What do you think?
Rate this book
A Conversation with My Father
Grace Paley’s “A Conversation with My Father” was originally published in the New American Review in 1972. It was subsequently included in Paley’s second collection of short stories, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, published in 1974.
On one level, the story is about women’s relationships with their fathers and sons. On another level, the story is about storytelling.
“A Conversation with My Father” a metafictional work, a story about stories and story-writing.
On one level, the story is about women’s relationships with their fathers and sons. On another level, the story is about storytelling.
“A Conversation with My Father” a metafictional work, a story about stories and story-writing.
5 pages, Short Story
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Grace Paley
120 books381 followersGrace Paley was an American short story writer, poet, and political activist whose work won a number of awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 3, 2023
4.75 ⭐️— It’s amazing how just the mere feel, smell & overall character of a physical book — When one knows the author at least somewhat — can prepare one so completely for the quality of the text to come. This had an almost epistolary feel too it, in its structure & format, but being fiction it is obviously just more of a well structured, beautifully written, understated work that is filled with solemnity, guided by taut, gritty prose!
“Conversation with My Father" by Grace Paley is a poignant & ultimately, a masterfully written short story that delves into the complexities of family dynamics sprinkled with the inevitability of change. Paley's exquisite storytelling supported by rich characterisation, make this a perfect, compelling read that lingers in the mind long after the final page, commanding the reader to take stock whilst cogitating to consider how in such a short novella, the author has managed this emotive destination.
The story revolves around the narrator's conversations with her elderly father, highlighting their contrasting perspectives and the struggle to bridge the generation gap. Paley's prose is both tender and sharp, capturing the raw emotions and underlying tensions that arise in these exchanges. She beautifully explores themes of aging, mortality, and the delicate nature of communication within a family.
One memorable quote that showcases Paley's skillful writing is when the narrator's father exclaims, "You know, it's hard work to remember somebody." This line encapsulates the profound challenge of holding onto memories and preserving familial bonds as time passes.
Another poignant quote from the story is when the narrator states, "The worst possible thing you can do in my family is ask a factual question." Highlighting the family's tendency to avoid and wither away the addressing uncomfortable truths and their preference for oblique conversations, adding depth to the story's exploration of communication breakdowns.
"Conversation with My Father" is a remarkable piece of literature that resonates deeply with readers. Grace Paley's ability to capture the complexity of human relationships and the universal themes she explores make this story a true gem. It deserves the highest praise and is a must-read for anyone who appreciates beautiful storytelling and profound insights into the human condition.
“Conversation with My Father" by Grace Paley is a poignant & ultimately, a masterfully written short story that delves into the complexities of family dynamics sprinkled with the inevitability of change. Paley's exquisite storytelling supported by rich characterisation, make this a perfect, compelling read that lingers in the mind long after the final page, commanding the reader to take stock whilst cogitating to consider how in such a short novella, the author has managed this emotive destination.
The story revolves around the narrator's conversations with her elderly father, highlighting their contrasting perspectives and the struggle to bridge the generation gap. Paley's prose is both tender and sharp, capturing the raw emotions and underlying tensions that arise in these exchanges. She beautifully explores themes of aging, mortality, and the delicate nature of communication within a family.
One memorable quote that showcases Paley's skillful writing is when the narrator's father exclaims, "You know, it's hard work to remember somebody." This line encapsulates the profound challenge of holding onto memories and preserving familial bonds as time passes.
Another poignant quote from the story is when the narrator states, "The worst possible thing you can do in my family is ask a factual question." Highlighting the family's tendency to avoid and wither away the addressing uncomfortable truths and their preference for oblique conversations, adding depth to the story's exploration of communication breakdowns.
"Conversation with My Father" is a remarkable piece of literature that resonates deeply with readers. Grace Paley's ability to capture the complexity of human relationships and the universal themes she explores make this story a true gem. It deserves the highest praise and is a must-read for anyone who appreciates beautiful storytelling and profound insights into the human condition.
