So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan

" So Late in the Day is a collection of three short stories featuring flawed, often relatable, characters. They are about the relationships of men and women and the consequences of the choices we make. The first story shares its title with the book. Gender dynamics play a big role in this tale of a man whose own selfishness and poor behavior put him in his current situation. “That was part of the trouble: the fact that she would not listen, and wanted to do a good half of things her own way.” The Long and Painful Death centers around a "writer in residence” living in a home donated to the writing program allowing writers to work without distractions. Burdened by her own expectations, many things distract the writer until, a strange man comes by claiming to be interested in the house. In Antarctica, a wife and mother is curious to know what sex with another man might be like. While away for a weekend she meets a man, they share dinner and drinks and spend some time together. When it is time for her to leave, this stranger becomes very possessive of her and doesn’t want her to go. All three stories are compelling and leave you wanting more. The subjects are weighty and the book lays bare the flaws of humankind. Keegan’s thought provoking content mix perfectly with her beautiful lyrical writing...."

'Foster' ' Small Things Like These' 등의 작품들과는 분위기가 다르다. 그래서인지 전작들에 비해서 반응이 좀 약한 거 같다. '여성혐오'라는 표현이 따라붙는 것을 보면 내용에 있어서도 반응이 긍정적이지만은 않다. 어릴 때부터 여성에 대한 배려가 부족한 집안에서 태어나고 자란 남자, 노벨상 수상자의 집에서 거주할 수 있는 권리를 가진 여성에 대한 질투를 보여주는 남자 교수, 하룻밤 불륜을 원하는 여성과의 우연한 만남과 그녀에 대한 집착과 폭력성을 보이는 남자 등이 등장하는 정말 짧은 단편들로 구성된 단편집이다. 1-2시간이면 다 읽을 수 있는 짧은 단편이기에 책이 비싸다는 주장을 하는 외국독자도 있는 거 같다.....