Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Idril]

Idril, just curious; how did you find 'Orlando'?

It was incredibly bizarre. Bizarre isn't always a bad thing though and there were some truly fascinating moments but you know what I had problems with? Not the fact that this person keeps switching sexes for no apparent reason or the fact that he/she lives for hundreds of years, no, that I could deal with. What drove me nuts was that no one seemed to think it was odd. A silly thing to get hung up on, I know but I just couldn't get over it. If even one person had said, "Wow, Orlando, it's really weird that you just woke up as a woman" or "I wonder why it is that you've lived for 300 years", I would've been fine. Or if he/she had made some attempt to conceal or deal with these changes but everyone acts like it was just one of those things that happen once in awhile. I don't know, I guess if I can accept that someone's sex can change, the fact that people accept it as normal shouldn't be that big of a stretch. I would recommend it just because reading the book is such a surreal experience...but, it is truly odd. The only other Woolf book I've read was The Voyage Out which left me largely indifferent. The ending was refreshingly unpredictable and surprising but that's the most positive thing I can say about it. Although, it did contain the line, "So far, owing to great care on my part, they think of God as a kind of walrus;" Oh, that made me laugh for a long time.

[Janine]

It was incredibly bizarre. Bizarre isn't always a bad thing though and there were some truly fascinating moments but you know what I had problems with? Not the fact that this person keeps switching sexes for no apparent reason or the fact that he/she lives for hundreds of years, no, that I could deal with. What drove me nuts was that no one seemed to think it was odd. A silly thing to get hung up on, I know but I just couldn't get over it. If even one person had said, "Wow, Orlando, it's really weird that you just woke up as a woman" or "I wonder why it is that you've lived for 300 years", I would've been fine. Or if he/she had made some attempt to conceal or deal with these changes but everyone acts like it was just one of those things that happen once in awhile. I don't know, I guess if I can accept that someone's sex can change, the fact that people accept it as normal shouldn't be that big of a stretch. I would recommend it just because reading the book is such a surreal experience...but, it is truly odd. The only other Woolf book I've read was The Voyage Out which left me largely indifferent. The ending was refreshingly unpredictable and surprising but that's the most positive thing I can say about it. Although, it did contain the line, "So far, owing to great care on my part, they think of God as a kind of walrus;" Oh, that made me laugh for a long time.

Idril, thanks for the rundown on the novel. That truly does sound a bit odd....the age and sex thing. Humm, I would consider the same things, you were while reading it. I am too much of a realist to not wonder why others did not find it a bit strange. My friend from Michigan told me she liked best Woolf's "The Waves". I should probably try that novel someday. Not sure I want to invest my time in "Orlando". I will see. Interesting last line - I wonder, did the Beatles get their idea for the song "I am the Walrus" from this line?

[Janine]

Quark, here is the link to the Chekhov site.


http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/c...nalInformation


Quasimodo sent it to me so he gets all the credit. It is an interesting site.

[Quark]

Didn't Woolf's own novel "To the Lighthouse" end with much 'wondering' what would follow?

Tues. Edit: Hi again; I have read 2/3 of the story last night. I like it so far very much. It is interesting and reminds me of some other story I read, but now sure which story that is. It might come to me eventually. I see a bit of humor in the story also - very subtle but still amusing.
I am having some computer problems today that I need to address, also a sporadic mouse which may need to be replaced since it is driving me crazy, and I will be disconnected also for a short while to hook up a new monitor...finally! Probably will be online, on here later tonight....but not sure. Looks like a busy day in real life time, too.

I find it a little funny that the author of Orlando is talking about bewilderment in Chekhov. I understand she is talking not so much about the content, but the lack of endings and resolution and while I certainly acknowledge that that can be disconcerning, I still find his stories much more coherant than hers. Of course, I'm not that well versed in Woolf, I've only read a couple of her books and struggled with both of them whereas I responded to Chekhov right away with little trouble.

