Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Quark]

Hey, Quark, glad to see you back or at least making a guest appearance

I have until mid-January off, so I should be able to post for a while.

I would love to continue with Chekhov but if you can't do it, I will understand.

I would definitely be up to disgussing "Under the Greenwood Tree".

I think I'll ask people in the "General Literature" part of the forum what they think. If there's more interest in Chekhov, I'll just start another discussion in this thread. If Hardy is more popular, I'll make a new thread. I'll throw up three titles from each author in a poll, and see what happens. The list will be something like this: The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, "In the Ravine," Under The Greenwood Tree, The Woodlanders, The Mayor of Casterbridge. In any case, I'm going to contact the mods about getting the thread more visibility on the forum. These author pages make it hard to follow the discussions on a single text.

The L thread is on 'temporary' stagnation, too. I should post something in the thread just to keep it from getting buried

These threads are always buried. Anyone casually browsing LitNet would probably overlook both the L thread and the C thread, since they're in the incredibly difficult to navigate author list. It's long been my complaint that the site makes it easy to get to the inane conversations in the "General Literature" forum about who is the worst novelist of all time in the universe, but makes it difficult to find thoughtful discussions of a single text.

...we still have more stories to discuss in the L thread, you know...L was a prolithic author.

It doesn't just amaze me how many he wrote. It amazes me how many he wrote that were good. Many of these more obscure stories that he wrote are surprising good.

If you give it up completely, Quark, it will fall into obscurity...why don't you just put it on hold for a bit longer and we can pick up later on; even if we change formats and discuss a play.

I wouldn't mind doing more with Chekhov, but the thread hasn't generated much interest in the year-and-a-half it's been running. A change might help. If nothing else, creating a new thread gets some attention.

What other Hardy works have you read so far?

I've read most of the novels except Desperate Remedies, Two on a Tower, and that last one which I can never remember the title of. I'm only vaguely aware of his poetry, though.

As far as these are concerned though; these are the stories and narration I believe I send to you back a few years ago on CD's. Kenneth Branagh narrates them....Hey, Quark, you losing your memory...

Wait, "A Story without a Title" and "Hush" were in that set?

"Under the Greenwood Tree" IS a Christmas story; or at least, it begins at Christmas and like other Hardy works, goes through all 4 seasons. It's a lovely and fun story. I love it!

I would have offered it up to the Christmas Reading Poll if I had gotten here earlier, but I looked in just after they closed the poll.

[Janine]

I have until mid-January off, so I should be able to post for a while.

Oh good. I just found out today our home improvements might be pushed up a bit; local politics...don't ask....

I think I'll ask people in the "General Literature" part of the forum what they think. If there's more interest in Chekhov, I'll just start another discussion in this thread. If Hardy is more popular, I'll make a new thread. I'll throw up three titles from each author in a poll, and see what happens. The list will be something like this: The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, "In the Ravine," Under The Greenwood Tree, The Woodlanders, The Mayor of Casterbridge. In any case, I'm going to contact the mods about getting the thread more visibility on the forum. These author pages make it hard to follow the discussions on a single text.

That sounds doable; although I doubt anyone over there is interested. Anymore they like to chit-chat and flirt or worse yet, irritate each other. They might even say "Chekhov, who is he?" humm..."Hardy, who is he?" "Does he write vampire novels?"...just joking, of course. As far as speaking for myself, I love all three of those Hardy books. For right now, my attention span is terrible, so I would prefer to start with the shortest one. I did read Desperate Remedies and the first TH book I ever read was Two on a Tower...I found it at a yardsale and it introduced me to Hardy. I liked it; but now I don't think it was his best. I think I did however, enjoy Desperate Remedies, if it's the one I am thinking of. I do own them all, and hope to re-read them ALL eventually. Woodlanders is one of my favorite books; Mayor of C is amazing, too...both make me cry. The BBC movie adaptations are good, too but deviate slightly from the book text. I hope my set of plays comes soon; The Cherry Orchard is in that set and Judi Dench stars...that one is suppose to be the best version ever. You should buy that set yourself...on sale now on Amazon. I will look it up for you.

These threads are always buried. Anyone casually browsing LitNet would probably overlook both the L thread and the C thread, since they're in the incredibly difficult to navigate author list. It's long been my complaint that the site makes it easy to get to the inane conversations in the "General Literature" forum about who is the worst novelist of all time in the universe, but makes it difficult to find thoughtful discussions of a single text.

Yeah, tell me about it...exactly my own beef anymore. I can't even find them when I put them through 'search'...what's with that? They used to come up immediately...I would just put 'Lawrence' in and up popped the L short story thread...now I have to wade through tons of pure junk threads and several pages.

