Kendal Book Group had a really exciting meeting today! Our discussion of three short stories by Anton Chekov was led by Dr. Carol Apollonio who is a professor of Russian Literature at Duke University. This is the third time she has been kind enough to enlighten us on some difficult and beautiful literature. Carol is the daughter of a Kendal resident so we have kind of an "in" which allows us this privilege. The group's assignment was to read three short stories by Chekov.
Some of us thought the stories, "Rothchild's Violin", "Lady with the Dog", and "In the Cart", depressing and pointless. Carol explained that an engaging plot is not always necessary, that a story can be told for other reasons, and that we can enjoy vivid descriptions, find hidden symbolism, and learn about the history and issues of the day. So we had a good discussion about the fact that plot is not always the basis of good writings, and that sometimes in a good book or story, it seems as if "nothing happens."
Two years ago our assignment was to read "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky which was hundreds of pages and very difficult to plod through because the story was about a dysfunctional man who lived in poverty before the revolution. Last year we read "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy which was easier to read because of the romance and the social life of the upper class. We always find it amazing when Carol uncovers for us meanings we would never have found on our own.
Next month we will read "Unbroken", a true story about World War II, as told by Laura Hillendbrand. We hope that the two men in our book group who fought in that war will enlighten us. So far, our group of twenty or so, have read sixty- some books over the past five years and look forward to more. We occasionally have a local professor to help us understand but mostly we just rely on each other's understanding. We have a good time!
Eloise
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