Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Janine]

"Evening?" Based on the book by Susan Minot? If so, I have that book as well. It's good, but the structure is odd.

Now, my mother and I often shared books. We had the same taste.

Edited to say I looked it up, and yes, it is based on the book by Susan Minot. I want to rent it this evening! Janine, you give me such good book and movie ideas! Thanks!

Yes, Antiquarian, that is the film and she was the author of the book; said so in the beginning credits. She and the screen-writer of "The Hours" co-wrote this screenplay. I liked the film. The setting and cinematography is wonderful; soundtrack beautiful. I think it was well done and the acting was very fine. It is interesting to note that two sets of mother and daughter actors are in this film: Vanessa Redgrave and Natashia Richardson; Meryl Strepp and Mamie Gummer. The cast was very well chosen. Hugh Dancy gave a stellar performance. Let me know how you like the film? It is a quiet slow moving film, but it did keep my interest.

[islandclimber]

geez... I go away and the Chekhov thread turns into the chick flick discussion thread... tsk tsk tsk, what is going on here people??? (don't tell anyone, but I'll let you in on a little secret... I actually like quite a few chick flicks.. as long as they are not too ridiculous.. but don't tell, it's a secret )

DarkMuse. People think you are a guy... and with the name Ishtar... well I guess most people don't have much of an exposure to assyrian/babylonian mythology... I thought she was the goddess of love and fertility, and even at times, of war... and her astral manifestation was Venus? and it's a good thing you are a tomboy nature brat, or Quark would be hopelessly outnumbered here... driven to despair, that his beloved Chekhov thread had been overrun, and turned into a tea party discussion group I think I am the one with a tattered life... my life is always in shambles more or less... something odd, something strange, dreaming about black and white wildflowers and fragile voices, and damp colours that seep through the cracks in the sidewalk I sometimes sleep on... I always am somewhere far off to the left of absurd, somewhere sinking into movements that always seem so ridiculous... oh well... tattered, melancholy, distraught lives are the only fun ones to live... or so it seems...

though, returning to tea, I do quite like it myself... In fact I just purchased 14 new books from the local used bookstore here, and I am looking forward to sipping herbal teas, while I go through them like wildfire... no sleep for me until I am finished

well, I am off to do some work... when is the next story starting? and what is the next story? as I said before I will be dropping in periodically still, like right now... just to attempt to say something argumentative, controversial and outrageously shocking... I mean, I would never do anything of that nature... just nice polite, agreeable comments from me...

[Janine]

geez... I go away and the Chekhov thread turns into the chick flick discussion thread... tsk tsk tsk, what is going on here people??? (don't tell anyone, but I'll let you in on a little secret... I actually like quite a few chick flicks.. as long as they are not too ridiculous.. but don't tell, it's a secret )

yeah and islandclimber - you know Quark is going to say something degrogatory about it soon. He is very sensitive about his beloved Chekhov thread being interupted by gabby women. ...although he did already comment that he actually does like chick-flicks sometimes...I guess he is intune somewhat with his feminine side...good for him!

DarkMuse. People think you are a guy... and with the name Ishtar... well I guess most people don't have much of an exposure to assyrian/babylonian mythology... I thought she was the goddess of love and fertility, and even at times, of war... and her astral manifestation was Venus? and it's a good thing you are a tomboy nature brat,

Dark Muse can answer, up till here and below too, if she wants. I don't mean to infringing on her territory. I realise you wrote this directly to her but I could not help but ease-drop ....

or Quark would be hopelessly outnumbered here... driven to despair, that his beloved Chekhov thread had been overrun, and turned into a tea party discussion group

You kidding; he probably secretly loves it. Has has entered into some of this dribble above. He probably appreciates the fact also, that we have not been 'bugging' him to pick the next story; as everyone is bugging me in the L thread and making me crazy. I don't know about tea but he drinks and occasionaly spills coffee on books at Barnes and Noble and then tries to sneak them back onto the shelves; the B&N detectives always catch him though. I hope he is laughing, too.

I think I am the one with a tattered life... my life is always in shambles more or less... something odd, something strange, dreaming about black and white wildflowers and fragile voices, and damp colours that seep through the cracks in the sidewalk I sometimes sleep on...

Sounds like the perfect makings for a poet to me. Cheerup, you are too young to fret so. Your whole life is before you, and it will be a glorious life, if you see it with color film. Take those dark glasses off, islandclimber! You have so much to offer the world and I love your poetry in your blog.