September 25, 2015
Story number 8 in the Storied life of A.J. Fikry :)
August 15, 2017
نویسنده نگاه ریزبینانه ای به زندگی داره
داستان کوتاه خوبی بود
شاید من هم روزی بتونم برای فرزندهای آینده م
همچین حرف هایی بزنم
البته از جنس خودم
"سی چهل سال دیگه متوجه می شی که بیشتر مواقع خسته ای
معنی ش این نیست که ناخوشی
این نکته ی مهمیه که دارم بهت می گم
گوش کن
برای اینکه عمر طولانی داشته باشی
سالیان سال باید به یه درصد معینی اضافه بخوابی
باعث تاسفه"
(از متن کتاب)
داستان کوتاه خوبی بود
شاید من هم روزی بتونم برای فرزندهای آینده م
همچین حرف هایی بزنم
البته از جنس خودم
"سی چهل سال دیگه متوجه می شی که بیشتر مواقع خسته ای
معنی ش این نیست که ناخوشی
این نکته ی مهمیه که دارم بهت می گم
گوش کن
برای اینکه عمر طولانی داشته باشی
سالیان سال باید به یه درصد معینی اضافه بخوابی
باعث تاسفه"
(از متن کتاب)
June 23, 2015
How does one review four pages?
Does the reader seek to praise what is present or forgive what is absent? Is it about the content? The plot? The development or respect for the lack of development, recognizing that four pages permits none? Do we look for style and substance in the telling of the tale? In this case do we review the story, or the story within the story, or the story about a story, or the REAL story, which is the unspoken story of the emotional relationship of parent and child - alluded to and illustrated, but never overt - always present but conveyed in layers that must be revealed?
In the end I choose all:
At face value, the four pages were a pleasant read.
The interaction of father & daughter was well conveyed.
Below that, the real relationship tells more than the story.
Below that, the allegory of the inner story and the verbal fencing about its quality is well written, but the word choice reveals a much greater depth of emotion that the words, taken as a whole, convey with texture beyond a mere accumulation of organized ltters and spaces.
Does the reader seek to praise what is present or forgive what is absent? Is it about the content? The plot? The development or respect for the lack of development, recognizing that four pages permits none? Do we look for style and substance in the telling of the tale? In this case do we review the story, or the story within the story, or the story about a story, or the REAL story, which is the unspoken story of the emotional relationship of parent and child - alluded to and illustrated, but never overt - always present but conveyed in layers that must be revealed?
In the end I choose all:
At face value, the four pages were a pleasant read.
The interaction of father & daughter was well conveyed.
Below that, the real relationship tells more than the story.
Below that, the allegory of the inner story and the verbal fencing about its quality is well written, but the word choice reveals a much greater depth of emotion that the words, taken as a whole, convey with texture beyond a mere accumulation of organized ltters and spaces.
July 2, 2023
My first problem regarding this story is how to classify it. It is about a conversation between a woman and her elderly, ailing father. It is considered to be autobiographical by some sources, of this author, Grace Paley. In any case, it relates to two different situations, the art of writing and generational differences and attitudes. Father requested that his daughter write a story in the style of Chekhov or Maupassant. The result was clearly not what he expected or appreciated. Much discussion evolved from this issue, clearly defining the differences in stances of individual generations.
My short story group enjoyed reading this story written by an unique author. Some found it quite funny. I found it amusing in some areas, but certainly a source for thought and analysis.
My short story group enjoyed reading this story written by an unique author. Some found it quite funny. I found it amusing in some areas, but certainly a source for thought and analysis.
September 25, 2020
2/5 Stars (%40/100)
“A Conversation with My Father” is a metafictional short story by Grace Paley. The story is about an unnamed woman, who is also the narrator, visiting her father in his death bed. The woman is a writer but her father never appreciated her writing style and criticized her. When her father asks her to write a simple story, she attempts to please him even though she does not enjoy it. The important part about the short story is the storytelling.
Apart from the main story, there is also the story the narrator writes for her father. This type of metafictional story is very unique and new considering the time period in which it was written. The narrator’s story is about a woman and her son. It deals with heroin addiction and the relationship between a mother and a son. The father of the narrator seems to disagree on many points and forces her to change them. In the end, the woman in the story recovers from the addiction and starts helping people like her. The father now says that she will eventually go back to her old habits. The woman disagrees by saying that it does not matter since the story ends there.
