Classic, English Literature, Fiction, Japanese Literature, Short Story

Henry James vs. Haruki Murakami: A Deal Me In Short Story Challenge.

This post concludes my first round of the Deal Me In Short Story Reading Challenge. While I expected to finish back in August, I have enjoyed the challenge so much that I’ve already set up, and started on, a second set of stories and essays. I’ve added essays to the challenge for Non-fiction November. For this final round in my first deck I had only … Continue reading Henry James vs. Haruki Murakami: A Deal Me In Short Story Challenge.

james b chesterNovember 10, 2014November 9, 20142 Comments

American Fiction, Book Review, Classic, English Literature, Fiction, Novel

Daisy Miller by Henry James

I only recently started reading Henry James. I could not stand him in graduate school, when I was in my 20’s, and never finished him when he was assigned, but twenty years on, I find much to enjoy in his work. I suspect he may be someone you have to grow into; I don’t think he has much to say to the young; one needs … Continue reading Daisy Miller by Henry James

james b chesterOctober 6, 2014October 6, 20142 Comments

American Fiction, Classic, Fiction, Short Story

Short Stories Galore: Carol Shields, Henry James, Andrew Holleran, James Purdy, Ursula K. LeGuin, Dorothy Parker

“Love so Fleeting, Love so Fine” by Carol Shields WENDY IS BACK! the sign said. It caught his eye. A sign in an orthopedic shoe store captures a man’s attention. He speculates on what the sign means: who is Wendy? where has she been? why is her return so worthy of notice? He creates a vision of Wendy, the woman behind the sign. His version … Continue reading Short Stories Galore: Carol Shields, Henry James, Andrew Holleran, James Purdy, Ursula K. LeGuin, Dorothy Parker

james b chesterJuly 4, 2014July 4, 20142 Comments

American Fiction, Classic, Fiction, Short Story

Henry James vs. Tobias Wolff: A Deal Me In Short Story Chalenge

I really was not in the mood for a Henry James short story. So please take what I say here about “The Private Life” with a grain of salt or two. “The Private Life” concerns a group of well-heeled tourist stuck in a Swiss hotel due to bad weather. They’re going to be sharing the hotel for a long time, so they quickly get to … Continue reading Henry James vs. Tobias Wolff: A Deal Me In Short Story Chalenge

james b chesterMay 13, 2014May 12, 20146 Comments

Classic, English Literature, Fiction, Rants, Short Story

George Orwell as James’s Literary Critic: a Deal Me In Short Story Challenge.

I thought it was going to be tough this time around. For the Deal Me In Short Story Challenge this week I drew an essay by George Orwell called “Raffles and Miss Blandish” and a short story by Henry James called “The Next Time.” Orwell’s piece is a critique of the detective story circa 1940. In it he compares No Orchids for Miss Blandish by … Continue reading George Orwell as James’s Literary Critic: a Deal Me In Short Story Challenge.

james b chesterFebruary 24, 2014February 24, 20145 Comments

American Fiction, English Literature, Fiction, Short Story

Henry James Goes to Key West – A Deal Me In Short Story Challenge Post

This one was hard. For the Deal Me In Short Story Challenge, I’ve been drawing two cards for two stories and then trying to find a link between the two. It’s been fun, and relatively easy, up to now. John Hersey’s “The Wedding Dress” from his collection Key West and Henry James’s “John Delavoy” from the Penguin Anthology The Figure in the Carpet. So far … Continue reading Henry James Goes to Key West – A Deal Me In Short Story Challenge Post

james b chesterFebruary 3, 2014February 2, 20145 Comments