What are you currently reading?

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Now for some Verne and old Bill. Firstly, rarely-read Golden volcano which technically wasn't completely by Jules but some parts of it were written by his son. It certainly shows in the quality of the book (even if it still is pretty good read), compared to other Verne book now rereading: In search of the castaways, featuring my favorite Verne character of all time: Tom Ayrton. Yet I haven't read the mysterious island where not only Ayrton reappears but also captain Nemo!

As for Shakespeare I'm tackling one of his less esteemed plays, The two gentlemen of Verona. I think it is fine achievement, except of course the infamous part in the end where, in Hilary Spurling's words, "Valentine is so overcome [by Proteus' apology] that he promptly offers to hand over his beloved to the man who, not three minutes before, had meant to rape her." Of course the line "All that was mine in Silvia I give thee" can be interpreted differently as well.

[Mookalafalas]

Now I wouldn't tweak most posters here, but but for you Al .... OK, all credit to Doyle for the lift.

  Come on, Ken, it's not like I have a PhD in English, or am an English teacher or anything...

[Linus]

Just finished Dostoyevsky's short story White Nights.



Not bad at all. It's baffling the many illusions we make up in order to save ourselves from disappointment and despair. Deliciously bitter and pathetic, this stuff.

Perhaps the ultimate "friendzone" novella, to use hip vernacular.

Grade: ***--

(Is Dostoyevsky's overall tone always this high school-y, though?)

[kishnevi]

Just finished Dostoyevsky's short story White Nights.



Not bad at all. It's baffling the many illusions we make up in order to save ourselves from disappointment and despair. Deliciously bitter and pathetic, this stuff.

Perhaps the ultimate "friendzone" novella, to use hip vernacular.

Grade: ***--

(Is Dostoyevsky's overall tone always this high school-y, though?)

Paging Mr. Henning.

[Karl Henning]

Just finished Dostoyevsky's short story White Nights.



Not bad at all. It's baffling the many illusions we make up in order to save ourselves from disappointment and despair. Deliciously bitter and pathetic, this stuff.

Perhaps the ultimate "friendzone" novella, to use hip vernacular.

Grade: ***--

(Is Dostoyevsky's overall tone always this high school-y, though?)

Oh, gosh . . . I'm not sure I'd call it "high-schooley" . . . the narrator is certainly older than that.  But there is a touching simplicity about which I found winning enough to compose a ballet after it.

[Karl Henning]

Paging Mr. Henning.

Hah!

To address the question, though . . . most of Dostoyevsky is a good deal darker.  If you're ready to plunge headlong into the abyss, I suggest The Devils/The Possessed.  More corpses strewn about the stage at the end than in Hamlet.  (I should like to write an opera on that one . . . .)

[Mookalafalas]

Oh, gosh . . . I'm not sure I'd call it "high-schooley" . . . the narrator is certainly older than that.  But there is a touching simplicity about which I found winning

I'll say! I found it devastating. 

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Georges Lebanc, per the publisher, is directed at 7-10 year-olds.  But like many a 'children's book' before it (eg: Wind in the Willows and Alice) it's adults who I think will appreciate it the most.  (or is that merely my excuse to read such exquisite works?).  Georges - as you may have guessed - is a park bench, a sentient one with a taste for adventure.  By turns comic, fantastic, touching and always visually and verbally clever and très français, this is a work that deserves broader readership and won't get it 'cause it's in French.  'Twould be tough to translate.  But even looking at the pictures would be a treat for anyone. 

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

A scene from Georges Lebanc by Claude Ponti. Shown are the Rats Kmaninotts vacuuming-up the notes sung in the very early morning.  Without them, they die of silence.

[Ken B]

A scene from Georges Lebanc by Claude Ponti. Shown are the Rats Kmaninotts vacuuming-up the notes sung in the very early morning.  Without them, they die of silence.

I assume you have watched A Cat in Paris.

[Artem]

Hah!

To address the question, though . . . most of Dostoyevsky is a good deal darker.  If you're ready to plunge headlong into the abyss, I suggest The Devils/The Possessed.  More corpses strewn about the stage at the end than in Hamlet.  (I should like to write an opera on that one . . . .)

What do you think about the Idiot?

[Linus]

Oh, gosh . . . I'm not sure I'd call it "high-schooley" . . . the narrator is certainly older than that.  But there is a touching simplicity about which I found winning enough to compose a ballet after it.

Hah!

To address the question, though . . . most of Dostoyevsky is a good deal darker.  If you're ready to plunge headlong into the abyss, I suggest The Devils/The Possessed.  More corpses strewn about the stage at the end than in Hamlet.  (I should like to write an opera on that one . . . .)

I'll say! I found it devastating. 

To clarify, I did find White Nights quite dark -- devastating even -- and, psychologically, I find Dosto to be one of the most spot-on, mature authors out there, even though I have only read White Nights, Crime and Punishment and The Double so far.

But throughout those stories, I can't help but feel that the narrator sounds a bit insecure and shaky, like someone who just figured something out and wants to test his hypothesis, rather than a rugged, experienced fellow who has "been there, done that".

It doesn't have to be a bad thing, it's not a biggy, but personally I think it clashes a bit with Dosto's psychological insights.

[Karl Henning]

To clarify, I did find White Nights quite dark -- devastating even -- and, psychologically, I find Dosto to be one of the most spot-on, mature authors out there, even though I have only read White Nights, Crime and Punishment and The Double so far.

But throughout those stories, I can't help but feel that the narrator sounds a bit insecure and shaky, like someone who just figured something out and wants to test his hypothesis, rather than a rugged, experienced fellow who has "been there, done that".

It doesn't have to be a bad thing, it's not a biggy, but personally I think it clashes a bit with Dosto's psychological insights.

That's true about the narrator in White Nights;  but remember, the character an author creates, and the author's character, are distinct matters

Take our Dave . . . he writes about zombies . . . .

[Karl Henning]

What do you think about the Idiot?

A great favorite;  in fact, I've just started to re-read it.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I assume you have watched A Cat in Paris.

Yes, and enjoyed it but not as much as Triplets and some other French animated work.   

[Linus]

That's true about the narrator in White Nights;  but remember, the character an author creates, and the author's character, are distinct matters

I didn't mean to imply that Dosto is some sort of sophomore.

Nor his characters, really. Only that his style (I suppose that's it) has a certain quality.

Take our Dave . . . he writes about zombies . . . .

I've noticed some users are referred to by first names here. I'm afraid I have no idea who Dave is.

[North Star]

I didn't mean to imply that Dosto is some sort of sophomore.

Nor his characters, really. Only that his style (I suppose that's it) has a certain quality.

I've noticed some users are referred to by first names here. I'm afraid I have no idea who Dave is.

MN Dave. No idea if his username is that at the moment. 

[Karl Henning]

I've noticed some users are referred to by first names here. I'm afraid I have no idea who Dave is.

Gosh, nor does it help that, actually, we have several Daves! 

[Karl Henning]

Deal of the Week: 54% Off John Wayne: The Epic Collection (with Amazon Exclusive "Duke" Belt Buckle)

[Karl Henning]

French Muslims to Islamic State: We are also 'dirty French'