It doesn't just amaze me how many he wrote. It amazes me how many he wrote that were good. Many of these more obscure stories that he wrote are surprising good.

Not only that...he wrote tons of wonderfully expressed letters and tons of
novels and tons of commentaries and tons of travel books and tons of poems, etc. etc. etc...and all this while suffering with consumption....which, you know, eventually took his life at an early age. The man truly was amazing! Some of those more obscure stories ended up being my favorites. I finally read all the stories - some two and three times. I will, no doubt, read them all again someday - they are that good!

I am not that into Hardy's poetry...and I don't quite know why. My Japanese friend loves his poetry...I find it difficult. Odd, because he deals with the language barrier. I much prefer his novels but actually Hardy wrote those for a living and prefered his poetry....sort of like Michelangelo believing he was no painter but really a sculpture...yet take one look at the magnificance of the Sistine Chapel and we know he was indeed one of the greatest painters of all time.

I wouldn't mind doing more with Chekhov, but the thread hasn't generated much interest in the year-and-a-half it's been running. A change might help. If nothing else, creating a new thread gets some attention.

I don't want to give up on Chehkov. I finally got into the author more and you disappear. I know you were busy with school and study. I think I can better apply myself to the discussions now. Do you think Dark Muse is still interested in Chekhov? Maybe start a new thread on the plays...what do you think of that idea? True that creating a new thread can generate some new interest.

I've read most of the novels except Desperate Remedies, Two on a Tower, and that last one which I can never remember the title of. I'm only vaguely aware of his poetry, though.

Jude the Obsure. That one was not received too well - presented too many delicate topics (sex and religion) for the day; still shocks people, I think. It's a good book, but difficult. Basically, it's the most tragic of all Hardy's novels; a real heart-breaker. Tess of the D'Urbervilles is great. I also love Far from the Madding Crowd. Do consider these two novels, as well. I know you will love reading them...they are page-turners and they are poetic and wonderful!

Wait, "A Story without a Title" and "Hush" were in that set?

Eh, yeah....you must have been driving around a bend when these two stories were playing (I recall you listened to them going to your parent's house for the holidays). I will re-check my set; but if you got three cd's from me, they should be on one of those. I have listened to that set countless times now; I really like it a lot. See, Ken Branagh has turned me into a Chekhov fan! I know a women who flew to London to see him in Ivanhov...she did this twice and from Australia! She loved the play and his performance was stunning. The play text was revised by Tom Stoppard, I believe. I have heard some excerpts on Youtube and seen some photos of the production - looks extraordinary. I am jealous I could not have seen it, too.

I would have offered it up to the Christmas Reading Poll if I had gotten here earlier, but I looked in just after they closed the poll.

You know, I thought of it, too; but it was a little too late...I think they had the nominations posted already. Would have been the perfect holiday book; I don't know why Turn of the Screw is, do you? That seems more like Halloween to me. Maybe it takes place at Christmastime.

[Quark]

For right now, my attention span is terrible, so I would prefer to start with the shortest one.

Yeah, I don't want to do too much at the moment. I'm writing up a syllabus, doing Christmas shopping, and trying to be festive at the same time. I fear my Christmas cheer is running a little thin at the moment. I don't think I'll try anything ambitious on LitNet until after New Year's.

The BBC movie adaptations are good, too but deviate slightly from the book text. I hope my set of plays comes soon; The Cherry Orchard is in that set and Judi Dench stars...that one is suppose to be the best version ever. You should buy that set yourself...on sale now on Amazon. I will look it up for you.

If we do one of those, it might be interesting to compare it with the text. I'm sure there's plenty to talk about. Adaptions seem like they're either really excellent or laughably bad--entertaining in any case. I'd love to see a movie try to condense an entire Hardy novel into 120 minutes. Of course, they did a Bleak House movie, so anything is possible.

Yeah, tell me about it...exactly my own beef anymore. I can't even find them when I put them through 'search'...what's with that?

Well, I talked with Niamf a while back--a year ago probably--and said something about starting a subforum for reading groups like these. She seemed up for it, but I wasn't sure which to put into it so the idea never went anywhere. I'll bring it back up with the mods and just put this thread in there. Then, if it looks like a good setup, I'll ask to get more included. That might get these threads more visibility.

Some of those more obscure stories ended up being my favorites.

I thought "White Peacock" and that other infidelity one (the name escapes me) we read were quite good. They were stories I had never heard of, but I thought they stacked up with the major stories like "The Horse Dealer's Daughter." Sometimes the big, canonical works get an undue amount of attention for some very technical innovation they make, and they overshadow other very enjoyable works within an author's career. I think that's definitely the case with Lawrence's short stories. His famous novels and the couple of short stories that make it into anthologies have devalued his other contributions. I'm glad we've taken a look at some of the underrated stories.

