Aging bisexual lothario Lemuel Sears, an unhappy suburban family, and a troubled lawyer named Chisholm all make appearances in this puzzling, disjointed, and fragmentary novella.

It's fairly entertaining, albeit a bit absurd.

I had higher expectations for my first book by the renowned John Cheever.

Rated 3/5.

ABOUT OH WHAT A PARADISE IT SEEMS

From one of the most renowned twentieth-century American writers, this “luminous ephiphany of life … [is] a charming fable of old age, nostalgia, and loss” (The Washington Post Book World).

Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Cheever’s final novel is a fable set in a village so idyllic that it has no fast-food outlet. The protagonist is an old man, Lemuel Sears, who still has the capacity to fall madly in love with strangers of both sexes.

However, Sears’s paradise is under threat as the pond he loves is being contaminated by unscrupulous polluters. In Cheever’s capable hands, the battle between an elderly romantic and the monstrous aspects of late-twentieth-century civilization becomes something bawdy, poignant, and ineffably joyful.

“This is perfect Cheever—it is perfect.” —The New York Times Book Review

Cette histoire est destinée à être lue au lit dans une vieille maison par une soirée pluvieuse.

It sounds like the perfect setting for a cozy and perhaps a bit mysterious reading experience. The idea of being in an old house, with the rain outside, and losing oneself in a story.

However, the reality is a bit different. It's a beautiful and warm day, not at all what was expected. But still, I continued my reading.

Lemuel Searns is an aging man, on the verge of being a grandfather, searching for a purpose in his life.

There's the possibility of love with Renée, a woman who surprises him and constantly tells him that he doesn't understand women at all.

Then there's the dream of resurrecting the Beasley Pond near Janice, where his eldest daughter lives, where he used to skate in the winter and felt in harmony with nature. But now, the pond has become an open dump, a source of big profits for those who exploit it.

Lemuel Searns is a successful and tenacious man who knows how to face difficulties and see his projects through to the end. And so, he decides to take on the challenge of the Beasley Pond.

This novel, the last text published by John Cheever before his death, is truly surprising.

It's likely inspired by very personal reflections on age, aging, solitude, the search for a last love, and the fight for the protection of nature.

I really enjoyed the first part of this short novel, the relationships with Renée, the existential questions that lead Searns to consult a psychiatrist, and then the battle to stop the exploitation of the dump in the pond.

However, I got a bit lost in the last few pages, which seemed more like a technical manual than a novel. We're bombarded with details about the size of the pipes and the caliber of the oxygen bubbles sent to the bottom of the pond.

Still, this visionary plea was published in 1982 and is a testament to Cheever's talent and his concerns about the world around him.

The statement "might hit too close to home if you are a closeted dude who drinks a lot of polluted pond water" is rather an unusual and specific one. It implies a situation where something could have a particularly personal or uncomfortable impact on an individual who is not openly expressing a certain aspect of themselves (being closeted) and has a habit of consuming a substance that is clearly not healthy (polluted pond water).

This could potentially lead to various consequences, both physically and emotionally. The act of being closeted might already cause internal turmoil and stress, and then adding the ingestion of polluted water on top of that could further exacerbate the situation.

It makes one wonder about the choices this person is making and the reasons behind them. Perhaps they are in a difficult or challenging situation that has led them to these behaviors. It also highlights the importance of being aware of our surroundings and the substances we consume, as well as the significance of being true to ourselves and seeking help or support when needed.

This is my very first encounter with a book by Cheever, and initially, I had expected it to be a novella. As I usually do, I prefer to read the shorter works of acclaimed authors before venturing into their lengthier ones. This way, I can get a better understanding and sense of the author's unique style. Well, Cheever did not let me down one bit. I truly had a great time reading this novella.

I find it quite difficult to classify this work. Is it a drama? Or perhaps a mystery? In reality, it is definitely a slice of life novella. At certain moments, it even reminded me of the melancholic "A Single Man" (film). Initially, I was planning to give it a rating of 3 stars, which is my "good & enjoyed it" rating. However, that last page, although brief, was written in such a beautiful and captivating manner that it allowed my imagination to take flight. It was truly a remarkable ending that made me go from simply "good & enjoyed it" to "very good & made me shut up and think".

It made me realize the power of a well-crafted story and how a single page can have a profound impact on the overall reading experience. I am now looking forward to exploring more of Cheever's works.