Woolf's characterization of Chekhov seems like self-description, doesn't it? Much of Woolf's Reader is meant to divide past literature into two camps: that which is outdated and that which is moving towards a new better form of literature. She latches onto Chekhov because she believes that his clever technical innovations could be part of the new trend--notice how she separates "bewilderment" from the Victorian writers. Since Woolf thinks that Chekhov's writing is most useful to her own, he becomes one of the heroes of the Reader.

I'm not sure if Chekhov would have wanted to be considered this way. He considered himself a great realist, and realism honors clarity and precision which Woolf's definition claims he lacks. He probably thought his new form produced wit, and not bewilderment; he probably considered his endings understatements, not puzzles.

What's funny is that we probably read Chekhov for that "bewilderment" Woolf is talking about even though Chekhov wasn't conscious it was there. Even though Woolf's comments have some personal motivations, her perspective is closer to our own. She was also a reader studying his work from a certain geographical and generational distance. Somewhere in the travel between 19th century Russia and 20th century England the cleverness and wit of Chekhov's writing lose their edge, and what stands out more is the abstracted quality of "bewilderment". I wonder, after all this time, who has more appreciation for his work?

I remember liking this story and I remember it being quite sad.

This story is also a bit of a downer--sorry about that. Next time, I promise, we'll have a lighthearted, funny one. The sad ones can a be fun too, though, once we dig a little deeper.

[Idril]

This story is also a bit of a downer--sorry about that. Next time, I promise, we'll have a lighthearted, funny one. The sad ones can a be fun too, though, once we dig a little deeper.

Oh, don't worry about that. I actually like sad and depressing stories so this will be right up my alley.

[Quark]

Oh, don't worry about that. I actually like sad and depressing stories so this will be right up my alley.

You must have liked the last story; it really can't get much sadder. I haven't read a more depressing story than that since I read Jude the Obscure where the main character dies alone reciting the book of Job.

Your review of Orlando was interesting. I didn't know the book was so fantastic and far-fetched. I tried to pick it up at my bookstore, but they hadn't heard of it. In fact, they hadn't heard of Virginia Woolf--I had to spell out the name to them before they could even search for the book. Imagine the trouble I had when I tried to order a Dosdoevsky novel from them. After five tries at getting them to pronounce the name, we just decided to refer to him as "The Russian One".

--Where's that book I ordered?
--You mean that book by "The Russian One"?
--Yes, and where's my W-O-O-L-F book?
--Who?
--Never mind

My conversations with them go something like that.

[littlewing53]

hello...have been lurking in the back reading this post...i like russian authors too...so i had to read the violin story...you all made it sound so interesting..enjoyed it very much...my friend is also reading it now who is that you were talking about quark...jude the obscure?...got lost is that also by chekhov? sounds interesting..

[Quark]

hello...have been lurking in the back reading this post...i like russian authors too...so i had to read the violin story...you all made it sound so interesting..enjoyed it very much...my friend is also reading it now who is that you were talking about quark...jude the obscure?...got lost is that also by chekhov? sounds interesting..

Hi, littlewing. I'm glad you liked "Rothschild's Violin". It's definitely one of my favorite Chekhov stories; it's poignant, philosophical, and clever. And, it accomplishes so much in only nine pages--very concise. Next, we're going to read perhaps the most famous Chekhov short story: "The Lady with a dog" which is about the conflict between our public and private lives. It's a good story. So, if you have time, don't hesitate to step into the discussion--don't just lurk.

Oh, and Jude the Obscure is a novel by Thomas Hardy. I brought it up because of the low mood the story ends on is similar to the end in "Rothschild's Violin".

[Idril]

You must have liked the last story; it really can't get much sadder. I haven't read a more depressing story than that since I read Jude the Obscure where the main character dies alone reciting the book of Job.

Oh my heavens! Jude the Obscure was a devastating book. It wasn't Jude's death that killed me though, I think I was numb at that point. It was the scene in the hotel...with the children...I won't give away plot points but you know what I'm talking about.

