Susan Hated Literature

Trans: A.E. Chamot
Author: Anton Chekov

First line:
On an April day of the year 1880 the doorkeeper Andrey came into my private room and told me in a mysterious whisper that a gentleman had come to the editorial office and demanded insistently to see the editor

It has take me quite a while to finish this short novel, still I would recommend it highly. Chekhov is famous for his plays, his Cherry Orchard’s and Russian sisters, not to mention Uncle Vanya’s trousers^[1] but he also wrote a large number of novels and short stories.

The Shooting Party is a novel within a novel. The prelude and postscript are written by an editor, about the work contained between. This story, The Shooting Party, is the work of a retired magistrate, who is telling the true story of a case that he was involved in some years before. This case revolves around a “girl in red” who enchants more than one of the local men.

Both stories are told in the first person narration, although by different narrators. Every now and then the editor will insert a little note on the text, pointing out what he feel the reader should be paying attention to by his use of footnotes.

Despite being an incredibly unlikeable character, somehow, even knowing everything that he is responsible, I still ended up liking him. Maybe because of his cynical comments and mindset. Maybe because of the odd touch of humour amid the drama.

A fatal love story, and a romance, this book partly inspired Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Akroyd. I borrowed my copy from the library, it is so old I can’t find the isbn, but I may buy a copy of my own.

Posted because this post at Tripping Toward Lucidity reminded me of chicken. Can you guess which card?

As you can see I have unstickified that voting post. I was getting ever so bored of seeing the yellow banner everytime I visited, so I’m sure you were too. And if you haven’t voted by now, you aren’t in with the chance to win^[1] a brand spanking new phone.

There is an interesting post over on In Fact, Ah about the war between the economy and the environment. And how many economy-types see environmental issues as second to economic ones. Which begs the question, in the long run, what exactly is an economy based on oil going to do when the oil runs out? No matter how outstanding it otherwise might be.

Working together is the only way forward, it may not make economic sense in the short term, but long term is there any other option?

Oh, the economy and ‘vironment should be friends,
Oh, the economy and ‘vironment should be friends.

Which reminds me of yer man from Top Gear, driving his fast cars all over the place, telling his viewers that some people would like him to use more efficient vehicles, but listen to that roar. How much of a roar will he let out if prices continue to soar?

But, did anyone see Top Gear’s take on the Winter Olympics? With the race between the jaguar^[2] and the speed skater? Now that was entertaining And the mini doing the ski-jump. And the cars playing ice-hockey.

For mindless entertainment you really can’t beat fellas messing about in cars with no visible worries about safety or cost, or anything but a woah-dude mentality.