Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Quark]

Though I know not everyone will agree with this, but personally I am always up for something dark

Janine won't let me do the really dark Chekhov story that I'd like to do, but there are others. Hmm, dark and poetic? I'll have to search to see if I can find the best of those.

[Dark Muse]

Well now I am currious, tell me what it is, so I can read it on my own when I get the time.

[Quark]

Well now I am currious, tell me what it is, so I can read it on my own when I get the time.

I think I brought it up earlier. It's called "Sleepy," and I promised Janine I wouldn't do it on the LitNet discussion for a few months. Once you read it, you'll know why. You would like it, though. The dark, shocking end could be straight out of a Poe tale. I like it because of the masterful use of perspective.

[Dark Muse]

Do you know if by any chance it is also called Sleepyhead? Becasue I have a story called Sleepyhead, in my Chekhov book

[Dark Muse]

OK cool, thank you. I will defininately have to look into that when I have the chance.

[Quark]

Do you know if by any chance it is also called Sleepyhead? Becasue I have a story called Sleepyhead, in my Chekhov book

I believe those are the same stories. It should start with something like this:

NIGHT. Varka, the little nurse, a girl of thirteen, is rocking the cradle in which the baby is lying, and humming hardly audibly:

"Hush-a-bye, my baby wee,
While I sing a song for thee."

A little green lamp is burning before the ikon; there is a string stretched from one end of the room to the other, on which baby-clothes and a pair of big black trousers are hanging. There is a big patch of green on the ceiling from the ikon lamp, and the baby-clothes and the trousers throw long shadows on the stove, on the cradle, and on Varka. . . . When the lamp begins to flicker, the green patch and the shadows come to life, and are set in motion, as though by the wind. It is stuffy. There is a smell of cabbage soup, and of the inside of a boot-shop.

Which Chekhov book do you have anyway? I can look it up online and see which stories you have. I try to pick stories that everyone has--no promises, of course, though.

I've read "Sleepy," Quark. I'd love to discuss it here, but as I said, I understand Janine's sensitivity to it now. Perhaps that will fade with time, though.

I would like to discuss it at some point, but there's no rush. We have truckloads (SI unit of Chekhov stories) of excellent works left to read. I can rattle off three right now: "A Doctor's Visit," "On the Road," "Ward No. 6." Any of these stories would work. I ask, though, because each story is quite different. I'd like to pick one that fits with everyone's preferences.

What do you consider Chekhov's greatest story?

It depends on what I'm interested in reading at that point. I've liked all the ones we've read for the thread so far. "About Love" was probably my favorite from that group, but other people didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I did. Some that we haven't read that are good are "Dreams," "The House with the Mansard," and "At Home." I'm not sure which I would elevate to "favorite" status, but each of those are ones I come back to frequently.

And do you like Ivan Bunin as well?

I'm very partial to William Trevor, who's often called "the Irish Chekhov," but really, I think that's a disservice to both Chekhov and Trevor. Both are unique.

I've heard of these people, but not read them. Bunin seems interesting, and I've meant to read more Soviet Lit. I was actually talking Idril awhile ago about my ignorance of 20th century Russian Lit. She suggested some books. I'm not sure if Bunin was an author she mentioned. I suppose I can make my own decisions about what to read, but she's the queen of Russian lit on this forum. When I have a question about it, usually I just ask her.

[Janine]

Yes, no maiming or killing of babies, puppies, of kittens please!!!

[Quark]

Yes, no maiming or killing of babies, puppies, of kittens please!!!

Agreed. (Although, I do encourage everyone who's interested in that to read "Sleepy").

[Janine]

Agreed. (Although, I do encourage everyone who's interested in that to read "Sleepy").

You know, asside from my sensitivity about the subject matter in that story, I really did not like the story at all; the more I thought about it the sillier it seemed to me. How would anyone expect a person to go with no sleep?

[Dark Muse]

Agreed. (Although, I do encourage everyone who's interested in that to read "Sleepy").

I cannot wait. As soon as I am able to, I shall definately look into it. I need something dreary to get me through the hot summer.

Which Chekhov book do you have anyway? I can look it up online and see which stories you have. I try to pick stories that everyone has--no promises, of course, though.

A really old book I got from my grandma. She had a whole collection of volumes of work from varrious authors. I am not sure where she first got them from.