I think the most depressing book I've ever read is The Idiot by Dostoevsky. It's a close race between that and Jude... but I have to go with The Idiot. The oppressive tragedy just never lets up from page one to the end and it just keeps building, you're thinking it can't possibly get any worse and yet some how, it does.

The depressing and oppressive quality is one of the things I like about Russian literature. They have such a dark view of life and the processes of the mind. I think Dostoevsky captures that spirit best but Chekhov does a fine job himself.

Your review of Orlando was interesting. I didn't know the book was so fantastic and far-fetched.

The odd thing is, given the subject matter, it's not written as a fantastic and far-fetched book. She tells it just like she would any other story, it's all dealt with so matter of factly. You should give it a try, even though it may not go down as one of my favorite books of all time, I'm glad I read it.

After five tries at getting them to pronounce the name, we just decided to refer to him as "The Russian One".

Even if you haven't read either of those authors, I can't imagine working in a book store and not even knowing who they are.

[Janine]

Hi All, How funny. All the last few posts have been so, especially Quirk's experience in the bookstore. Even in my huge Barnes and Noble bookstore, I sometimes feel as though I am requesting some book from outerspace - the sales people look at you like you have two heads; so I can fully relate.

Unfortunately, I am going half blind right now. I hooked up my new LCD monitor, but I can't figure out how to adjust the brightness - you need to be a rocket scientist, I believe. I know it has to be some simple adjustment, but even in my own Display window of my computer I can't find a dark/light setting. What is with that? Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

The monitor will be super when I get it adjusted and darkened up, but currently I need sunglasses to even look at the screen, especially on here - it is blindingly bright! My mouse is still a bit odd, too, even though I cleaned it; somehow I think it is time for a new optical type mouse.

I wanted to let everyone know the posts I have read and found interesting. Yes, Idril, I would aqree with you "Jude the Obscure" is especially devastating but mostly in the lodging scene. I don't want to give the book away to anyone. Have you ever seen the film based on the book. Oh my, Kate Winslett does an incredible job with that scene. For the information of Little Wing,Jude the Obscure is a Thomas Hardy novel - the last he wrote. After Jude he turned to poetry exclusively. I think that novel did him in completely. If you have not read his other novels he is a fine author. I have read nearly everything he wrote and once belonged to a group online dedicated exclusively to his life and work.

I have been reading the other posts concerned with Woolf and her thoughts on Chekhov and I do not really have any more comments on the subject.
I now have read all but the last section of the short story 'The Lady and the Dog'. I like the story very much. I hope to finish it up tonight.

[Quark]

Oh my heavens! Jude the Obscure was a devastating book. It wasn't Jude's death that killed me though, I think I was numb at that point. It was the scene in the hotel...with the children...I won't give away plot points but you know what I'm talking about.

I think the most depressing book I've ever read is The Idiot by Dostoevsky. It's a close race between that and Jude... but I have to go with The Idiot. The oppressive tragedy just never lets up from page one to the end and it just keeps building, you're thinking it can't possibly get any worse and yet some how, it does.

The depressing and oppressive quality is one of the things I like about Russian literature. They have such a dark view of life and the processes of the mind. I think Dostoevsky captures that spirit best but Chekhov does a fine job himself.

I wanted to let everyone know the posts I have read and found interesting. Yes, Idril, I would aqree with you "Jude the Obscure" is especially devastating but mostly in the lodging scene. I don't want to give the book away to anyone. Have you ever seen the film based on the book. Oh my, Kate Winslett does an incredible job with that scene. For the information of Little Wing,Jude the Obscure is a Thomas Hardy novel - the last he wrote. After Jude he turned to poetry exclusively. I think that novel did him in completely. If you have not read his other novels he is a fine author. I have read nearly everything he wrote and once belonged to a group online dedicated exclusively to his life and work.

Yeah, that part of Jude the Obscure was a surprise; it really made me jump. There's a version with Kate Winslett? Sounds hot, but could she really pull it off? I can imagine her as the carefree Sue in the beginning, but could she really be the contrite and subdued Sue at the end? It's a hard role.