We realise that the father does not merely want a “simple” story. He forces her daughter to see the tragedy and cruel side of life. Since he himself is on his death bed, he feels hopeless and believes that life is also hopeless. The short story is about the woman and the father’s attempt to change each other’s ideologies and perspectives about life. It is implied and can be understood from Paley’s interviews that this short story is about the author’s life. Whether this is true or not is not certain but the author does a great job dealing with the themes of death, mortality, life, and storytelling.
“A Conversation with My Father” is a metafictional short story by Grace Paley. The story is about an unnamed woman, who is also the narrator, visiting her father in his death bed. The woman is a writer but her father never appreciated her writing style and criticized her. When her father asks her to write a simple story, she attempts to please him even though she does not enjoy it. The important part about the short story is the storytelling.
Apart from the main story, there is also the story the narrator writes for her father. This type of metafictional story is very unique and new considering the time period in which it was written. The narrator’s story is about a woman and her son. It deals with heroin addiction and the relationship between a mother and a son. The father of the narrator seems to disagree on many points and forces her to change them. In the end, the woman in the story recovers from the addiction and starts helping people like her. The father now says that she will eventually go back to her old habits. The woman disagrees by saying that it does not matter since the story ends there.
We realise that the father does not merely want a “simple” story. He forces her daughter to see the tragedy and cruel side of life. Since he himself is on his death bed, he feels hopeless and believes that life is also hopeless. The short story is about the woman and the father’s attempt to change each other’s ideologies and perspectives about life. It is implied and can be understood from Paley’s interviews that this short story is about the author’s life. Whether this is true or not is not certain but the author does a great job dealing with the themes of death, mortality, life, and storytelling.
February 8, 2018
Read this after it was mentioned in Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Finkry. While unimpressed with the ending, I think it is a crafty story and I appreciate the art of the leveled storytelling (it's a story, or two, within a story), which is clever. What I love the most about it I think is the descriptions of her father, so poetic. I suppose the more I think about it, the more okay I am with the end, just because her father has the last word, like she promised her family.
It's a very short story (4 printed pages), and I would recommend for anyone looking to dabble in short story or feeling particularly literary.
I have not read any of Grace Paley's other stories.
It's a very short story (4 printed pages), and I would recommend for anyone looking to dabble in short story or feeling particularly literary.
I have not read any of Grace Paley's other stories.
May 29, 2024
How do we tell stories ? Can the characters break free from the ending we give them ? How do different generations expect stories to behave ?
A deft story about the writer composing a story at the behest of her elderly father . He is an immigrant to NYC from tsarist Russia , she is a feminist single mother . This conversation will not be resolved but the warmth in the relationship is self evident , even as they disagree.
A deft story about the writer composing a story at the behest of her elderly father . He is an immigrant to NYC from tsarist Russia , she is a feminist single mother . This conversation will not be resolved but the warmth in the relationship is self evident , even as they disagree.
Read
March 31, 2023*read with a friend for her class*
May 23, 2017
The story written by Grace Paley "A Conversation with My Father" includes a story told within another story. The plot is based on dialogues between a daughter and her elderly father.
In the text the the father asks his daughter (writer) to tell him a story. She does it telling about a woman who lived in the neighborhood with her teenage son. The son becomes addicted to drugs and then the mother tried to share the addiction of her son assuming that it would make them closer to each other.
The first variant of the story told by the writer didn't satisfy the father because it is short and she didn't give any details. He says "You left everything out. Turgenev wouldn't do that. Chekhov wouldn't do that."
She retold the story making it longer: the son fall in love with the girl and gives up the bad habit and he demanded that his mother did it too. She couldn't and he left her alone.
The writer tried to continue the story choosing a better destiny for the heroes. The father isn't satisfied again because he sees a pessimistic end of the story. The daughter believed that the author had a right to create the destiny for her protagonists freely. The father became a pessimist or realist from his life experience. "In your own life, too, you have to look it in the face." He used a logic "A person must have character, She does not."
Paley finished her story with an open question: can a person change? She (or her protagonist) thinks I that every person or character of a story should be given a chance for a better life.
My interpretation of the moral of the story that this is about a writing style with:
- advice to draw a bright picture, to pay attention to every detail, as great writers do it;
- depicting the true story facing to the truth even if it is cruel;
- discussing freedom and restrictions for writers in constructing the plot.