I am not that into Hardy's poetry...and I don't quite know why. My Japanese friend loves his poetry...I find it difficult. Odd, because he deals with the language barrier. I much prefer his novels but actually Hardy wrote those for a living and prefered his poetry....sort of like Michelangelo believing he was no painter but really a sculpture...yet take one look at the magnificance of the Sistine Chapel and we know he was indeed one of the greatest painters of all time.

Yeah, Hardy thought his long bloated epic poem on the Napoleonic Wars was his great work. I rolled my eyes so far back I hurt myself when I heard that.

I don't want to give up on Chehkov. I finally got into the author more and you disappear.

I don't think it would be the end of the world if the discussion ended. We've already posted over one-thousand times in here. There is such a thing as beating a dead horse. Maybe something new would be a good change. If we switched over to talking about Hardy, I don't think it would too much of a shock to you since you've already read his entire body of work.

Do you think Dark Muse is still interested in Chekhov?

I think she's more interested in Poe and lyric poetry. That's fine, of course. In fact, I wish I could have given her more help in getting her Poe discussion group off the ground.

Maybe start a new thread on the plays...what do you think of that idea? True that creating a new thread can generate some new interest.

I'll ask around.

Jude the Obsure. That one was not received too well - presented too many delicate topics (sex and religion) for the day; still shocks people, I think. It's a good book, but difficult.

I was actually thinking of the Well-Beloved. Jude is the last of his Novels of Character and Environment--or, his "serious" novels. The Well-Beloved he just considered a long prose work. He started it in 1892 before Jude (1895), but he published the complete work after Jude in 1897. Jude was the last straw with him, though.

I don't know why Turn of the Screw is, do you? That seems more like Halloween to me. Maybe it takes place at Christmastime.

It was an odd choice considering that Dickens' Christmas Carol was also up for vote.

[Dark Muse]

You know, I thought of it, too; but it was a little too late...I think they had the nominations posted already. Would have been the perfect holiday book; I don't know why Turn of the Screw is, do you? That seems more like Halloween to me. Maybe it takes place at Christmastime.

Trading ghost stories was a common form of entertianment in the Victorian age during Christmas time, and so the story of the governesss within The Turn of the Screw is being told on Christmas eve.

Though it does not play a large part in the story, when the story is intruduced it makes a reference to Christmas.

[Quark]

Trading ghost stories was a common form of entertianment in the Victorian age during Christmas time, and so the story of the governesss within The Turn of the Screw is being told on Christmas eve.

Though it does not play a large part in the story, when the story is intruduced it makes a reference to Christmas.

Is that the pitch people used to get the story included in the poll? It seems a little weak. Although, maybe you could make an argument that it widens our conception of what Christmas is. So often everyone wants to have the same kind of Christmas that everyone else is having (you will wear the Rudolf sweater, and you'll like it!!), and we all end up straining to fit an image of what the perfect Holiday season is supposed to be. A ghost story might be a good change.

[Dark Muse]

Is that the pitch people used to get the story included in the poll? It seems a little weak. Although, maybe you could make an argument that it widens our conception of what Christmas is. So often everyone wants to have the same kind of Christmas that everyone else is having (you will wear the Rudolf sweater, and you'll like it!!), and we all end up straining to fit an image of what the perfect Holiday season is supposed to be. A ghost story might be a good change.

Haha, that is just my explination for it, though I have to say I am enjoying reading it, even though it is my second time for this one. I do rather like the Victorian idea of Christmas ghost stories.

I do not think the person who nominated it, said anything regarding thier reasons, and since the selection was not challenged by any other members it was added to the poll, and ended up getting the majority vote.

[Quark]

I do not think the person who nominated it, said anything regarding thier reasons, and since the selection was not challenged by any other members it was added to the poll, and ended up getting the majority vote.

I might give the story a chance in a couple of days. Right now, I'm a little busy with Christmas stuff--contemporary Christmas stuff--to contribute much.

[Dark Muse]

I might give the story a chance in a couple of days. Right now, I'm a little busy with Christmas stuff--contemporary Christmas stuff--to contribute much.

It is a good story.

[Janine]

Yeah, I don't want to do too much at the moment. I'm writing up a syllabus, doing Christmas shopping, and trying to be festive at the same time. I fear my Christmas cheer is running a little thin at the moment. I don't think I'll try anything ambitious on LitNet until after New Year's.