The odd thing is, given the subject matter, it's not written as a fantastic and far-fetched book. She tells it just like she would any other story, it's all dealt with so matter of factly. You should give it a try, even though it may not go down as one of my favorite books of all time, I'm glad I read it.

So it's a book about gender changing three-hundred year old that is realistic. Hmm, sounds good. I'll have to give it a read.

Even if you haven't read either of those authors, I can't imagine working in a book store and not even knowing who they are.

I know. It's a bit like being a doctor and not knowing where the liver is.

Unfortunately, I am going half blind right now. I hooked up my new LCD monitor, but I can't figure out how to adjust the brightness - you need to be a rocket scientist, I believe. I know it has to be some simple adjustment, but even in my own Display window of my computer I can't find a dark/light setting. What is with that? Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

The monitor will be super when I get it adjusted and darkened up, but currently I need sunglasses to even look at the screen, especially on here - it is blindingly bright! My mouse is still a bit odd, too, even though I cleaned it; somehow I think it is time for a new optical type mouse.

There are usually buttons on the monitor that control that. As the technology has progressed, though, the buttons have gotten smaller and better hid. On a lot of the LCD screens they're behind the monitor. If you feel with your fingers behind the outside frame of the monitor, you might feel some bumps--those are the buttons that change the brightness and contrast. My monitor, an early twentieth century model, I think, is incredibly old, and I don't even have buttons. My monitor has these giant wheels and knobs just below the screen which I turn. This thing is huge. I believe it was the second monitor ever built. The first one was huge as well, but they added some more things onto the second one to make it this fifty pound behemoth that hums. That's right, it actually makes noise. I'm not sure how a monitor makes a hum since there is no fan, but it whistles none the less. It's hard to find a computer table that will even fit this thing because it goes back about two feet. Some day I'm sure I'll upgrade to LCD--for my eyes if nothing else--but right now I'm stuck with my humming fifty pound friend.


I read over "The Lady with the Dog" again so I could explain the mood of this story. And, since I've never used emoticons before, I figured I would show the transitions in mood entirely in little faces.



Tell me if you think this is a good rendering. I wasn't sure about some of the story--like the end. I used mostly frowning faces because it does get depressing. I never used any bawling faces, though, because I don't think it ever goes that far. There is always hope, it seems. I thought I nailed the middle part with their relationship. The lascivious brow raise seemed particularly fitting for their romantic episode in the hotel, and I thought the nod worked for the flirting parts. Still, there are six frowny faces--an awfully sad story. Do you think that's enough, though?

[littlewing53]

thanks for the comments everyone ...and for peaking my curiosity and expanding my reading material...tho it demands more time for peace and quiet

...it's good to know jude was written by hardy...i have enjoyed his books...b/c of tess and far from the maddening crowd movies started reading his books...so i look forward to reading jude..tried to read the return of the native but hate to confess have yet to finish...

btw love yr new avatar idril......loved reading the idiot as well...there's definitely a dark cloud lingering over the russian writing...but still find myself going back for more...

as far as books are concerned there's nothing like a garage sale, or an old second hand store that sells old books..it's so exciting to find books i've wanted to read or reference books....and for a quarter or couple of bucks...what a find!!!...

[Idril]

That's brilliant, Quark! Is the rolling eyes for Dmitri's view of women?

After having read it a second time, I don't think the ending was as depressing as I first thought it. The whole situation is hopeless of course but there the belief that no matter how difficult things might get, they'll figure out a way to be together. There is an acceptance of their fate, if not a resolution to it. It's not such a bad thing to be able to say, "This situation sucks and we're miserable and in tremendous amounts of pain but one day, we'll find a way to make it better."

I did know there was a film version of Jude but honestly, I don't know if I could take it. Reading it was devastating enough, I'm not sure I need to see it.

[Janine]

Yeah, that part of Jude the Obscure was a surprise; it really made me jump. There's a version with Kate Winslett? Sounds hot, but could she really pull it off? I can imagine her as the carefree Sue in the beginning, but could she really be the contrite and subdued Sue at the end? It's a hard role.

Yes, a very hard role to take on but Kate can handle just about anything - she is a fine actress. Did you see her in Hamlet - the Branagh full-length version(?)- she was amazing as Ophelia rapidly going mad. Actually, I think the film, "Jude" is pretty well done, and the scene we were referring to of horror she handled incredibly well. She seems to shine in tragic parts. By the way, in a few scenes Kate (since you deem her hot) shows all. The ending is a bit strange and does not hold true, exactly to the book. Still, all in all, it is a well-done production with the two women being portrayed quite accurately I believe. Yes, in the book how that part just hits one and takes you by surprise.

So it's a book about gender changing three-hundred year old that is realistic. Hmm, sounds good. I'll have to give it a read.

(this emoticon thing is spreading)

I know. It's a bit like being a doctor and not knowing where the liver is.

Really....I do wonder sometimes how these people get jobs at bookstores, anyway.

There are usually buttons on the monitor that control that. As the technology has progressed, though, the buttons have gotten smaller and better hid. On a lot of the LCD screens they're behind the monitor. If you feel with your fingers behind the outside frame of the monitor, you might feel some bumps--those are the buttons that change the brightness and contrast. My monitor, an early twentieth century model, I think, is incredibly old, and I don't even have buttons. My monitor has these giant wheels and knobs just below the screen which I turn. This thing is huge. I believe it was the second monitor ever built. The first one was huge as well, but they added some more things onto the second one to make it this fifty pound behemoth that hums. That's right, it actually makes noise. I'm not sure how a monitor makes a hum since there is no fan, but it whistles none the less. It's hard to find a computer table that will even fit this thing because it goes back about two feet. Some day I'm sure I'll upgrade to LCD--for my eyes if nothing else--but right now I'm stuck with my humming fifty pound friend.

Oh, how funny and reminescent of my old monitor, which is still sitting on my desktop - pushed down to make room for this space-saving one. It is a monster monitor also. My son gave it to me - he works installing equipment in colleges, hospitals, school, pharmaceutical companies. Actually, this old one is a high end monitor I think - a NEC - ever hear of this brand? Seems new LCD ones sell for at least 1000. But the thing weights a ton and is so cumbersome and is as deep at you said yours is...as I said a monster! I think it is bowing the table top. Screen's pretty large and flatscreen, but not widescreen, but the color is wonderful and resolution is amazing. I don't know - maybe I am regretting this whole switch now. I still can't get the brightness toned down. I think I will go to the local Staples store and see if anyone working there could clue me in on these weird settings and menus - buttons are on the front of the monitor, but you need to be a rocket scientist to understand how they work. Quark, you may be better off keeping you 50lb friend. I am so frustrated today and still going quite blind from monitor glare.

I read over "The Lady with the Dog" again so I could explain the mood of this story. And, since I've never used emoticons before, I figured I would show the transitions in mood entirely in little faces.



Tell me if you think this is a good rendering. I wasn't sure about some of the story--like the end. I used mostly frowning faces because it does get depressing. I never used any bawling faces, though, because I don't think it ever goes that far. There is always hope, it seems. I thought I nailed the middle part with their relationship. The lascivious brow raise seemed particularly fitting for their romantic episode in the hotel, and I thought the nod worked for the flirting parts. Still, there are six frowny faces--an awfully sad story. Do you think that's enough, though?

I could not stop laughing. Very creative Quark! It does seem to be a pretty accurate rendering.

I am still way behind you. I have not finished reading it once yet. I was too tired last night to read the last section or chapter. Next time do you think you could pick a little shorter story, Q? ho hummmm.......

