A George Saunders masterclass. How lucky are readers to get this knowledge and wisdom from him. A must-read for any writing or literature student.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders is a perfect fit for readers who crave a enlightening and inspiring exploration of the art of storytelling, literary analysis, and the human experience, and are eager to dive into a slow-paced yet insightful journey that will challenge and enrich their understanding of the power of writing and reading to connect us with ourselves and the world around us.

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’m judging the L.A. Times 2020 and 2021 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’m doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got me to read on even though it was among 296 other books I’m charged to read.

Despite being assigned to read 296 novels, I was drawn to this publication because George Saunders is a master but also has been a balm in trying times. I listen to the letter he wrote his students at the beginning of the pandemic often. I find this text helpful for teachers of fiction everywhere.

This book made it on both my most anticipated and favorite lists of last year. While I never got around to writing a full review of the book, Suffice it to say that this is a must read for anyone who loves the written word.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-rc of the book. This is one I have since added to my personal library...

this book instructive, inspiring and a keeper for writers interested in essay writing and the skeleton of the story from a master writer and professor at Syracuse MFA program, I loved the premise of the book and the afterthought that accompanied each Russian writer essay, do buy a copy, can' t wait to start my journal and essay writing

I really loved this. I mean I was already a big George Saunders fan but being able to see him break down a short story like this... this feels like a free master class in writing a short story and analyzing literature. What a treat I will highly recommend and I cant wait to own a physically copy.

I thought I was biased as a Russian lit major, so I'm glad to see that others have loved this book as much as I did! Prof. Saunders gives a masterclass in how to dig beneath the surface of a story, both as a writer and a reader. I would love to read more by this author, or take his class someday. Until then, the book is the next best thing.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I'll add this to my suitcase of 10 books I'd love to be stranded with on a desert island, in a snow-bound mountain shack. Or during a pandemic shutdown.

Saunders, a master of contemporary American fiction and professor at Syracuse University, offers many provocative ideas for those who are engaged with the art of reading as well as the art of literary writing.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain offers an entertaining and thought-provoking deep dive into literature, on par with attending a collegiate literary seminar. Includes exercises, like a workbook or course syllabus. No enrollment or tuition fees required! I'm absolutely hooked by the juxtaposition of Saunders' insider tips about writing craft with examples from classic Russian short stories (in translation, of course). Destined to become a classic.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t recommend it enough. Having George Saunders not only curate but also interpret and analyze seven classic Russian short stories would have been treat enough, but Saunders also throws in his own thoughts on what makes a great story and lots of advice on how to write them in your own unique voice. A total joy to read and a book that introduced me to several Russian authors I had not read in the past but who will definitely feature on my reading lists in the future. Highly recommend—I’ve already bought three additional copies as gifts!

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Random house for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review. A pleasure!

Reading began as an escape for me, as I would try to consume every story quickly, fully immersed until completion, then barely coming up for air before getting lost in another title. Retention and analysis were not high on my list, but then I was found wanting when I wished I had better remembered what it was in a specific title that captivated me, or what made another book mundane.

I am an avid reader, but more for pleasure, not with a view of analysis. This seems to be a skill I ought to work on, and being a part of a neighborhood book club that takes seriously discussing books and modeling stellar reflections and insights is one of the things that has made an impact in how I think about books, and A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders is a gift that moves me forward even more.

I immensely enjoyed Saunders' latest. He puts into print what is essentially a master class that, through the examples of Russian short stories, analyzes what makes a powerful story. Readers for this book are certainly a niche audience, but I appreciated his insights and find myself reflecting on them as I approach other stories to better articulate why they worked or, alternately, what made specific sections weak and unnecessary.

Initially drawn to this book due to my teenage infatuation with the Russian masters, I realized the bounty before me as I began. Saunders converts a course he has taught for twenty years into an engaging volume. I can hear him in a class, asking these questions, stretching us to examine the text, to make these connections. This does not feel like a sloppy conversion of a class syllabus and lecture notes; great thought and care went into translating this into what we have before us.

The first Russian story is offered page by page, with Saunders' commentary directing us as we read, pointing out insights, offering up common questions readers would have at each point, laying out possible impressions at each stage. With later stories, we are given them in their entirety, then treated to afterthoughts. This is a format that works exceptionally well.

The exercises at the close are thoughtful and clever, adept methods for challenging writers to look closely and analyze words and translations, perhaps in having to pare down a larger work, or to be limited in the number of different words you can use, and the like.

This is an exceptional book, with merit both for readers as well as writers. I adore books but don't feel the need to own every one I read (nor do I have the space nor the funds to do so). This one, though, I will buy in hardcover, as I found great value and enjoyment in it and find myself reflecting back on it, months after completion. While I've liberally highlighted my e-book, I know having the physical copy to flip through will be a pleasure.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

Essential reading for writers. I highly recommend the audiobook. The Russian short stories are read by amazing actors, and Saunders reads the other parts. As close to attending one of his MFA classes as non-students can get. I can already tell that I'm going to be reading this over and over again.

