Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Janine]

I've heard his "Frankenstein"... it is, as usual, really good... he has quite the voice for narration, full of character, emotion, life... I really liked his films adaptations of "Hamlet" and "Henry V" as well, and then "Much Ado About Nothing" was pretty good..

Oh, I am so anxious now to listen to it. I tend to get hooked on good recordings. I have listened now to his BBC recording of "Hamlet" and his Naxos "Richard III" CD's so many times now I can quote the lines. I love them both. With headphones, you feel like you are right next to him on the stage. I love the book, "Frankenstein" - read it twice so far. To listen to KB read it will be a treat. I took a chance when I bought it; but glad now to get a good review on it. Yes, he has such a range of emotions and his enthusiasm always comes through.

try "a story without a title"... it is quite the Chekhov story...

That sounds like an interesting one...is it in most collections? I just may own a Chekhov book of his collected works. I have to hunt through my over-crowded bookshelves. My father left me a legacy of good books and one author may be Chekhov. I thought I saw one one day; however it might only contain his plays. I will try to track it down. Otherwise my library has a few of the short story books.

yes, that's me climbing, besides reading and writing, I like to spend a little bit of time outside... you know, climb the average cliff... surf the little waves in the sea *smile*... I just love the outdoors...

Oh my goodness....and what does your mother say about that? I would die. My son has a mountain bike and recently went to Arizona on an excursion. I was a little shaky about that one; now I am glad he does that and does not mountain climb. Are you actually climbing without ropes? Your photo makes it appear so, but then the photo is a bit small. There is another Lit Netter who climbs. I will see who it is. I forget now; I'll ask my friend. He has posted photos of himself and his friend climbing (with ropes) in the Lit Net Photoalbum thread. You might check that out.

[Quark]

I read through your list of Chekhov stories. The best two are "Oh! The Public!" and "Misery". Both have the usual Chekhov pithiness, and both have an oddly affecting quality about them. I'd choose "Misery" over "Oh! The Public!" since it's a little more emotionally charged and because the structure is more subtle. "Oh! The Public!" is a bit too obvious, I think, but both are enjoyable stories. The only problem with them is that they're a little too pithy maybe. They're awfully short for a month long discussion. Certainly, listen to your audiotapes if you have time, but I think we may be better of picking one of the longer stories I suggested earlier. Or, maybe we could do the two shorter short stories in one month.

What do you think?

[Janine]

Ok, we could do two then - "Oh! The Public" and "Misery". That would be fine with me. If we end up discussing more than we anticipated and run overtime that is ok, too. Below, is a former quote by islandclimber. He seems in agreement and also sites the story "A Story Without a Title" as being quite good and interesting....that might be a good idea for the following month, April.
Quark did you read all these stories on my audiobook CD's?

of Janine's stories I actually quite like a couple of them... "Misery" is quite a moving short work about a sledge driver... a little sad, though i guess the name implies so... and "A Story Without a Title" is quite good as well, kind of almost a religious comedy, temptation and all... the end makes it almost comic.. and "Oh! the public" as well is really good... the story of an alcoholic...

[islandclimber]

discussing "misery" and "oh! the public" sounds good to me.... even together they aren't that long, and they are both two of my favourites from his really short works...

Janine-- yes that is climbing without a rope... but in that picture it is only bouldering, where you climb boulders usually, or short cliffs up to 25-30 ft high.... you have a spotter and a little pad that is supposed to soften your fall.. tons of fun... I couldn't find the picture of the other climber, the litnet photoalbum is quite big, hard to go through... *smile*

cheers

[Quark]

Quark did you read all these stories on my audiobook CD's?

Yeah, most of them are pretty short--except for "In the Ravine", of course.

Ok, we could do two then - "Oh! The Public" and "Misery". That would be fine with me. If we end up discussing more than we anticipated and run overtime that is ok, too.

discussing "misery" and "oh! the public" sounds good to me.... even together they aren't that long, and they are both two of my favourites from his really short works...

I think doing those two would work for next month. Officially, the discussion will start on Mar. 1 since it's best to make the schedule for the stories easy to follow (no Aug. 14-Sept. 3 nonsense). I'll probably start posting a few days before March to get things going, but I don't think it will be until the end of next week.

I hope you guys have time to stop in and post.

[Janine]

Yeah, most of them are pretty short--except for "In the Ravine", of course.

Great, then we are all in accordance on the two - "Misery" and "Oh! The Public!" Thanks so much! I can't wait to listen to them. I have had the CD set, since before Christmas, and due to other responsibilities - books and stories on here - I have had to make myself put off listening to it. I am dying now to hear those two stories narrated. I will also try and read the story texts; they are online arent' they? Is it this site or somewhere on the net? I will, no doubt, listen to them twice or more. I like to get a very clear idea of just what is going on in the stories. I usually copy the full text to my hard-drive and then have a short cut to my desktop for easy assess. I have been doing that with the Lawrence short stories and it works well. I can pull up two windows and then underline key words and phrases, and really get a better sense of the meanings, in the story and any symbolism, themes, etc. that become apparent me. This method might work well for you guys, too. If you tile your windows vertically, you can work the two windows so easily, but I am sure you know that already.