We can see a great example of metaphorical description. Let's compare:
A simple description: The father is in a bad physical condition but with a clear mind.
Grace Paley's description: "His heart, that bloody motor, is equally old and will not do certain jobs any more. It still floods his head with brainy light. But it won't let his legs carry the weight of his body around the house."
Grace Paley plays with language, drawing from patterns the picture of real life. This story uncovers for readers the process, mechanics of writing and does it well.
This is a link to the audio about this story from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/aud...
In the text the the father asks his daughter (writer) to tell him a story. She does it telling about a woman who lived in the neighborhood with her teenage son. The son becomes addicted to drugs and then the mother tried to share the addiction of her son assuming that it would make them closer to each other.
The first variant of the story told by the writer didn't satisfy the father because it is short and she didn't give any details. He says "You left everything out. Turgenev wouldn't do that. Chekhov wouldn't do that."
She retold the story making it longer: the son fall in love with the girl and gives up the bad habit and he demanded that his mother did it too. She couldn't and he left her alone.
The writer tried to continue the story choosing a better destiny for the heroes. The father isn't satisfied again because he sees a pessimistic end of the story. The daughter believed that the author had a right to create the destiny for her protagonists freely. The father became a pessimist or realist from his life experience. "In your own life, too, you have to look it in the face." He used a logic "A person must have character, She does not."
Paley finished her story with an open question: can a person change? She (or her protagonist) thinks I that every person or character of a story should be given a chance for a better life.
My interpretation of the moral of the story that this is about a writing style with:
- advice to draw a bright picture, to pay attention to every detail, as great writers do it;
- depicting the true story facing to the truth even if it is cruel;
- discussing freedom and restrictions for writers in constructing the plot.
We can see a great example of metaphorical description. Let's compare:
A simple description: The father is in a bad physical condition but with a clear mind.
Grace Paley's description: "His heart, that bloody motor, is equally old and will not do certain jobs any more. It still floods his head with brainy light. But it won't let his legs carry the weight of his body around the house."
Grace Paley plays with language, drawing from patterns the picture of real life. This story uncovers for readers the process, mechanics of writing and does it well.
This is a link to the audio about this story from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/aud...
December 13, 2017
Another short short story.
I like the construction: a short story told (and revised) within the short story. I like the dialogue between the daughter and her elderly infirm father. The ending seems abrupt, but, no matter, I still like it.
Recommended.
I like the construction: a short story told (and revised) within the short story. I like the dialogue between the daughter and her elderly infirm father. The ending seems abrupt, but, no matter, I still like it.
Recommended.
December 31, 2016
A story and the same story retold inside another story all asking "Can a person change?"
March 16, 2023
A tragi-comic story of an adult daughter and her dying father. The daughter is an author but her father does not approve of what she writes. He asks her to write a "real" story, "the kind Maupassant wrote, or Chekhov". The daughter resists because "Everyone, real or invented, deserves the open destiny of life". But, she gives in to please her father and begins to write a story. The daughter is caught in the same pattern of wishing to please her father and simultaneously unable to act in a way which would please him because it goes against what she believes.
September 15, 2024
Very meta. I enjoyed the story, but given the setup of a daughter speaking to her elderly, dying father I guess I was expecting a more emotional ending? I thought the conversation about storytelling and writing was interesting though.
March 4, 2020
Actual: 4.5ish
September 26, 2022
The father in "A Conversation With My Father" would probably enjoy Tobias Wolff's short story "Bullet in the Brain." That is the kind of short story the father likes and that I hate. I like the idea of writing a story within in the story and how the author is actually having a conversation about storytelling here, but I wish it had an ending that offered us more.
March 1, 2023
read for school
May 17, 2023
At first I was like, that’s it? There should be moreee. But then it hits you, what it was trying the reader all along! But still, wouldn’t have minded a few more pages.
Read
July 10, 2023*read with a friend for her class*
September 4, 2024
Funny, triggering short story. A great example of how to define a story from a plot. Everybody has the right to have a nice story.
December 31, 2014
Short story
A.J. Fikry No 8
A.J. Fikry No 8
September 3, 2015
Paley plays with language and storytelling well. It was a fun little ride.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews