One of the best short stories I've ever read
I picked up an old edition of Commentary magazine recently, the October 2004 edition. It has a short story by Mark Helprin called "Perfection" about a young Chassidic boy who plays baseball for the Yankees. I've read it twice, and it is a heart-warming, gripping and insightful story. Quite simply incredible.
I also loved Oscar Wilde's The Birthday of the Infanta, and The Happy Prince. I can't believe this is the same author that wrote Dorian Grey, one of the most decadent novels ever written. Maybe there's a documentary hypothesis for Wilde?
Just thought I'd share that with you. Thanks for listening.
TRK
posted by TRK @ 4:10 AM
12 comments
12 Comments:
maybe there's a DH for your blog too, by the same token ; some of your posts are quite insightful while some are, well, a bit egocentered IMHO.
At any rate, have a pessach kasher vesame'ach !
Thanks Hayim, CS to you too.
There are many aspects to me, the insightful, highly-educated side, and the immature childish side. This is my blog so it will reflect me.
TRK
You must MUST read Nicole Krauss's short story from The New Yorker a few months back. I am going to reread it over Pesach. Forgot what its called (some help!). Go to thenewyorker.com
So you didn't care for Dorian Gray? Or you did?
Hag kasher v'sameach from a rebbetz!
Haven't read any of those, but try "Hills Like White Elephants" by Hemingway. I generally hate Hemingway, but this short story is excellent.
CJ,
You forgot to write LD! When you gonna start blogging so we can all heckle you? The site is newyorker.com but I couldn't find the Krauss article.
B2,
I loved Dorian Grey! Have you not read my blog? I love decadence, hedonism and the good life. It's part of who I am. I felt the sheer cynicism of Lord Henry Wooton drip right through my soul. But it moved me in an entirely different way to the two short stories. They seem almost biblical, if you know what I mean. I liked your quantum physics/matsah moshol on your site.
Eli,
I found a link: http://ee.1asphost.com/shortstoryclassics/hemingwayhills.html
It's great. There is so much simmering away under the surface that you have to fill in yourself. One of my favorite books that does that is Stephen King's "The Long Walk" - not a horror book, just incredibly gripping and disturbing.
TRK
Yeah, I'm getting a sense of your blog personality now... and it's just that your comparison of the two other WIlde works made it sound as though you liked those two, in contrast to your reaction to Dorian Gray -- my mistake. There's actually a great sci-fi book in which the main character has based his life on Oscar Wilde... sort of. It's called Architects of Emortality, and it's pretty good (though part of a series, so it's requires a bit of a commitment to get into it).
As for your question on my blog, I prefer "rebbetz," but yes -- my wife was ordained at HUC-JIR here in L.A. in the first ordination at the Los Angeles campus.
got it b2! I always wonder what you guys can call yourself. the rabbi's husband? what is the etymology of rebbetzin? have you been given other suggestions?
Also, are you expected to chip in to your wife's work? help set up the kiddush? do you have to wear one of those t-shirts at shul functions?
Wilde is definately a FASCINATING character! What did you think of "The Importance of Being Earnest?" (I'm assuming you read it.)
TM, Haven't read it yet :-(. Saw the film, loved the dialogue. Must read it. Your thoughts?
You read it and then I'll tell you what I think. ;-)
Ok. Will try and get to it soon.
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