I think doing those two would work for next month. Officially, the discussion will start on Mar. 1 since it's best to make the schedule for the stories easy to follow (no Aug. 14-Sept. 3 nonsense). I'll probably start posting a few days before March to get things going, but I don't think it will be until the end of next week.

I hope you guys have time to stop in and post.

March 1 will be great. Quark, which one will we start with? Why don't we designate a two week session for each. Great - yes, post an introduction to the first story prior to March, and we can all get reading and form some ideas to begin with. A little structure never hurt anyone. It will keep us on track, like a rudder to a small boat. Otherwise, we will just be a boat adrift, with no direction.

Quote by islandclimber

discussing "misery" and "oh! the public" sounds good to me.... even together they aren't that long, and they are both two of my favourites from his really short works...

Glad to know they are short. This should work out well for next month. I may be lagging a little at the end of the month. We are preparing a baby shower for my daughter-in-law, which is around the 31st of March. I am going to be a grandmother, first time! But I won't let you guys down...promise. I will be here most of the time and faithful to the cause - let's call it 'reviving the Chekhov thread!'

Janine-- yes that is climbing without a rope... but in that picture it is only bouldering, where you climb boulders usually, or short cliffs up to 25-30 ft high.... you have a spotter and a little pad that is supposed to soften your fall.. tons of fun... I couldn't find the picture of the other climber, the litnet photoalbum is quite big, hard to go through... *smile*

Well now that is a comfort - only 25-30 ft drop and a tiny pad to cushion your fall and some idiot below who will get crushed if you do fall. Sooo, you still did not answer my question - what does your mom think of this? I would be having a stroke!
I did ask Virgil who the other climber is and he must have forgot to answer me. I will find out for you. He is quite daring, but I think he does climb with ropes, but then he is up much higher than 25-30 ft, or so it appears in his photos. Wow, islandclimber, have fun but do keep safe. That photo of yours is amazing - I can't imagine how you reach up and attach yourself to that boulder face when you are under it. We should call you Spiderman!

Have a great day, both of you and cheers to you, too!

[islandclimber]

March 1 will be great. Quark, which one will we start with? Why don't we designate a two week session for each. Great - yes, post an introduction to the first story prior to March, and we can all get reading and form some ideas to begin with. A little structure never hurt anyone. It will keep us on track, like a rudder to a small boat. Otherwise, we will just be a boat adrift, with no direction.


Well now that is a comfort - only 25-30 ft drop and a tiny pad to cushion your fall and some idiot below who will get crushed if you do fall. Sooo, you still did not answer my question - what does your mom think of this? I would be having a stroke!
I did ask Virgil who the other climber is and he must have forgot to answer me. I will find out for you. He is quite daring, but I think he does climb with ropes, but then he is up much higher than 25-30 ft, or so it appears in his photos. Wow, islandclimber, have fun but do keep safe. That photo of yours is amazing - I can't imagine how you reach up and attach yourself to that boulder face when you are under it. We should call you Spiderman!

Have a great day, both of you and cheers to you, too!

thank you... my mother, well she just tells us (my brother climbs as well) not to tell her too much about... but we've climbed, with ropes, rock faces up to 3500 ft...

I am actually going climbing(bouldering) in California for a week from the 23rd to the 1st of March... so I will be back just in time... I look forward to discussing chekhov (almost as much as getting into the sun )

cheers

[Janine]

thank you... my mother, well she just tells us (my brother climbs as well) not to tell her too much about... but we've climbed, with ropes, rock faces up to 3500 ft...

I am actually going climbing(bouldering) in California for a week from the 23rd to the 1st of March... so I will be back just in time... I look forward to discussing chekhov (almost as much as getting into the sun )

cheers

Well, islandclimber, I can imagine your mother - she must say a lot of prayers. My son mountain bikes and I know I pray a lot and I also ask him not to tell me much about it. He was just out in AZ couple months ago. He had a great time in the SUN! If I were you I would look forward more to the sun than to Chekhov. I love California and know what those boulders look like. Beautiful state. Oh, do be careful and have fun!....(words of advise from a worrisome mom ).

So, Quark, we'll be starting March 1 - perfect for me. I will be popping in to post - definitely. I did actually already listen to "Oh! The Public." I realised that when I started to read it tonight online. I found a site with all the Chekhov stories. Yikes, didn't know there were that many really.

[Janine]

Hello, remember me? I am popping in to ask - will we be starting the discussion on "Oh! the Public" next? Can we begin it on Monday? I posted the story for the D.H.Lawrence thread and that will also begin on Monday. This will give us all a weekend to read the stories. What do you guys think about Chekhov SS starting on Monday with the story I mentioned - Quark, ...Islandclimber, ..whomever...???

[Quark]

Hello, remember me? I am popping in to ask - will we be starting the discussion on "Oh! the Public" next? Can we begin it on Monday? I posted the story for the D.H.Lawrence thread and that will also begin on Monday. This will give us all a weekend to read the stories. What do you guys think about Chekhov SS starting on Monday with the story I mentioned - Quark, ...Islandclimber, ..whomever...???