I always am somewhere far off to the left of absurd, somewhere sinking into movements that always seem so ridiculous... oh well... tattered, melancholy, distraught lives are the only fun ones to live... or so it seems...

Yes, and are you any more abnormal than any of us? We all go off into some foreign land of our own from time to time. Snap out of it, Mr. Meloncholia! Not true - distraught lives are not the most fun; where did you get your information? *smile* and be happy!

though, returning to tea, I do quite like it myself... In fact I just purchased 14 new books from the local used bookstore here, and I am looking forward to sipping herbal teas, while I go through them like wildfire... no sleep for me until I am finished

Ok, I love returning to tea...and what kind of herb tea do you like islandclimber? I love herb tea and drink it all the time! 14 books - wow, now that is something to be happy about and also, I bought about 4 or 5 Dostoyevsky books; you promised we could discuss "Notes from the Underground", if I read that one; I have it now and it is short. Soon I can read it and you promised; I will hold you to that.

So what great book bargains did you get? You must have been in 'seventh heaven' when you found them.

well, I am off to do some work... when is the next story starting? and what is the next story? as I said before I will be dropping in periodically still, like right now... just to attempt to say something argumentative, controversial and outrageously shocking... I mean, I would never do anything of that nature... just nice polite, agreeable comments from me...

I have been wondering the same thing. I know I suggested that we do all of the three in that trilogy, but now I think I would be bored if we did. Quark, can we do something new and different instead? Also, can it be from the book collection, entitled Anton Chekhov 'Lady With Lapdog' and Other Stories by Penquin Classics? The book contains 11 stories - only one of which we did so far - the title one. I just took that book out of my library yesterday. Please please...*begging*

islandclimber,to you last lines - ah, be nice now and yes, do be polite; but you don't always have to agree at all on the short story threads. In fact, Dark Muse and I often don't agree, don't we, DM?...and we still like like each other anyway, even when she hates the woman character or likes her and I am just the opposite in my thinking...happens all the time.

[Janine]

The book is slow moving as well Janine. I did rent it today, along with Away From Her with Julie Christie.

Antiquarian, doesn't your library have free videos and cd rentals like mine? It is always a good thing for me, because if I am disappointed, then I did not waste the money to see the film. I hope, if you rent it, you like it. If you do rent it, watch the extra features. I found the making of the film really interesting and I had not thought of the curtains that wave in the breeze in the old woman's room as being like sails. I thought that was interesting imagry. I kept thinking the room looked really etheral and almost dreamlike, with those white curtains on each side of the bed, moving in the sea breeze.
I must look the soundtrack up on the net. I think it would be a good one to buy.

[Quark]

Hehe, it was Ishtar, an ancient Goddess of the Moon

That's a little obscure. I can see how some people might take it for a male username.

Who has tattered lives here? We three women all have it together.

Isn't that the usual setup to these chick flicks. They always seem to start with a woman going through a tough breakup, or getting fired, or something else like that. Then the rest of the story is about them getting their lives together and healing emotionally. I've been forced to see one or two of these movies by girlfriends, and they (the movies) usually follow this plot.

I actually like quite a few chick flicks

Don't you start.

well, I am off to do some work... when is the next story starting? and what is the next story? as I said before I will be dropping in periodically still, like right now... just to attempt to say something argumentative, controversial and outrageously shocking... I mean, I would never do anything of that nature... just nice polite, agreeable comments from me...

I'm looking through my books for another story to do, and I have a few ideas already. Hopefully I can reach a decision about it by next week. I'll post more when I know.

although he did already comment that he actually does like chick-flicks sometimes...I guess he is intune somewhat with his feminine side...good for him!

Yes, despite my macho exterior, I actually don't abhor chick flicks. Although, I don't know if I particularly like them either. Let's say I'm ambivalent about the whole genre.

I don't know about tea but he drinks and occasionaly spills coffee on books at Barnes and Noble and then tries to sneak them back onto the shelves; the B&N detectives always catch him though. I hope he is laughing, too.

You're just not going to let the coffee thing go, are you? I am a klutz, but that doesn't mean you need to keep bringing it up. When you get my book you'll see that it was only a small spill anyway. I was able to deflect most of the overflow with my hand onto the person sitting across from me.

islandclimber! You have so much to offer the world and I love your poetry in your blog.

I didn't know island had a blog. I'll have to check it out.

