A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life | 
so-soWhile Saunders' commentaries about the seven Russian short stories he selected for this book were insightful, I found them at times tedious and repetitive.
The great thing is that it enticed me to start a collection of short stories by Tchekhov ;)
#ItTakesAllKinds #WithRain need to get to this one , been on my TBR since it was published! 😳😄
Saunders is teaching me how to read again and it is a beautiful, exciting experience. Loving this so far.
pickThe second finished book of May was actually my April #Doublespin. I liked this one, but it was slow going. Russian lit is not typically my favorite, but the author's analysis helped me see these short stories through new lenses. He also gave me new perspective on writing fiction that will stick with me. @TheAromaofBooks
pickI loved this 'class' on Russian short stories, the art & craft of writing, and why we read fiction at all. It made my heart expand. I even teared at the end.
It's not an easy read per se, but it's enlightening and appeals to the inner English major. Audio is great. The stories are read by actors but the commentary is read by Saunders himself, which makes it feel like you really are a pupil in his class. I plan to buy a hard copy to revisit.
pickSaunders presents seven short stories from Russian authors and follows each with an essay that analyzes the story and discusses why stories work in general - what keeps us reading and why a good story ends where it does. I recommend the audiobook - each story has a different celebrity narrator, but I like Saunders' own narration of the essays best. They already have the right mix of scholar and superfan, and his own voice lends a personal touch.
I was happy to find this in Half Price today. I am excited to dive in after reading the intro! It‘s sort of like being able to have a conversation after reading a short story. 😄
Waiting for my Tom Yum to arrive. 😋
pickA wonderful masterclass in how to write a short story, by one of the best. I enjoyed this on many levels: s as an introduction to Russian classics (most of which I hadn‘t read); an insight into how a story works and how to read better, and the joy of being in Saunders‘ company as he describes the process. Always humble and with contagious enthusiasm, he is a great teacher.
Someone went to the B&N 50% off Hardcover sale . I was really on the hunt for the 3rd Vol. In illustrated Game of Thrones . They had it but dinged corners and a crease on front cover , paper over board , how does that even happen?🤕Thought about Didion, there is an Everyman edition of most of her non fiction.beat up corners too.I loved what I got , Christmas stuff on sale too!Hardcover sale ends tonight.Guess who needs a book buying ban?
pickSaunders opens the door to his classroom with this book & invites readers inside. Selecting some of his favorite Russian short stories from over 20 years of teaching, Saunders has you read them before he discusses them as he would in class. His enthusiasm for teaching, literature, & writing comes through on every page. A friend & I have discussed each story & analysis, one a month or so, & it‘s made for some great discussions. A fantastic book.
pickOne Booker Prize-winning author, four titans of Russian literature, and seven celebrity narrators await you in the audiobook edition of an MFA class George Saunders has been teaching at Syracuse University for the past 20 years! I can‘t decide what I loved more—the stories narrated by Nick Offerman, Glenn Close, Rainn Wilson, and Renee Elise Goldsberry or the rich, warm, life-affirming, and soul-stirring analysis and advice by George Saunders.
pickGeorge Saunders, a national treasure and one of my favorite authors, takes 7 great Russian short stories and analyzes them with us in this book, which is like taking a writing course from George Saunders without paying tuition! How could anyone pass that up? If you love reading or writing or both, this is a wonderful book about what stories do to us and for us and how we might discover our own voice through our own writing and reading.
pickWhat an awesome and unique book! I wouldn‘t have thought I would love a book where you read Russian short stories and the have George Saunders analyze them with you but it actually works perfectly! If you‘re a writer I think you would really love this but I‘m not and I still thought it was amazing. Saunders just seems like such a great down to earth person and you can just sense his joy in writing and reading and it‘s infectious (in a good way!)
When you're not ready to pause your audiobook so you sit in the car for a few minutes listening before you go into work 😍 #audiocommute
pickA lifelong Russophile, I hadn‘t read some of these stories in decades. They were like revisiting old friends but with new eyes and new appreciation. Saunders‘ insightful commentary was is wise and made me wish I were a writer. The audiobook cannot be recommended highly enough. A pleasure.
I am relishing this audiobook on my #audiocommute to the hospital. I have a deep love of Russian classics, and Saunders's essays are a wonderful way to more deeply appreciate these short stories and, more generally, the art of story. I do feel a bit of a Russian lit kick coming on, but I have so many books I want to read, I need to resist another reread of War and Peace or Anna Karenina. 😅
pickSeven stories by four Russian greats (Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Gogol) are presented with critical essays from Saunders on each. In one essay, he writes that “A story is a frank, intimate conversation between equals. We keep reading because we continue to feel respected by the writer.” I would apply that same thinking to Saunders‘ essays. This is such a fabulous, engaging book...👇
Saunders has created tables for analyzing Chekhov's story "The Darling." Tables! ??
#currentlyreading this for my first graduate school class and it is so, so good. It's a whole class in itself.
pickSanders analysis of the Russian masters was an absolute joy to read. His afterwards of the 7 short stories illustrated the difference between the great and mediocre writers. Sanders articulated why we love the great writers and how to improve one‘s writing. I loved this book as it was both inspiring, enjoyable and reflective.
pickOf course the analysis is brilliant and illuminating and often very funny. But what shines through this marvelous book is Saunders‘s reverence for the Russian masters, his love of the act of writing, and his generosity of spirit and humility. For me, the real gold is in the “Afterthoughts”, where he really expands on his own approach and thinking. Highly recommended!!
A polar vortex has dropped in for a visit. The temperature has actually dropped 2 degrees since I woke up! Perfect weather for a day of reading. A friend of mine and are are reading and discussing the stories in this book, one by one. Next up, Turgenev! 🥶 🌞☕️📖🌞🥶
Book mail is the best mail!
pickSometimes it feels like a book was written just for you. George Saunders geeking out on the great Russian short story writers? Yes, please! Amiable & excellent substitute for those of us who won‘t ever sit in Saunders‘ class. Smart & humble & HUMAN observances on craft & language. When he tries to resurrect Tolstoy‘s frozen Vasili to meditate on his transformation, yep okay I cried. As much on how humans think & rise & live as how they write. 2021
pickI was thrilled to read that George Saunders and I have something in common - a great appreciation of Russian literature. In this book, he “takes apart” the essence of seven significant Russian short stories as we learn what makes these particular stories stand out, techniques for writing a compelling short story how to evaluate them. Oh, to be fortunate enough learn from this master.
https://lithub.com/the-cast-for-george-saunders-new-audiobook-is-very-cool/
This looks like a good read for me for #Russia #foodandlit
Sounds good. (Now I just have to wait for it to come out next year... 🤔)
