How do we measure the value of marriage? What is the purpose of the marriage ceremony, and what should a wedding reflect? Does the ceremony echo the vows of the couple, or does it mirror something else? How has it changed and why has it changed?
Jack and Caleb have enthusiastically returned from their first gay wedding when Jack is invited to Scott’s wedding. Though he has not heard from Scott in years, his invitation to Scott and Soon-mi’s wedding causes old memories in Jack to resurface. What is Jack hiding in his past? Jack worries about attending Scott’s wedding because of the past, but Jack’s boyfriend Caleb ensures that everything will turn out fine. When they attend the wedding, both Jack and Caleb are met with a surprises.
“Jack wasn’t used to weddings. His friends were mostly people who didn’t, wouldn’t, or couldn’t- until this year- marry.”
The layers shaped underneath the weddings were intricately scaled and finely calculated. I really enjoyed the irony of relationships, purposeful characterizations, and cultural significance presented in this short story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.
Visit Alexander chee’s website to learn more.
Read The New Yorker’s article on Alexander Chee.
The Weddings by Alexander Chee is part of a 5 story Amazon series called Inheritance. Each story can be read alone and in any order.