theme of this story, Tracy. And I can see both sides of the argument, which makes it all the more interesting. It sounds as though Twoles builds the atmosphere effectively, too.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I think the building of the atmosphere was the best part of the story for me. And Towles did a good job with it.
DeleteThere was a second story that I also liked with a music theme (sort of) (titled "I Will Survive").
I didn't know he had a book of short stories out. Fun. :D
ReplyDeleteLark, I bought this book the same year it came out (2024), which is unusual for me, since I have a huge backlog of short story books unread. Luckily it was as good as I hoped it would be.
DeleteI've only read one novel by Towles, but I really enjoyed it and his writing style. I bet I would like these short stories, too.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I think you would like the stories. FictionFan wrote a very good review of the book with descriptions of all of the stories; I am going to add it to the text of my post...
DeleteThanks for the link! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. I agree that the Eva story is really a short novel rather than a novella, and like you it had been so long since I read Rules of Civility that I wondered if I'd be lost. But apart from her character, it's really not linked to the earlier book, so it doesn't matter of you don't remember it. I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteFictionFan, I am about halfway through Eve in Hollywood now and I am remembering bits and pieces of the novel. And I am liking it so far, although the inclusion of real people in the story put me off slightly.
DeleteI thought I had heard of Amor Towles... when I checked I see he's the author of A Gentleman in Moscow, which I own but haven't read. I must get to it as it got very good reviews.
ReplyDeleteCath, I think you will like A Gentleman in Moscow. Towles's first book was Rules of Civility and set in New York City around 1937.
DeleteYes I have read this collection and I liked The Bootlegger. Tommy should probably mind his own business and not have a poor old man arrested for recording a concert for his sick wife. The story gets pretty interesting. In general, I thought the stories were good and kept my interest.
ReplyDeleteSusan, now that I have finished this book, I find that I liked Eve in Hollywood the best, which surprised me. It is unusual for me to read a short story book and end up liking all the stories.
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