Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Janine]

I might do that if I get caught up in the L discussion.

Following you again - actually I think you are the only posting right now - at least in my 'subscribed links'. I think that would be better to hold off on this discussion till January.

That would be great. I'd like to do a Shakespeare play, but MWOW doesn't really inspire me.

I think this was my problem and possibly others. I am more inclined to be interested in the tragedies myself. I find the comedies so difficult and they also sometimes are downright silly or employ older jargon, colloquialisms, that makes them a challenge to understand. I found this play as such. I was struggling through it every step of the way and I normally love Shakespeare, but it kind of kills it for me when it is that difficult.

[Quark]

I think that would be better to hold off on this discussion till January.

I don't know if I can hold of that long, but I will wait a couple of weeks. I want to get the story in before I having to work on classes.

I am more inclined to be interested in the tragedies myself. I find the comedies so difficult and they also sometimes are downright silly or employ older jargon, colloquialisms, that makes them a challenge to understand.

The back-and-forths in the comedies do get a little too Elizabethan. Often, you end up reading more of the notes than you do the play. The Histories are fun, though. I look forward to Richard II.

[Janine]

I don't know if I can hold of that long, but I will wait a couple of weeks. I want to get the story in before I having to work on classes.

Then can it be a shorter one? I don't think I can do a long one during the holiday season. Well, I can see what you will come up with and then decide. At least now I have the book. I just finished a novel, too so I won't start another one until after the new year. Concentrate on stuff on here instead for now.

The back-and-forths in the comedies do get a little too Elizabethan. Often, you end up reading more of the notes than you do the play. The Histories are fun, though. I look forward to Richard II.

Exactly my point. I liked all of the history plays so much - that surprised me but then I again I do love the history of the monarchs...the plays border on tragedies, so the interested me greatly. My favorite still is "Henry V", even though I don't particulary like war. It still has such great moments and speeches in that play and I adore the Kenneth Branagh movie. I watch it all the time; it is his most perfect movie, I think.

[Quark]

Then can it be a shorter one? I don't think I can do a long one during the holiday season.

Whatever we do, I promise it won't be too exhausting. A short one sounds good. I might have to pick one that isn't in your book, though. "The Student" is really the only good story of the shorter ones, and we already did it.

Exactly my point. I liked all of the history plays so much - that surprised me but then I again I do love the history of the monarchs...the plays border on tragedies, so the interested me greatly. My favorite still is "Henry V", even though I don't particulary like war. It still has such great moments and speeches in that play and I adore the Kenneth Branagh movie. I watch it all the time; it is his most perfect movie, I think.

Any idea when the discussion begins on Richard II?

[Janine]

Whatever we do, I promise it won't be too exhausting. A short one sounds good. I might have to pick one that isn't in your book, though. "The Student" is really the only good story of the shorter ones, and we already did it.

Going soon to the PO to mail you the CD set; if I make it there intime. It is wrapped, addressed and ready to post. Maybe one on there will interest you. That would help me out a lot. I have been having some blurry vision so reading online would be difficult. The vision problem is due to some medication I have been taking. I hope I can get off it soon but it still will take time to vacate my system. A good one would be better for me. At this time, even January, I can't take on too much. There are some stressful things going on with my health and also in my family; so I will do my best.

Any idea when the discussion begins on Richard II?

I have no idea and I can't find a thing on the site about it. Maybe, I should email a mod. I can't figure out when that will begin, and no one else seems to know either. I am hoping it is January. I can't do the play, within the next two weeks...maybe I will just forget about that last one - MWOW. We can revisit it sometime next year, or do it on our own. It didn't interest me that much, anyway - I like either the serious Sh plays or the tragedies. Guess I am tragedy-minded.

[Quark]

Going soon to the PO to mail you the CD set; if I make it there intime. It is wrapped, addressed and ready to post. Maybe one on there will interest you.

I'll take a look. Wasn't "In the Ravine" in there? That's quite long, though.

I can't figure out when that will begin, and no one else seems to know either. I am hoping it is January. I can't do the play, within the next two weeks

If it's truly a winter Shakespeare discussion, then it would start on the 22nd. January would be fine with me, though. Really, is anyone going to post over Christmas?

[Janine]

I'll take a look. Wasn't "In the Ravine" in there? That's quite long, though.

A number of shorter stories, too.... but yes, "In the Ravine" is the featured story - I really liked it. I believe it takes up the entire last disc. I sent the 3 CD set off today - yea! You should get it in a few days - think the PO said 3-5. Hope you like it. I really enjoyed it a lot....hey, easy on the eyes, too...I like these readings on audio. I made the dire mistake to take "Frankenstein', actually on tape (still own a Sony Walkman, which plays incredibly well), with me to my urology appointment yesterday - I said to myself while waiting "am I crazy bringing this to with me to listen to?" - the talk of gore, body parts, etc. was not a good thing to listen to while waiting in that office. It hardly calmed my nerves.

I also own an Ipod Shuffle, my sister found on on a pavement; own a Creative Stone MP3 player and a CD Discman (Sony)...I use them all from time to time. I am equipped.

If it's truly a winter Shakespeare discussion, then it would start on the 22nd. January would be fine with me, though. Really, is anyone going to post over Christmas?

I doubt it....haha...they say so, but then no one shows up...you know how that goes...January would be best for me....but a few people seem to be jumping the gun on it; they did not officially announce it yet. Those who read it now will comment and then disappear - mark my words. That to me, is not a real discussion.