I was actually going to start with the other story called "Misery" first since I think there is probably more to talk about in that one. In a couple of weeks we'll probably switch over and do "Oh! The Public!". I'll post a little introduction to the two stories tomorrow when I get a moment. Hope everyone enjoys the stories.

[Janine]

I was actually going to start with the other story called "Misery" first since I think there is probably more to talk about in that one. In a couple of weeks we'll probably switch over and do "Oh! The Public!". I'll post a little introduction to the two stories tomorrow when I get a moment. Hope everyone enjoys the stories.

Quark, I haven't read it or listened to it yet so that is fine. You sure like to pull fast ones on me though. Can we start it on Monday? Discussing?
That would be great if you would post something about the two stories, but don't give away the endings. Thanks and I will be anxious to read your introduction. Great! Good to get this thread active again. I posted the new Lawrence story. It is a good one so hope you join in.

[Quark]

Quark, I haven't read it or listened to it yet so that is fine. You sure like to pull fast ones on me though. Can we start it on Monday? Discussing?

Monday sounds good. Really, though, you can post whenever you want to. I know we help each other on these SS threads a lot, but that doesn't necessarily mean we have to be totally synchronized. I'll post my intro tomorrow and see what happens; I probably won't comment on the story, itself, until sometime over the weekend.

Speaking of being synchronized, though, sorry about bailing on the ATOTC thread. I just couldn't find time to read to a 350 page novel recently. I will still try to pop in and add to the conversation every once in a while, but I don't really know how much I will be able to do outside of that.

I posted the new Lawrence story. It is a good one so hope you join in.

I'll check out the Lawrence story, too, over the weekend.

[Janine]

Monday sounds good. Really, though, you can post whenever you want to. I know we help each other on these SS threads a lot, but that doesn't necessarily mean we have to be totally synchronized. I'll post my intro tomorrow and see what happens; I probably won't comment on the story, itself, until sometime over the weekend.

Quark, that's ok. I just have been sick and I am still feeling tired and weak. I don't think I can find the time to listen to the CD, until the weekend and then if the story is a short one, I will probably run through it online. Is the story on this site, do you know? I will check after I post this.

Speaking of being synchronized, though, sorry about bailing on the ATOTC thread. I just couldn't find time to read to a 350 page novel recently. I will still try to pop in and add to the conversation every once in a while, but I don't really know how much I will be able to do outside of that.

That is perfectly ok, too. I had read the book twice before and know the story really well, by now. I also have viewed the miniseries, which is very close to the actual book. I was just reviewing some commentary books on it, but slowed up when I got ill. Now manolia and Alexei are both actively posting in that thread. Alexei came in late, she is highly interested/ So we just wait patiently for each other to post. I only posted twice in there today. The thread has no time limit.

I'll check out the Lawrence story, too, over the weekend.

Good, it is not a long one. Since I could not sleep the other night, I stayed up and read a whole lot of the Lawrence short stories. This way, I have reviewed a number of them, as possibilities for the thread. Virgil said he loved this story "The Blind Man" when I mentioned having read it thinking this would be the one I would choose. His made me go ahead and post this would be the next story. I will try to email some of the people tomorrow to let them know.

[Quark]

After languishing for a few months, the Chekhov thread is back up. We've got more stories from the succinct Russian realist to read, too. In fact, the two stories for this month are some of his most succinct. Both contain only one scene and span only a few pages. Their brevity isn't their only winning quality, though. More noticeable about the stories is their weirdly affecting quality.


First is "Misery" (online at http://www.online-literature.com/anton_chekhov/1146), a story describing a grief-stricken man searching for sympathy. The main action surrounds a sledge-driver ferrying his passengers around Petersburg, but the byplay between Iona, the driver, and his customers reveals the misery which the story is named after. It should be a good read. All the usual Chekhov tricks are there: symbolism, wit, all that. Written in 1886, the story is one of the earlier ones so we'll see some of the same themes we've talked about earlier--only in embryo form here. And, one last thing, it's compact. That's why I thought we could try to do two stories in one month. Also, I wanted to do another because I didn't want to end on the downer that this story has.

The second story is "Oh! The Public!" (http://www.online-literature.com/anton_chekhov/1140). A more light-hearted one, but still not too optimistic (it's hard to find Chekhov stories that are). "Oh! The Public!" is about a ticket collector who just can't win. Perhaps he's well-meaning, but his attempts to help himself and those around him always seem to backfire. Frustration ensues, and we're left to wonder what went wrong and why. If the first story centers around one of Chekhov's usual victims, this one focuses on one of his typical fools. Hopefully this one gets some laughs as well as tears.


These should be two good stories, and I hope people get a chance to post a comment or two. I'll probably start posting chunks of the story on the thread Sunday after I post on the Lawrence discussion.

[Janine]

Quark, *clap clap* that was really good. Excellent introduction! Thanks for posting all of this. I am looking forward to the two stories and reviving this great thread come Monday.