tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post8054029080572501920..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Short Stories, Sardine Burials and Wishes Coming True by Catherine CzerkawskaKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-41083505384994288162013-10-18T17:15:42.544+01:002013-10-18T17:15:42.544+01:00I can't quite match the Finnish anecdotes but ...I can't quite match the Finnish anecdotes but they reminded me of a book title I was assured was genuine by friends in Rhode Island - "'Yes' 'No' and other Vermont dialogues."Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-11315271443352777822013-10-18T13:56:46.888+01:002013-10-18T13:56:46.888+01:00Catherine, my number one is more personal and quir...Catherine, my number one is more personal and quirky. My friend Andrew Rosthorn, a life enthusiast who doesn't have a pessimistic bone in his body, was standing at a bus stop in Helsinki at five o'clock one morning, surrounded by workers waiting for their bus in freezing fog and sleet. He didn't know any of them, but (unlike Finns) finds it impossible not to talk. 'Why do you Finns always look so bloody miserable?' he asked (a pretty crazy question given the circs!) After a few seconds one of them responded quietly: 'If you'd fought five losing wars against Russia, you wouldn't look so happy, either.'<br /><br />Andrew was silenced.Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-8983720683172441392013-10-18T11:48:23.221+01:002013-10-18T11:48:23.221+01:00Jan, feel free to nick The Great Teenage Silence. ...Jan, feel free to nick The Great Teenage Silence. Meanwhile, I want to know what your FIRST favourite Finnish story is! With my young male students, back then, I found that the trick was to get them to talk about ice hockey. They would talk endlessly about that, drawing diagrams and even invite me out to games. But they are a fairly silent people. They tell me it's the forests. I always think Tolkien's ents are inspired by Finns. The language reminds me of Finnish and they are definitely not a 'hasty' people although you've got to love them! And thank-you to Susan for her aside about The Butterfly Bowl. I've just found the original artwork from the magazine illustration - I bought it at the time - and it's beautiful. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-67633444162345289422013-10-18T10:44:17.727+01:002013-10-18T10:44:17.727+01:00great news about the book Catherine, short stories...great news about the book Catherine, short stories keep going regardless of trad publishers' scorn. They fit well, like ereaders, with commuting etc, as does poetry. Characters do tend to 'move in' and refuse to leave!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-54832072080901819992013-10-18T10:43:36.019+01:002013-10-18T10:43:36.019+01:00Fascinating, Catherine (and I second Sue's ...Fascinating, Catherine (and I second Sue's 'intrusive' remark). I love the fact that you're living a simultaneous reality through your characters because that's what happens, isn't it? I remember Terence Blacker writing once about 'Life block' as opposed to 'Writers' block'. His point was that we become so involved with our characters and get to know them so well that they become more real than the people around us. We slip easily into their company but find it more difficult to relate to real people. The fictional world gives us at least an impression of control and understanding, but the real one is baffling.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-17049669534056427722013-10-18T10:28:10.820+01:002013-10-18T10:28:10.820+01:00Wonderful stuff, Catherine, and you've given s...Wonderful stuff, Catherine, and you've given someone a great title too. (Me, if you're not careful) The Great Teenage Silence. I love it.<br /><br />Talking of Finns, my second favourite Finnish story is about the man who sent a text to his best friend suggesting they meet up for a drink. After they'd sat in the bar in traditional Finnish silence for half an hour, the man who'd sent the text said: "Well, how are you, by the way?' At which his companion leaned across the table and smashed him in the mouth. 'You bastard!' he shouted. 'I thought you said Come out for a drink!'Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-44170179695662488262013-10-18T09:49:26.527+01:002013-10-18T09:49:26.527+01:00Catherine, that's a lovely homage to the short...Catherine, that's a lovely homage to the short story, the Queen of literary forms. And I've seen how wonderful yours are. Yes, Alice Munro's Nobel Prize is fitting recognition of short fiction's uniqueness as well as homage to a great writer. I enjoyed what you say about following characters through and returning to them. I'm finding that rather starkly with my characters in Out of the Mouths of babes at this moment and I often wonder how Joslin de Lay and Gyll are getting on in Ireland. I may yet visit them. Years ago we too used to have boys from the Canaries staying with us the the summer. They were all joys to be with.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.com