[Quark]

yes, "In the Ravine" is the featured story - I really liked it. I believe it takes up the entire last disc. I sent the 3 CD set off today - yea! You should get it in a few days - think the PO said 3-5. Hope you like it. I really enjoyed it a lot....hey, easy on the eyes, too...

Would you want to do that one, then? It's a great story, but I thought it might be a bit long.

Those who read it now will comment and then disappear - mark my words. That to me, is not a real discussion.

My, you've grown quite jaded with the Shakespeare thread. It's true that it might go nowhere, but it seems like there's at least a few people interested this time. Virgil usually shows up for a while, too.

[Janine]

Would you want to do that one, then? It's a great story, but I thought it might be a bit long.

aaaahhhhhh...I knew you would suggest that one....well, let me think about it...but it would have to start after the New Year. Yes, it is an excellent story. I think you will like the narration very much. He does a good job on narrating and getting the right bit of pathos in the voice. It is a very sad story to start the New Year off with though...let me think on it.

My, you've grown quite jaded with the Shakespeare thread. It's true that it might go nowhere, but it seems like there's at least a few people interested this time. Virgil usually shows up for a while, too.

Yes, I have grown quite jaded - good word - just check out the track record of the piror play discussion. I don't see much hope, past the first couple of weeks. They all just fizzle out....we need something to grab hold of the imagination or someone to sort of run those discussions, like we do on here and Lawrence....post text and talk about it. The whole discussion is always so scattered. We did half good on "A Winter's Tale", but there again, never finished it really. I guess 'unfinished' discussions sort of bug me. I know I was just as guilty, concerning the last one. I really did not have the time and was not feeling well, so I struggled for awhile, but only a few members showed their faces (avatars in this case) and helped answer the questions I posted. That was nice and then I said I would post more text questions; but then I got sidetracked....so now that one, MWOW, is in limbo or just plain deceased.

Your avy alteration makes me think of a cute little 'quark' peering out of the Christmas tree branches....what is a quark, again??? haah

[Pf. HS Dimple]

I want to read him, kindly send me his CD at [email protected]
I shall feel most obliged....

[Pf. HS Dimple]

For discussion on his works visit
http://www.online-literature.com/for...765#post646765

[Janine]

I want to read him, kindly send me his CD at [email protected]
I shall feel most obliged....

Pf. HS Dimple, I am sorry but what do you mean? This site does not give out free CD's. You must have misunderstood us. We make a trade and I burned him some CD's - part of the trade for a book he mailed to me. If we pick a story, most likely you can find the text online. Sorry for the mixup.

[Quark]

aaaahhhhhh...I knew you would suggest that one....well, let me think about it...but it would have to start after the New Year. Yes, it is an excellent story. I think you will like the narration very much. He does a good job on narrating and getting the right bit of pathos in the voice. It is a very sad story to start the New Year off with though...let me think on it.

Well, let me know if that would do. I've been meaning to reread that one for a while, so it would be easy for me. It is long, though.

Yes, I have grown quite jaded - good word - just check out the track record of the piror play discussion. I don't see much hope, past the first couple of weeks. They all just fizzle out....we need something to grab hold of the imagination or someone to sort of run those discussions...MWOW, is in limbo or just plain deceased.

If there's you, Virgil, and I all posting I would think that would help. The discussions always work best when you have a few people committed to the conversation. That way, if things start to slow down, someone will post something to keep it going. I don't think it's neccessarily excitement or imagination-grabbing that attracts so much as it activity. We want to post where we think we'll get noticed and responded to. When there isn't anyone posting regularly on a thread, it seems like you're in void and there isn't much incentive to put effort into posting. Activity and momentum seem key, and if there's three "regulars" posting, I think that could keep the thread going.

[Janine]

Well, let me know if that would do. I've been meaning to reread that one for a while, so it would be easy for me. It is long, though.

I would do this one, but we have to do it in a month's time; say starting January. I can't do the L thread and this one same time. We will most likely take a break in the L thread in January. Remember we talked about alternating or skipping one month between each story in each thread? It won't be easy, because we are still doing the L one and hope it gets done by then; but, I just looked at the calender and Christmas is a week and a half away - yikes! I didn't realise. I haven't even begun to decorate.

If there's you, Virgil, and I all posting I would think that would help. The discussions always work best when you have a few people committed to the conversation. That way, if things start to slow down, someone will post something to keep it going. I don't think it's neccessarily excitement or imagination-grabbing that attracts so much as it activity. We want to post where we think we'll get noticed and responded to. When there isn't anyone posting regularly on a thread, it seems like you're in void and there isn't much incentive to put effort into posting. Activity and momentum seem key, and if there's three "regulars" posting, I think that could keep the thread going.

Where do you mean - the Richard discussion? Well that sounds 'idealistic', because we start out fine, but then we all seem to drift...get distracted with other things. I see some people are reading it now. Make a bet, when the discussion comes, they will be nowhere to be found. I don't want to re-read the play till it is announced and closer to the actual discussion. Then I will read the first Act. If I read the whole thing right off the bat, I will forget most of it. Getting old you know and the memory needs jump starting somedays. But I will try to post and be consistent and brilliant in there and also, in here...

[Quark]

It won't be easy, because we are still doing the L one and hope it gets done by then

I don't have my books with me right now, so it's hard for me to pick another one at the moment. When I get back to my house, I'll search for a shorter story.

Where do you mean - the Richard discussion? Well that sounds 'idealistic'

Oh, who knows? I haven't seen many of these people posting on there now. I can't say whether they will get involved or not. I just meant that with you and I, and possibly Virgil, all posting it might do better than past discussions. If it doesn't, it won't really bother me. I've already read the play, so there isn't much work I have to do for the discussion.