I have been wondering the same thing. I know I suggested that we do all of the three in that trilogy, but now I think I would be bored if we did. Quark, can we do something new and different instead? Also, can it be from the book collection, entitled Anton Chekhov 'Lady With Lapdog' and Other Stories by Penquin Classics? The book contains 11 stories - only one of which we did so far - the title one. I just took that book out of my library yesterday. Please please...*begging*

I don't think we'll do the other two stories immediately after "About Love." You're right, we could use a change. Before we completely forget them, though, I would like to talk about how the other two in the trilogy relate to "About Love." Since we already read them, we may as well talk about them a little bit before we move on. I'll post something about the three stories tomorrow and see if I can get some conversation going.

[Janine]

That's a little obscure. I can see how some people might take it for a male username.

I thought the same thing about that user name. Now the name 'Dark Muse', I always got the sense of as being a woman.

Isn't that the usual setup to these chick flicks. They always seem to start with a woman going through a tough breakup, or getting fired, or something else like that. Then the rest of the story is about them getting their lives together and healing emotionally. I've been forced to see one or two of these movies by girlfriends, and they (the movies) usually follow this plot.

That is funny that you should say that. "The Jane Austen Book Club" actually does start out with one woman's husband announcing to her he does not lover her anymore and turns out he has a girlfriend. So the other older woman she is good friends with concocts the idea of getting her involved in a book club so she will get her mind off her depression. Then when the other woman arrives with this cute guy, Hugh Dancy, they all think..hummm...he might like the rejected wife. The funniest part really about the story is the book discussions though and her is this cute young guy surrounded by middle-aged woman and one of the woman's daughters, who just happens to be gay. He honestly comes to take the book club seriously, which is cool in my mind. He's very active debater, and lends a male viewpoint to the whole thing which makes it interesting. It was an entertaining film. Actually, the irrate person or annoying person is not the guy as Virgil suggested but the one girl who has some issues and things she knows it all, inwardly she is really the most insecure of all. The acting was good and the film was a low budget indie film and commendable.

Don't you start.

what exactly is the definition of a 'chick-flick', anyway? I think many films labeled chick-flick, are actually cross-overs, into other genres.

I'm looking through my books for another story to do, and I have a few ideas already. Hopefully I can reach a decision about it by next week. I'll post more when I know.

Oh good, well get with it will you, Quark, ...poor Janine has been reviewing Lawrence stories all week long and staying up mega late to do so. So can it be one of these:

Grief
Agafa
Misfortune
A Boring Story
The Grasshopper
Ward 6
Ariadne
The House with an Attic
Ionych
The Darling

All of the above are in my library book.

Yes, despite my macho exterior, I actually don't abhor chick flicks. Although, I don't know if I particularly like them either. Let's say I'm ambivalent about the whole genre.

Like I said - how do you define them really? We could call 'Monty Python' chick flicks, since the guys play women so often in the skits and movies. I guess they are well in touch with their 'feminine side'.

You're just not going to let the coffee thing go, are you? I am a klutz, but that doesn't mean you need to keep bringing it up. When you get my book you'll see that it was only a small spill anyway. I was able to deflect most of the overflow with my hand onto the person sitting across from me.

I keep the 'deflection method' in mind if this ever happens to me. Usually I am a bit paranoid, I will spill something on the books. It is pretty easy to do. Alright then, I won't bring it up anymore. I don't want to further wound your delicate male sensibilities.

I didn't know island had a blog. I'll have to check it out.

Yes, he does and he has some very nice poetry he wrote in his blog. Do you have a blog, Quark? I haven't gotten around to one yet, but I have ideas for one. I just never have the time to start one or keep it active.

I don't think we'll do the other two stories immediately after "About Love." You're right, we could use a change.

Good, because I hate to say this, but I think they are a bore. I think too we brought up the main themes of each already.

Before we completely forget them, though, I would like to talk about how the other two in the trilogy relate to "About Love." Since we already read them, we may as well talk about them a little bit before we move on. I'll post something about the three stories tomorrow and see if I can get some conversation going.

Well, if you insist; but I probably won't participate too much in those, since I don't have the time to review those stories or read them entirely again; and I don't clearly recall them now. Maybe an overview and some comments would be fine. I think I have some commentary on 'Gooseberrries' I could post from a book I own; but I might have to type it out and we will see just how long that is before I commit to that task. I already did post that commentary about how they were considered by Chekhov as a trilogy and he had planned more to come but never accomplished that. I guess he got side-tracked, as we all do.

