Question for Dr. Grossman Re: fiction choices

[dandylife]

Dr. Grossman,

I have been checking out your selections at the following link:

http://astore.amazon.com/richardgrossman/104-1359544-5465532?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=73

"Richard's fiction selections"

I notice there is a sort of dark, ominous tone to your selections and wondered if there is a reason why? Besides death and voicelessness I notice many of your selections were written in the late 30's and 40's.

I have decided to order "Stories of Anton Chehov" through this link. Looking forward to reading it!

Dandylife

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi Dandylife,

I appreciated your question and haven't forgotten it.  It's been a long and difficult day on the Board, so I'm going to get some rest and I'll get back to you in the morning. 

Best,

Richard

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi Dandylife,

“I notice there is a sort of dark, ominous tone to your selections and wondered if there is a reason why?”

For me the main purpose of literature is to reveal human nature—and very often that nature is best revealed when people struggle with the hardest issues in life.  I deal with such issues every day in my work--still the books listed struck me as extraordinary.  “Austerlitz”: a child sent away by parents in order to survive the holocaust.  “A Death in the Family”:  the father of a small boy dies in an auto accident.  “Darkness at Noon”:  political imprisonment.  “Embers”:  I don’t want to give away the plot—but the book is brilliantly told.  “Reading Turgenev”—a young woman finds herself living a life that is totally devoid of meaning and passion.  “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”—what happens when a man discovers his  life pursuits have been meaningless.  Chekhov is different:  the everyday dilemmas his characters face are often both serious and funny.  A writer’s writer, he has taught generations of young writers how to write… 

“Besides death and voicelessness I notice many of your selections were written in the late 30's and 40's.”

I think this is simply a matter of these selections surviving the test of time.

Have fun with the Chekhov stories.  “The Lady with the Pet Dog” (the name is translated in various ways) is one of my favorites.

Best (and thanks for supporting the board!),

Richard

[dandylife]

Dr. Grossman,

Thank you for the additional insights. I am a voracious reader. Your choices are intriguing...

(You may be getting lots of support... )

Dandylife

[Ami]

Dr G's comment about literature teaching us about human nature is very interesting. It hit me as very profound, even though I should have "known"it.
 Of course, great writers understand the human condition, or they would not be "great" writers.
 Maybe, the first key is understanding ourselves, as honesty as we can, to look in our own nooks and crannies(scary) with open eyes.
 I would love to hear anyone's comments , as I seem to be at exactly this place, right now.         Ami

[Violet]

“The Death of Ivan Ilyich”—what happens when a man discovers his  life pursuits have been meaningless. 

I'm glad I read this thread!  Tolstoy and Chekhov are lifelong favorites.  Sholokoff and others...  Love Russian lit.  "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is one of those I return to time after time, like an old predictable friend.  Also love and often reread the book "The Plague" by Camus.

Chekhov is different:  the everyday dilemmas his characters face are often both serious and funny.  A writer’s writer, he has taught generations of young writers how to write… 

  “The Lady with the Pet Dog” (the name is translated in various ways) is one of my favorites.

Yes, a great one!  Also "The Steppe" which I return to over and over. Victor Hugo said, "Books are cold but true friends."  (I think it was Hugo).  Anyway, such a true statement.  They never let you down!

Anyone else have favorites they read and reread throughout their lives?  Another of mine is Les Miserables and anything by Dickens.  I know I am a stick in the mud for mainly reading dusty old stuff, I need to read some more current things.  Hey, where is this list of recommended fiction, Dr. Grossman?  Violet

[Leah]

"Books are cold but true friends."  

Books are my best friends!!   

"Les Miserables" yes, and, I so enjoyed the west end production.

Dickens and all the classics (worldwide) I absolutely love to return to again and again.

Violet -- for Dr Grossman's listing ....

go the last board on the board listing .... "Support the Board - amazon"

http://www.voicelessness.com/disc3//index.php?topic=7118.0   at the top left hand side of the amazon screen -- select "Richard's Fiction"


Leah x

[Iphi]

The books on the list put me in mind of a book I read a couple of years ago, The Ninth Life of Louis Drax, by Liz Jensen. 

http://www.amazon.com/Ninth-Life-Louis-Drax-Novel/dp/1582345171

Looks like it is going to be a movie as well.  I don't want to spoil the plot as it is a thriller.  Sometimes individual posts here and elsewhere remind me of the plot of this book.

[Violet]

The books on the list put me in mind of a book I read a couple of years ago, The Ninth Life of Louis Drax, by Liz Jensen. 

Maybe I'll pick it up at the library tomorrow if they have it; I need something good to read while I lie in be and try to recover from this devil disease....   What's it about Iphi?  V