[Janine]

I cannot wait. As soon as I am able to, I shall definately look into it. I need something dreary to get me through the hot summer.

Dark Muse, you need to cheerup, not get drearier.

A really old book I got from my grandma. She had a whole collection of volumes of work from varrious authors. I am not sure where she first got them from.

Cool, I got mine from my dad, but so far Quark has not picked one story available in that book, or my two library books.....hey, what is with that Quark,.... are you listening? Oh yes, and I forgot another collection of short stories on 3 CD's (audiobook I bought just for this thread).
I will check and see if just maybe, I have that one about 'The Doctor's Visit'. They don't maim/kill any kids in that one, do they?

Geez, 'Ward 6' in my books is 46 pages long, XIX chapters! *moan*groan*sigh*...it is teey tiny type face, too. Yikes, it is a short novel!

[Quark]

You know, asside from my sensitivity about the subject matter in that story, I really did not like the story at all; the more I thought about it the sillier it seemed to me. How would anyone expect a person to go with no sleep?

Her family and her employer are what's keeping her awake, and they don't entirely succeed. She's drifting in and out the whole time. I didn't find that too much of a stretch.

A really old book I got from my grandma. She had a whole collection of volumes of work from varrious authors. I am not sure where she first got them from.

Well that's no help. Which stories do you have?

but so far Quark has not picked one story available in that book, or my two library books.....hey, what is with that Quark,.... are you listening? Oh yes, and I forgot another collection of short stories on 3 CD's (audiobook I bought just for this thread).

I offered you a book with all the stories we've done so far in it. You haven't seemed too interested in it.

[Dark Muse]

Dark Muse, you need to cheerup, not get drearier.

Ahh but reading things that are dark is what makes me happy. I enjoy the darkside.

Quark, here is the list of stories I have in my book


The Kiss
The Chorus Girl
La Cigale
Verotchka
The Match
Excellent People
The Black Monk
A Family Council
Woe
Women
A Husk
Anna Round The Neck
The Peasants
A Terrible Night
In Exile
The Proposal
Who To Blame
Rothchild's Fiddle
Sleepyhead
The Princess
Fish
Mass For The Sinner
The Lament
Oysters
Vanka
Zinotchka
The Privy Councillor
The Wager
The Cossack
At the Manor
An Event
Art
The Brids
Ward No. 6
At Home
An Adventure
A Father
Two Tragedies
The Rook
On The Way
Children
Head Garderner's Tale
The Runaway
The Reed
In the Ravine

[islandclimber]

the black monk... please, please, please.. and I promise i will return to discuss haha... I am just so hectic with work.. but if we read Ward No. 6 or The Black Monk... I would make time... They are long but it is not a big deal.. we can take more time, and go slower.. it wouldn't be the end of the world... haha...

[Janine]

Ahh but reading things that are dark is what makes me happy. I enjoy the darkside.

Quark, here is the list of stories I have in my book


The Kiss
The Chorus Girl
La Cigale
Verotchka
The Match
Excellent People
The Black Monk
A Family Council
Woe
Women
A Husk
Anna Round The Neck
The Peasants
A Terrible Night
In Exile
The Proposal
Who To Blame
Rothchild's Fiddle
Sleepyhead
The Princess
Fish
Mass For The Sinner
The Lament
Oysters
Vanka
Zinotchka
The Privy Councillor
The Wager
The Cossack
At the Manor
An Event
Art
The Brids
Ward No. 6
At Home
An Adventure
A Father
Two Tragedies
The Rook
On The Way
Children
Head Garderner's Tale
The Runaway
The Reed
In the Ravine

Dark Muse, this looks like the same book I have, with the same stories, in the same order - only thing different that I can percieve, is that after 'Anna Round the Neck' I have these 3 stories, also:

The Incubus
Miss N.N.'s Story
The Young Wife

Curious...when you listed those, Dark Muse, did you miss those three, by any chance?

Glad to see you back, islandclimber! Hope you stick around for awhile. Sorry you have been so busy with work. I envisioned you on the side of some beautiful mountain somewhere. Bummer that it was work instead; must be your busy time.
Will you be back in the Lawrence thread, as well? Discussions have been going great this month although I have had to break a lot myself, becoming a first time grandmother a few days ago.