As I read more classics for the library's book club, I find that I enjoy reading literary criticism more than the actual work. Maybe that says I am lazy and I just want people to interpret the books for me. This book reinforced that fact: I enjoyed Saunders' interpretations and notes more than the short stories themselves. Perhaps that is because I listened to the book and had some trouble keeping track of the short stories via audio. Fortunately, Saunders brings a great deal of wit and wisdom to the analysis.

One of the greatest parts of having completed an MFA with some of the greatest writers of our day is that they have had experiences working with and learning alongside even greater writers of our day. On the other end of the spectrum, however, is the fact that many of my mentors have had experiences that I learn from only secondhand. While they regale me with anecdotes of their work in George Saunders’ workshops and teach me the bare-bones craft lessons they have learned from him (and others of course), I have harbored deep envy of their work with such a profound master. Additionally, the ideas that came from Saunders’ workshops and mentoring aren’t just for improving my work on the page, but like all literature examination, can have a profound impact on my interpretation and execution of literary and dramatic works in my classroom and on the stage as well. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that I will be in Saunders’ classroom anytime soon.

Of course, it is when authors replicate their classroom experience in a book that we can come somewhat close to it – and in a lot of ways, I prefer this sort of format as it often feels like a small one-on-one mini-workshop of the best bits, presented in the best way, right inside my head... And I can rewind as often as I like and use the same lessons with my students as well.

A Swim in the Pond in the Rain is Saunders’ first such book, and it is genius. The format is the same he uses at Syracuse University – pairing seven essays (as opposed to lectures) on the short story and craft with seven exceptional Russian short stories: “In The Cart” by Anton Chekhov, “The Singers” by Ivan Turgenev, “The Darling” by Anton Chekhov, “Master and Man” by Leo Tolstoy, “The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol, “Gooseberries” by Anton Chekhov, “Alyosha the Pot” by Leo Tolstoy. The result is an examination of how the writers create the magic that they do. Our lens is pulled in as close as syntax and as far back as theme, and the approach is just as valuable to a writer as it would be to a reader trying to examine what makes certain works so great or a high school English teacher communicating to students how to reflect on a piece of writing and connect the what an author does to why they are doing it. In the hands of a master short story writer himself, the lessons and observations of these classics become a genius masterclass in reading and writing, and so, this book belongs on the bookshelf of any reader, writer, or teacher. It’s a masterful series of lessons from a master, and it is organized and executed on the written page so as to allow one to dip in whenever they need a refresher for themselves or their students.

I will be using this in my own writing as often as I will in my AP and college classrooms, and I will certainly be recommending it to my colleagues in every such sphere of my life. Saunders never fails to impress.

Can I please go to Syracuse University and have Mr. Saunders as my professor? No? Well, this book is the next best thing, and I loved it.

The book includes seven Russian short stories (3 from Chekhov, 2 from Tolstoy, 1 from Gogol, and 1 from Turgenev). After each story, Saunders helps us understand technically what the author might have been trying to do and what makes the story resonate with the reader. And then, he adds some personal thoughts.

Self-effacing, entertaining, educational, and witty, Saunders is just the best kind of teacher. One that confesses to his own limitations and encourages students to stretch their own wings. And because he is such an accomplished short story writer, he adds useful personal insight into his own writing methods.

While the Russian short stories didn't personally thrill me, Saunders' enthusiasm for them did. I really, really hope he writes a sequel about another seven stories that move him. And if you are actually a writer, the final chapter is pure gold.

This book is exactly what I wanted it to be. I graduated with a BA in English last year, and reading this felt like I had gone to take an MFA course.

Sometimes a story works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hard to pinpoint what, specifically, sets a story on either side of that line, but that’s what Saunders does here for a handful of classic Russian short stories. It’s just so, so good. An definite must read. So good.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders is an absolute must-read if you, like me, are a lover of Russian literature.

Saunders takes 7 short stories by the greats of Russian lit and, along with including each short story (versus assuming the reader is familiar with it already-a refreshing level of lowered pretentiousness) shares his lectures that he teaches each year at Syracuse, along with afterthoughts on the lectures.

While the lectures are technically geared towards teaching masters level students how to hone their writing, they are also reminiscent of any college level literature class with your most favorite, wittiest, smartest professor. I truly learned something from this collection and left the essays with the particular feeling that makes me love reading the Russians so much-a sense of contemplation, greater understanding of humanity, and a desire to be a little kinder to myself and those around me.

Seven short stories with in depth analysis following. An interesting but somewhat dry read at times. A must for fans of Russian literature.

A unique book.
Imagine taking a class on short story writing with George Saunders himself! It helps if you enjoy Russian literature (which I don't always) but even if it's not your usual cup of tea, it's a fun experience. Especially if you're an adult who misses school. Extremely creative idea and very good execution.

George Saunders does some really interesting things in this book that I think will surprise and delight writers and readers. I adore the Russians and have read a lot about them, but this still felt fresh and novel. I highly recommend this!