There is an art to telling a simple story. Some people cannot do it. They need to tell you all about the inner lives of their characters, even the aspects that have nothing to do with the story; they must describe the setting down to the smallest drop of dew on a leaf in a forest that none of the characters ever enter; and they must make absolutely sure that you appreciate the brilliance of the them, the author, as much as you appreciate their creation. But it is usually the simplest stories that attract me the most, which is why I was so happy to read Revenge of the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean.
For almost twenty years now, McLean, a Canadian writer and broadcaster, has been telling stories on his CBC radio show, the Vinyl Cafe. And for many of those years, I have been listening. The highlight of any episode is the “Dave and Morley Story”, though these days the stories are just as likely to be about one of their children – university student Stephanie or preteen Sam – or neighbours. They are humourous stories, particularly the ones focused on Dave (an enthusiastic record store owner who has never encountered a sticky situation he could not make infinitely worse), but they are so fondly and tenderly told that I more often than not find myself tearing up, sometimes even as I am laughing.
I love all the characters in Dave and Morley’s world and I love how their world is recognizable but also just a little bit different, a little bit nicer and warmer. Nothing is perfect but everything is comfortable. McLean is nostalgic but it is just the right level of nostalgia: for every story Dave recounts about his youth, there is a corresponding eye-roll from one of his children, wondering why dad has to tell that story again for the hundredth time:
Dave wasn’t fussed by that. He knew he had told them before. He knew what he was doing. You have to tell stories over and over. It is the creation of myth. The only road to immortality.
It was the “road to immortality” stories in this collection that made me tear up. For every screwball sketch about one of Dave’s antics (getting stuck on a treadmill, riding a bicycle on top of a moving car, finding himself trapped in the sewers, being mistaken for a patient when visiting a friend in the hospital) there was another story about memories and traditions being passed on to the next generation. I cried over “Fish Head”, which does not seem a promising name for an emotional story but was, in the end, about Dave remembering his father and passing that memory on to Sam. “Rosemary Honey” also got to me, a story about Dave and Morley’s ninety-year old neighbour Eugene. Eugene longs to taste rosemary honey again, a flavour he remembers well from his Italian childhood, and enlists Sam and Sam’s friend Murphy to track the bees who congregate around his rosemary bushes back to their home. And by the end of the book, exhausted by all the belly laughs and blinked backed tears from the previous stories, I had no energy left to withstand the final story, “Le Morte d’Arthur”, about the death of the family dog. I cried when I first heard that story on the radio and I cried again reading it. But they were good, healthy tears and I finished the book happy.
I’m not sure I could read these stories, because I have to hear Stuart telling them. (Granted, I’m sure when you read them, you hear them in his voice.)
You definitely can still hear Stuart’s voice when you’re reading them but it is rather faster to read than to listen!
Oh, this is right “up my alley”, as the saying goes. Your descriptions are so crisp and pointed, Claire, that I immediately checked to see if this is in my library system. Alas and alack and all those woeful things, it is not, but I aim to find this and give it a whirl. I know I will love it.
In-the-meantime, The Laskett is in my possession and I hope to read it sometime this week.
I think you would enjoy these, Penny. Maybe you’ll be able to find one of Stuart’s books via inter-library loan?
I will look forward to hearing what you think of The Laskett!
I had the pleasure of hearing Stuart McLean some years ago here in our small town when he and some CBC radio personalities put on a Christmas programme at the local United Church. He is a dab hand at story-telling a rare gift but so well suited to radio. I had the good luck to see a documentary over the holidays on Garrison Keillor another radio genius a cut of the same cloth. I see my library has “Revenge of the Vinyl Cafe” but the wait list is long! McLean is a Canadian treasure.
I have not yet managed to go to one of his Christmas concerts so am very jealous! Completely agree about Garrison Keillor as another “radio genius” and watched a very good interview with him by Charlie Rose over the holidays.
I have several Vinyl Cafe books but not this one. I think I might pick it up – my friends all love to read them too.
This is the newest one, Debbie, and it is well worth adding to your collection.
Ah, Stuart McLean! Haven’t managed to acquire this latest book, but we have all of his others – there are quite a few – it rather seems that the past few years these appear conveniently near Christmas…!?
Listen to him on the radio as often as possible – one of our on-the-road days this year coincides with a two-episode “Stuart McLean Story Hour” which replays older broadcasts. His much-earlier radio work – the Morningside etc. interviews – is brilliant as well. Though he’s perhaps become a bit of an “industry” – one of the supporting pillars of our beleagured CBC – there’s a lot of good stuff still flowing from his creative mind and writerly pen.
The last time he made me cry was on the Remembrance Day broadcast back in November. Haven’t heard the Morte d’Arthur episode yet. Thanks for the heads-up! 😉
I have been listening to old VC episodes through iTunes all week (including a number of the ones from this book) and having a wonderful time but am glad to hear about the “Stuart McLean Story Hour” too. They can never be played enough!
The girls and I discovered that CBC is replaying old VC stories at the time we are driving to French class on Thursdays. It’s been the most fun drive of the week 🙂
I met Stuart McLean once when I was working in a bookshop in Victoria. We had a lot of author events so we saw lots come through the store, but Stuart was the only author who took the time to speak individually to each staff member, asking where we were from and all about who we were. His curiosity about other people and his genuine niceness was so uplifting! He really was such a delight. Dare I say a National Treasure?
How nice that you’re able to catch those episodes on your drive, Lee-Anne. Most of my memories of listening to VC are from Saturday mornings spent running errands around town with my father; to me, it seems more natural to listen to them in the car than at home and we would always stay in the car long enough to finish listening to the story, even if that meant staying put for ten or fifteen minutes after arriving at our destination.
I am so happy to hear that Stuart is as nice in person as he seems on the air and in print.
“…Their world is recognizable but also just a little bit different, a little bit nicer and warmer.” Sounds a little like the Edinburgh of McCall Smith’s Scotland Street books, and a lot like a very appealing read or listen. His stories have been on a virtual list (in my head) of books worth exploring. Maybe this year?
I think Stuart McLean and AMS do fill that same niche, though their individual styles are very different. I love them both!
I just signed up on iTunes for the podcast of The Vinyl Cafe. Thanks for the recommendation. I was wondering if you had ever listened to any podcasts of Alexander McCall Smith and searched to see if you had posted about him earlier and discovered that you liked the 44 Scotland Street books. They are available as podcasts or audiobooks and are really good. Great reader. Likewise Smith’s “Corduroy Mansions.” I’d be curious to know why you dislike (as do I) the Sunday Philosophers Club.
Wonderful, Elizabeth. I have been listening to some of the old episodes available via iTunes this week and remembering just how much I love the show.
I have listened briefly to the AMS podcasts but much prefer reading his stories. I’m not sure why, just a personal preference. As for why I dislike the Sunday Philosophy Club series, it is not so much disliking as never having found a reason to like it. I also feel the same about his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books.