I am hearing you...I almost got into an fight with a lady at a grocery store tonight; she couldn't control her bratty kids in my opinion and she was quite defensive, when I said something to one of them for bumping my cart continually. I had major anxiety at that moment and could not take it; not to mention I was late to my son's house and knew standing in a long line to pick up rotisere chicken was cutting into my precious time with my granddaughter. We both have to take a deep breath and get through this next week...now snow is added to the mix here.....suppose to be pretty bad, so they say. At least tonight I got to see my darling granddaughter.

If we do one of those, it might be interesting to compare it with the text. I'm sure there's plenty to talk about. Adaptions seem like they're either really excellent or laughably bad--entertaining in any case. I'd love to see a movie try to condense an entire Hardy novel into 120 minutes. Of course, they did a Bleak House movie, so anything is possible.

I happen to think the adaptations I own are pretty decent ones. Only thing is "Woodlanders" I found out is an abreviated form for the US release; hate it when they do that. "The Mayor of Casterbridge" to me is A1...all the actors are excellent and it's a miniseries; so they could pretty much include everything that was in the book, plot-wise. I love the production! Yes, it would be great to compare them with the actual text and book.

Well, I talked with Niamf a while back--a year ago probably--and said something about starting a subforum for reading groups like these. She seemed up for it, but I wasn't sure which to put into it so the idea never went anywhere. I'll bring it back up with the mods and just put this thread in there. Then, if it looks like a good setup, I'll ask to get more included. That might get these threads more visibility.

You mean Niamh? haha..slip typing (?) I would like to see a better organisation of these discussion threads; not sure what the answer to that would be. They definitely need to be more visable and easier to find.

I thought "White Peacock" and that other infidelity one (the name escapes me) we read were quite good. They were stories I had never heard of, but I thought they stacked up with the major stories like "The Horse Dealer's Daughter." Sometimes the big, canonical works get an undue amount of attention for some very technical innovation they make, and they overshadow other very enjoyable works within an author's career. I think that's definitely the case with Lawrence's short stories. His famous novels and the couple of short stories that make it into anthologies have devalued his other contributions. I'm glad we've taken a look at some of the underrated stories.

It was 'Wintry Peacock'; "White Peacock" was Lawrence's first published novel. I read it and liked it very much, although it is not as developed and polished as his other works; the seeds of his later works are in that novel; there are a lot of beautifully poetic and lovely passages. I think the infidelity one you are thinking of is 'Witch A La Mode'...that one was great I thought...we did such an indept discussion on it and on the other; that made it really special, too. Some of L's less known books have actually left an deep impression on me. The last one I read was "Boy in the Bush" and I really loved it. It has a surprising ending but still I liked it a lot. I now own an early miniseries of the book which follows pretty closely but not entirely. I enjoy that as well. The book was originally not considered a major work by L because he collaborated on the storyline. Now scholars agree that the book is entirely Lawrence and I would agree with that. For some reason I can't stop thinking about that novel. It's set in Western Australia during the 1800's.

Yeah, Hardy thought his long bloated epic poem on the Napoleonic Wars was his great work. I rolled my eyes so far back I hurt myself when I heard that.

Oh wow; now see, I don't really like long epic poems like that. I don't have the attention span for them at all. I just can't get into his poems; I can't seem to find the flow or rhythm; do you know what I mean? Yet he is considered a major poet.

I don't think it would be the end of the world if the discussion ended. We've already posted over one-thousand times in here. There is such a thing as beating a dead horse. Maybe something new would be a good change. If we switched over to talking about Hardy, I don't think it would too much of a shock to you since you've already read his entire body of work.

Really, you don't think it would be the end of the world...well people in NJ think it is now that snow is predicted a week before Christmas! My son went to a supermarket tonight and he asked the manager if a boom had fallen - the shelves were whiped out! Ok, back to literature - sure, something new might be overdue here. I know a lot of people have listed Hardy in their favorite authors in their profile information - perhaps they will respond.

I think she's more interested in Poe and lyric poetry. That's fine, of course. In fact, I wish I could have given her more help in getting her Poe discussion group off the ground.

I feel badly I never joined in one of the discussions; I would have liked to sample some Poe myself.

I'll ask around.

Good idea.

I was actually thinking of the Well-Beloved. Jude is the last of his Novels of Character and Environment--or, his "serious" novels. The Well-Beloved he just considered a long prose work. He started it in 1892 before Jude (1895), but he published the complete work after Jude in 1897. Jude was the last straw with him, though.