[Janine]

I don't know, Janine. I've never been to my local library. I live a little outside of town, well on the very southeastern edge, and the library is so far away, while the video store is just a few streets down. Well within walking distance, especially considering the fact that I hiked miles and miles and miles today. LOL

I probably should check out the library, though. I loved going to the library when I was a kid.

Antiquarian, ever since I discovered my library has tons and tons of videos and even new releases, and they buy more all the time, I stopped renting completely. I has saved me mega bucks. I drive there 2 to 3 times a week to check things out. Their regular collection, which is huge is great and you can keep the DVD's, Tapes, CD's out two full weeks. The circuit Videos and CD's come in from the library system monthly and change at the end of the month; then more come in from the system...I am talking about hundreds at a time...CD's about 600 new ones every three months. Those videos you have to return in 2 days, CD's - two weeks, but if you miss a day, the fee is only one dollar a day (late charge)...still way cheaper than the video rental. It is literally a feast to go there and I do have to drive there, but it is not far from my house. The only time I go now to my video store, is to check out what they are selling, unless it is something I can't find at my library, which is totally rare. I practically live at my library and it is a tiny facility and yet they have so much, just packed in tightly. They also, have about 25 computers and full use of them for free. I had to resort to that once, when my broadband went out and I could not get online. Libraries have changed greatly in the past 10 years, thank heaven! I am really blessed with such a great free resource.

[Dark Muse]

Wow so much has happend in so little time LOL. I will do my best to address everyone.

DarkMuse. People think you are a guy... and with the name Ishtar... well I guess most people don't have much of an exposure to assyrian/babylonian mythology... I thought she was the goddess of love and fertility, and even at times, of war... and her astral manifestation was Venus?

Yes, she is associated with those things as well, moon goddess also often have associations with love and fertility as well.

islandclimber,to you last lines - ah, be nice now and yes, do be polite; but you don't always have to agree at all on the short story threads. In fact, Dark Muse and I often don't agree, don't we, DM?...and we still like like each other anyway, even when she hates the woman character or likes her and I am just the opposite in my thinking...happens all the time.

Yes, that is quite true. I am the disagreable one but there is never any love lost. At least I hope I do not overstay my welcome.

That's a little obscure. I can see how some people might take it for a male username.

Yes, that is true, but the place I had been using that name it, was somewhere where I had the exepectation that the majority of the people would know what I was speaking of becasue of the nature of the forum.

[Dark Muse]

Oh good, well get with it will you, Quark, ...poor Janine has been reviewing Lawrence stories all week long and staying up mega late to do so. So can it be one of these:

Grief
Agafa
Misfortune
A Boring Story
The Grasshopper
Ward 6
Ariadne
The House with an Attic
Ionych
The Darling

All of the above are in my library book.

Oh, please not Ward 6, that would be a bit too much reading for me at this particular time.

[Janine]

Thanks for the information, Janine. I stopped going to the library, initially, because they didn't keep it clean enough for me and it seemed to be a gathering place for kids with nothing to do and no interest in books. Then I moved to Europe and I couldn't even find the library for several years. LOL Since coming back to the US, I haven't gone to the library. I really should try it sometime soon, especially since the video store I usually go to moved and now it's almost as far away as the library!

Yeah, I know what you mean by clean. The videos and DVD's and CD's sometime feel sticky and grimmy, like someone was devouring pizza when watching/listening to them. You will think I am nuts, but I always carry those antibacterial portable whipes and whipe my hands off after leaving the library. I carry my stuff home in a bag, usually a dollar store paper bag with handles and when I get home I whipe them all down. Some libraries do this at their check-in counter (my friend works at one that does so), but ours does not and it is one of my pet peeves. My library does not even keep soap in their bathroom and I think that is just plain yucky, so one day I complained about that. Know what their solution was? It was to leave antibacterial lotion on the front checkout counter; of course no one even notices it is there. They are stupid there....but I put up with all this to get those great free offerings. Also, often the library's have books for sale or free and sometimes donated VHS tapes for 50 cents or $1. I have found some worth picking up, from time to time. It is always an adventure for me to go there. I get lucky some nights.

[Janine]

No, I don't think you're crazy at all, Janine. I always keep a bottle of that antibacterial lotion in my car. Use it almost every time I get in. My grocery has started keep the wipes near the carts, so people can wipe the handles of the carts. I love it.

