Novellas and Shorts, Vol.1

A collection of novella's and shorts I have been reading that add up to over 300 pages. For background to the series see the above link.

*"The Golden Pot", from The Golden Pot and Other Tales (Oxford World's Classics), E.T.A. Hoffmann (read: March 2011, 83 pgs)

"The Golden Pot" is a strange mystical story. Most remarkable is its ambiance of magic and fantasy held together with utterly unique prose and vision. I'm not sure what to make of it, like trying to grasp water, it slips away even after two readings.

*"The Forty Seven Ronin", from Tales of Old Japan, A.B. Mitford (read: April 2011, 35 pgs)

"The Forty Seven Ronin" is apparently as popular in Japan as something like 'A Christmas Carol' in the West, endlessly adapted and retold in plays, movies, radio etc.. an entire genre unto itself. It's based on a true story from the 18th century, about 47 Samurai who died in a honorable way, their graves can still be visited to this day. The story became somewhat popular in the west in the 19th century, with the retelling here by A.B. Mitford, which was once thought to be accurate, but now seen as embellished in the details. Still, a memorable story and a great introduction to Japanese literature and character. If I was 17 I would think it the best story I ever read.

* "Wild Child", from Wild Child and Other Stories by T. C. Boyle (read: May 2011, 75 pgs)

"Wild Child" is the title story from Boyle's short story collection, supposedly the best of the bunch, so I just read this one, the longest, more of a novella. Based on a true story of an abandoned French boy who went feral and was raised by dogs and then taken in by society which tries with varying success to civilize him. Philosophically it's dealing with the Rousseaunian idea of man in his perfect primal condition versus the corruption of civilization; and Rousseau's theories on educations - and since it's set in France at around the time Rousseau was alive gives added literary connection. The writing style reminds me of the technique used in Heinrich von Kleist's ''Michael Kohlhaas'' (1811) - a document of the time it was written. A story of substance and interest.

* "The League of Youth", from A Doll's House and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) by Henrik Ibsen (read: July 2011, 140 pgs)

"The League of Youth" was Ibsen's first play written in a realistic style and in prose - up to that point he wrote plays in verse set in mythical settings. While not very popular outside of Scandinavia, it is one of his most popular at home in Norway. It's a comedy with witty dialogue and fast changing action. It's the first Ibsen I've read, and I enjoyed it, apparently lighter than some of his more symbol-laden later plays.

--Review by Stephen Balbach, via CoolReading (c) 2011 cc-by-nd ( )