Yep, right...I read that book ages ago...but was it "Well-Beloved" or just "Beloved" ? It somehow doesn't sound right but I know I read that book because my Japanese friend suggested it and he knows about the real life connections to the characters in that story. Personally, I didn't like the work as well as Hardy's other novels. Maybe I didn't get it. My Japanese friend apparently did get it and he liked it very much.

It was an odd choice considering that Dickens' Christmas Carol was also up for vote.

I still think so, too. To me it's stretching it a bit to have picked that novel, even if they mention Christmastime in the beginning.

[Quark]

I am hearing you...I almost got into an fight with a lady at a grocery store tonight

Yikes. That's tense.

I happen to think the adaptations I own are pretty decent ones. Only thing is "Woodlanders" I found out is an abreviated form for the US release; hate it when they do that. "The Mayor of Casterbridge" to me is A1...all the actors are excellent and it's a miniseries

I'll YouTube it.

You mean Niamh? haha..slip typing (?)

Yes, that's the one. What did I say? Niamf? Niammph? I always get names wrong. But, in any case, I want to ask around about setting up a subforum--maybe in the General Literature section--that would list these reading groups. When I first came to LitNet, I thought that the entire forum was devoted to reading groups like this. After all, the first thread I walked into was the Lawrence thread. Little did I know that these threads are actually the minority, and the few that are active are pushed to the sides. I think a subforum--or something like that--would be a great way to get these discussion more attention.

It was 'Wintry Peacock'; "White Peacock" was Lawrence's first published novel.

Of course. Yeah, I switched the names. The story I'd actually like to read is the "Prussian Officer." Someone mentioned it in the "Help me with a Quotation" thread, and it occurred to me that I hadn't read it. Supposedly, it is one of the major works.

Yep, right...I read that book ages ago...but was it "Well-Beloved" or just "Beloved" ?

I'm pretty sure it's Well-Beloved. Beloved is a Toni Morrison novel, I think.

[Dark Muse]

I'm pretty sure it's Well-Beloved. Beloved is a Toni Morrison novel, I think.

Yes, Beloved is a novel by Toni Morriosn

[Quark]

Just bumping this thread so that it stays on the top of the Chekhov threads. Don't mind me.

[Janine]

Just bumping this thread so that it stays on the top of the Chekhov threads. Don't mind me.

Oh yeah Quark, I do that with the L one occasionally. Right now I am stagnant and trying to decide on a story. I need to reply to your post a few back.

You are right, Dark Muse. I had them mixed up.

[Janine]

Yikes. That's tense.

Don't worry, I didn't take any action.

I'll YouTube it. Did you? I love that film and watched it again not long after I brought it up in here.

Yes, that's the one. What did I say? Niamf? Niammph? I always get names wrong. But, in any case, I want to ask around about setting up a subforum--maybe in the General Literature section--that would list these reading groups. When I first came to LitNet, I thought that the entire forum was devoted to reading groups like this. After all, the first thread I walked into was the Lawrence thread. Little did I know that these threads are actually the minority, and the few that are active are pushed to the sides. I think a subforum--or something like that--would be a great way to get these discussion more attention.

It's an idea. What exactly though is a subforum?
It's spelled Niamh...it's not an easy spelling to remember or pronounce.

Of course. Yeah, I switched the names. The story I'd actually like to read is the "Prussian Officer." Someone mentioned it in the "Help me with a Quotation" thread, and it occurred to me that I hadn't read it. Supposedly, it is one of the major works.

We read that one and discussed it in length. How did you miss out? Maybe you hadn't joined the group yet. It's a great story. Do read it. It's longer than some but it goes along quickly. I know you will like that one. You can still find the discussion in the L thread closer to the beginning. May have been the second or third story we did. Virgil picked that one.

I'm pretty sure it's Well-Beloved. Beloved is a Toni Morrison novel, I think.[/QUOTE]

It is! I hadn't read it for a long time and I forgot.

Good to see you back on the forum Quark. You have been missed.

[Quark]

I'll YouTube it. Did you?

Of course. I love film adaptations. It was pretty good. I thought that was a particularly hard novel to do, though. The characters are so larger than life that it's hard not to be disappointed when you see some random twit actor playing Henchard.

It's an idea. What exactly though is a subforum?

Subforums are those forums within forums. The "Serious Discussion" section of the "General Chat" section is a subforum.

I floated the idea of user-started bookclub forum, but that didn't get much support. It looks like we'll have to stay in the author's forum for the time being.

We read that one and discussed it in length. How did you miss out? Maybe you hadn't joined the group yet.

I think it was before my time. There were a few stories before I got involved.

I'll check it out next time I'm at the library.

Good to see you back on the forum Quark. You have been missed.

And good to see you. It's been a while.