Category Archives: LITERATURE

LITERATURE: Romance Turns 60!

Posted on April 14, 2009 by susan

Michael at 2 Blowhards reminds us that Harlequin Romance Novels turns sixty this year, and points out that romance has gotten a bum rap amongst the literati and filtered to an often elitist readership over the years. There are two … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Unconsoled – Humor

Posted on April 12, 2009 by susan

Haven’t given up on this book, but it’s clearly not a favorite. There seems to be “much ado about nothing” and yet I’m sure that if I could just reach that level of understanding the story would be more meaningful … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE & REALITY?: The Faith of Youth

Posted on April 12, 2009 by susan

“That’s stupid. How could Mighty Mouse beat up Superman? Mighty Mouse is a cartoon!” Man, that’s faith. This is from the wonderful “Stand By Me.”

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LITERATURE & REALITY?: Chekhov’s The Black Monk

Posted on April 11, 2009 by susan

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to be reading something just when you need it. Or maybe it’s just that you read into it what you need to get out of it. In The Black Monk, scholar and philosopher Andrey Vail’ich Kovrin, … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Chekhov as Painter

Posted on April 11, 2009 by susan

You know, there’s nothing to compare to the old when it comes to story writing and someone such as Chekhov: The gloomy pines, with their rough roots that but a year ago had seen him so young, joyful and hale, … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE & REALITY?: Stories & Song

Posted on April 11, 2009 by susan

Funny, a woman can come on so wild and free, yet insist I don’t watch her undress, or watch her watch me, then stand by my bed and shiver as if she were cold, just to lay down beside me … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE & REALITY?: Life Imitates Art?

Posted on April 10, 2009 by susan

Shades of The Road, Blind, and so many apocalyptic and disaster aftermath novels: More Squatters Call Foreclosures Home. Now there’s something to this that could have been good, could have worked, like not forcing the real owners to leave to … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: My Argument with Chekhov

Posted on April 10, 2009 by susan

Or perhaps just with his character of Egor Semenych, an elderly man whose love of his garden is his life’s passion. Who worries that when he is dead, his garden will go to ruin, and even the idea of his … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Prose/Poetry

Posted on April 7, 2009 by susan

More poetry from Jesse Abbot and this particular piece crosses the border into prose. I like it. I’ve always wondered (and should study up on it or get into a poetry group) what makes prose into poetry. I’m a lover … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Chekhov’s Excellent People

Posted on April 5, 2009 by susan

Within this story of a man’s preferred connections to the literary communities there is a relationship between his sister and him that begs attention. A disillusioned and heartbroken woman, Vera Semyonovna spends her time pondering the meaning of life. “I’ve … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Chekhov’s Short Stories

Posted on April 4, 2009 by susan

One thing I’ve always loved about Chekhov is how he homes in on the simplest aspects of human nature or human interaction and makes it important. In The Kiss, with an entire army and a military scenario, the focus is … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: More on National Poetry Month

Posted on April 2, 2009 by susan

Caught this in our local The Valley Press (CT): River Literary Arts Center, 40 Mill Lane, Farmington (CT) will offer the Poet’s Craft – A Writer’s Workshop four Mondays, April 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 7 t0 8:30 p.m. … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Unconsoled – Language & Pace

Posted on April 1, 2009 by susan

It’s really embarrassing to me how slow I’m reading this book. While I’ve been involved in hypertext writing and coding for same, that’s really not an excuse for not allowing some reading time, and this story just hasn’t kept me … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: Some Poetical Links

Posted on April 1, 2009 by susan

Today starts National Poetry Month and I’d like to point out some resources that should satisfy the most needy of poetical spirit. Read, Write, Think has a pageful of ideas and links to inspire; Poets, Org. has much to offer–check … Continue reading →

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LITERATURE: The Unconsoled – Story

Posted on March 26, 2009 by susan

This is sort of Twilight Zone-ish in that something’s going on that the town all knows about and is plotting for while the narrator is rather oblvious to the situation. Even before Jakob Kanitz had finished speaking, a low assenting … Continue reading →

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