[Quark]

littlewing, I'm happy that you're learning something from this. I wasn't sure if we were really getting anything done here. We're getting a little chatty in between stories--not that it's a bad thing. Certainly read more Hardy if you get a chance; Jude is my favorite book of his, too. I wonder about his poetry sometimes. Some people say they enjoy it immensely, but I haven't read any of it yet. If you want to know more about his work, you probably should PM Janine--she's the expert, I think.

btw love yr new avatar idril......loved reading the idiot as well...there's definitely a dark cloud lingering over the russian writing...but still find myself going back for more...

For being as much of Dostoevsky fan as I am, I haven't read The Idiot or The Possessed--two of his major novels. I dissuaded myself from reading The Idiot because I thought it would be overly sentimental and probably contain long boring passages where little happens. I estimated The Idiot by taking the boring passages from The Brothers Karamazov and stretched them into 600 pages. From what you and Idril are saying, though, it seems like I may have made a mistake. Is the book dark and tragic? I thought it would be unrealistically upbeat since it has a hero that Dostoevsky believed very strongly in. My favorite Dostoevsky characters are the ones that he's critical of; Ivan Karamazov and Raskilnokov are the best ones, I think.

That's brilliant, Quark! Is the rolling eyes for Dmitri's view of women?

Yeah, I was rolling my eyes at Dmitri's misogyny and also his pretentious wife. They're quite a pair. Do you think Dmitri really means it, though? Does he really view women as a "lower race" or is he merely being guarded? In that great paragraph where Dmitri learns the difference between his personal life and his fake social life, he considers his negative view of women as part of that disingenuous public life. Could Dmitri's disrespect towards women be fake?

After having read it a second time, I don't think the ending was as depressing as I first thought it. The whole situation is hopeless of course but there the belief that no matter how difficult things might get, they'll figure out a way to be together. There is an acceptance of their fate, if not a resolution to it. It's not such a bad thing to be able to say, "This situation sucks and we're miserable and in tremendous amounts of pain but one day, we'll find a way to make it better."

Their whole relationship is very tenuous. Not only might they get separated, but also Dmitri could lose interest. His attitude at the beginning says it all: "Every intimacy, which at first so agreeably diversifies life and appears a light and charming adventure, inevitably grows into a regular problem of extreme intricacy, and in the long run the situation becomes unbearable". Might not their love affair grow into a tiresome marriage? Or, what happens when Anna discovers that Dmitri isn't the kind and lofty gentlemen that she thinks he is? We know both Anna and Dmitri have been fooled in the past about love. It's hard to tell whether these characters are repeating another tragic cycle, or actually beginning a new life with each other.

By the way, in a few scenes Kate (since you deem her hot) shows all. The ending is a bit strange and does not hold true, exactly to the book. Still, all in all, it is a well-done production with the two women being portrayed quite accurately I believe. Yes, in the book how that part just hits one and takes you by surprise.

Wow, that does sound hot. You right; I don't remember that part in the book, either. Was it still the same story--though with a little more nudity?

I still can't get the brightness toned down. I think I will go to the local Staples store and see if anyone working there could clue me in on these weird settings and menus - buttons are on the front of the monitor, but you need to be a rocket scientist to understand how they work. Quark, you may be better off keeping you 50lb friend. I am so frustrated today and still going quite blind from monitor glare.

Hmm, there should be a button with a symbol that looks like circle with a line down the middle. Or, it might have one with a circle with little lines around it--like a crude drawing of the sun. Those should be your brightness controls.

I could not stop laughing. Very creative Quark! It does seem to be a pretty accurate rendering.

I'm glad you liked it. I haven't been in a particularly verbal mood today. The emoticons come in handy sometimes.

I am still way behind you. I have not finished reading it once yet. I was too tired last night to read the last section or chapter. Next time do you think you could pick a little shorter story, Q? ho hummmm.......

Normally I'd sympathize with you, but I think this time you're just getting lazy. The Chekhov story isn't any longer than the Lawrence story we're doing, and you haven't posted on that even. Although, your unbearably radiant monitor might have something to do with that, so I take it back. But, still, c'mon it's 16 pages.