That is good; I keep thinking I must be crazy or fussy, because I seem to be the only one doing this, at my library. The way the media is always talking about germs nowdays, it does make one paranoid; but I have even been to the video store and seen them whiping the covers and the CD's themselves; I think my library's attitude is a disgrace - you should see some of the groady CD covers. My grocery has been doing that also with AB whipes for the handles, etc., also keeping whipes near the meats; plastic bags for the same. Did you ever pick up a chicken package and the whole thing is slimmy...ick...I think that has to be germy.

[Janine]

Wow so much has happend in so little time LOL. I will do my best to address everyone.

Yeah really...we've been busy in here, tiddling away the time till our fearless leader picks a new story....Quark, where are you...?

Yes, she is associated with those things as well, moon goddess also often have associations with love and fertility as well.

Interesting, DM....and are you those things?

Yes, that is quite true. I am the disagreable one but there is never any love lost. At least I hope I do not overstay my welcome.

No, you can never 'overstay your welcome'...always welcome in both threads, DM ....you kidding? I never take confrontations on here seriously, at all. Just debating, just debating.....normal stuff....makes for more fun and more excitement...

Yes, that is true, but the place I had been using that name it, was somewhere where I had the exepectation that the majority of the people would know what I was speaking of becasue of the nature of the forum.[/QUOTE]

Funny, about user names; I have met some people on this site and truly did not find out their sex for months. That was ok; they were just people to me. One person, I kept wavering in my discision as to male or female, and finally someone clued me in. Otherwise, I really would not have known.

[Dark Muse]

Interesting, DM....and are you those things?

Though the moon has alwyas been something sacred to me and I have always been drawn to the Moon Goodess, I do not know how much of her qualtiies I acutally imbue. Considering I am dead set against having childern, I cannot consider myself very fertile.

And I do not think I really make a very good idol of love either. Though it is true that in some regaurds Ishtar does have a bit of a darker asepct as well which I can relate to. I am probaly more in like to Artemis the Huntress, and Porctress of the wood, and creatures of the wood.

[Quark]

Oh, please not Ward 6, that would be a bit too much reading for me at this particular time.

A good story, but, yes, you're right that it's a too long for the next story. I'm looking for a shorter one, and I have a few ideas already. I'll make up my mind soon.

[islandclimber]

Janine, the books are

Borges-- Collected Fictions
Calvino--- Cosmicomics
Pessoa-- The Book of Disquiet
Cortazar --- Blow-up and Other Stories
Gogol-- Collected Tales
Hedayat -- The Blind Owl
Short Stories by the Generation of 1898 (spanish writers like Unamuno, Ibanez, etc...)
Gorky--- Creatures that were Once Men and Other Stories
Sartre--- The Wall
Sartre--- Nausea
Camus--- The Fall
Pelevin--- The Blue Lantern
Fuentes--- forget the name of the book...
and DH Lawrence--- Complete Stories Vol 1




And you Missy..(yes I am calling you Missy, Janine) you do not tell me to stop being melancholy haha.. just teasing, but I do love being melancholy.. it is my favourite feeling... such a wonderful emotion to feel in all its power... and having a shattered life makes living so darn interesting.. maybe I can write my bizarre autobiography one day hahaha .. and then burn it before it is too late... or not.. I think I will just leave that idea...

So, I actually have to apologise... I deleted my blog the other day.. I was sick of it.. I seem to do things like that often... so no blog for me anymore.. just in case you have already tried to look Quark. sorry bout that... I may start it up again sometime... but when I have more time...

Quark, I mostly like the chick flicks that kind of transcend the genre to a degree.. the strictly formulaic chick flicks that you outlined the plot for, are generally pretty bad... but some so called chick flicks are just amazing... I think guys just label anything sentimental and sad as a chick flick so they get to avoid allowing the possibility that they have a sensitive and emotional side.. us men cannot allow our emotions to run away unrestrained.. no tears here.. I only cry way too often.. is that a bad thing, that movies and books make me cry all too often...

ugh, I do not want to work tomorrow... if you pick a story that I like here... I am going to have trouble staying away as Janine picked my favourite Lawrence story... oh, why does work have to be my reality?? what seriously messed up god decided to run the world this way.. .I quit!!! work, I mean, not life.. though the ceiling fan looks attractive right now haha... hmm I wonder if it would support my bodyweight.. Hahahahah

okay enough of suicidal dreams... I will be back soon I think, quite possibly. and do enjoy the teaparty.. oh yeah, Janine, I love wild nootka rosehip tea... I love mint-chamomille tea... jasmine green tea.. rooibos teas... mmmmmm.. so many