Secrets and Regrets: New Collection Explores Love’s Complexities
In her latest work, acclaimed author Helen Schulman delves into the intricate nature of relationships, probing the hidden aspects of ourselves and the enduring impact of past decisions.
Helen Schulman on Inspiration and Ideas
For Schulman, the genesis of a story often lies in a small, intriguing detail, like overhearing a snippet of conversation. These “germs,” as Henry James called them, take root in the imagination and evolve over time.
One such “germ” inspired Schulman’s story “The Revisionist.” Her husband shared an anecdote about a man who mistakenly entered a stranger’s home, a seemingly ordinary event that sparked a deeper exploration of identity and mistaken intentions.
The Weight of the Past
Many of Schulman’s characters grapple with the consequences of their past actions, living with the weight of regret. She cites William Faulkner, whose quote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past,”
encapsulates her view on existence.
While Schulman says she doesn’t dwell on her significant choices, she is fascinated by the roads not taken. This mirrors the sentiment of the 64% of Americans who have at least one regret, often tied to education or career choices (Finder.com 2023).
Status Anxiety and Real Lives
Status anxiety permeates Schulman’s writing, encompassing not just financial stability but also career and marriage. She acknowledges that the ideal of “pleasing alignment” in middle age is often elusive, particularly given the current state of the world.
Despite these anxieties, many of her characters lead authentic lives, finding genuine satisfaction amidst the challenges they face. According to Schulman, endurance, love, friendship, and workplace passions are all recurring themes.
Secrets and Their Impact
Secrets are unavoidable aspects of the human experience, Schulman contends. Her story “The Revisionist” explores how characters even keep secrets from themselves.
She shares an anecdote about a friend who discovered hidden truths about her deceased parents, revealing the complexities beneath the surface of ordinary lives. As a fiction writer, Schulman sees her role as diving deep beneath that surface.
Violence and Brotherhood
In “My Best Friend,” a shocking act of violence erupts between two men intertwined through their relationships with the same woman. The story delves into themes of brotherhood, jealousy, and unacknowledged desires, culminating in a tragicomic brawl.
Life Beyond Middle Age
Schulman rejects Kurt Vonnegut’s notion that life becomes an epilogue in advanced middle age. Her story “In a Better Place” celebrates the enduring power of love and its capacity for healing and comfort.
“My own artistic hope is to go as long as I can. I live to write!”
—Helen Schulman
The Week(s) in Books
Valerie Castellanos Clark reviews Charlie English’s “The CIA Book Club,” highlighting the role of books in combating Russian communism. She praises English’s storytelling ability.
Melina Sempill Watts praises Josh Jackson’s “The Enduring Wild: A Journey Into California’s Public Lands,” for its timely message about preserving public lands.
Leigh Haber celebrates Amy Bloom’s novel “I’ll Be Right Here,” praising Bloom’s ability to find beauty in any subject.
Jim Ruland describes Megan Abbott’s thriller “El Dorado Drive” as a novel that captures the anxieties of our time, highlighting Abbott’s narrative skill and portrayal of young people.
Culinary Delights at Now Serving Bookstore
Ken Concepcion, owner of Now Serving, a Chinatown cookbook store, shares insights into current trends.
Trending Cookbooks
Popular titles include “Umma,” “By Heart,” “Fat + Flour,” “Salsa Daddy” and “The Choi of Cooking.”
Plant-Based Cuisine on the Rise
Concepcion notes the increasing interest in vegetarian and vegan cookbooks that explore specific cuisines like Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican and Japanese. He calls for better representation of Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, and other Central and South American cuisines.
The Enduring Value of Cookbooks
Despite the abundance of online recipes, Concepcion believes cookbooks remain essential. They provide narrative, historical context, imagery, and design, becoming functional art, keepsakes, and family heirlooms.
