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Vladimir Nabokov

LOL:D I am in awe. The hunting of Snark indeed. What a wonderful way to start the day: Coffee to hand, cinnamon rolls and gyring and gimbling along in the wabe. All we need now is one of those wonderful cinematic theme tunes as we skip and frollick on that yellowbrick road:D
 
Snark indeed! I'm going to hunt me a hot cuppa, and butter biscuit! Give me tea, and everything will be alright....she said as her hands fumbled upon the keyboard and slipped and slood about..:p
 
Peder said:
Breaca,
Sounds normal to me! :)
As for Glory, no problem! I'm sure I can remember it for a long time after I finish it, and before any discussion begins. :rolleyes: I'm reading as slow as I can, though. :cool:
One chapter per cup,
Peder
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Oh goody. It will be the carrot, rather than the stick. :D
 
Vladimir Nabokov: The American Years...B. Boyd

I was attempting to find something on Glory in Boyd's, but so far nada. However this caught my eye. :(
Nabokov's body was creamated at a simple nonreligious funeral service in Vevey on July 7, 1977, with only a dozen family members and friends present, including Vera, Dmitri, Elena, and Nabokov's cousins Nicolas and Sergey, his German publisher, Ledig Rowohlt, Beverly Loo, and his Montreaux friends Martin and Margaret Newstead. The next day only Vera and Dmitri were present when his ashes were interred, under the shadow of the chateau of Chatelard, in Clarens cemetery. ............Two weeks after his funeral, an American memorial service was organized by Beverly Loo. On New York's hottest day for forty years--the temperature reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity was stifling--there was standing room only as five hundred people packed the McGraw-Hill auditorium to hear Harold McGraw, Alfred Appel, Julian Moynahan, Alfred Kazin, John Updike, and Dmitri Nabokov pay tribute.

But Nabokov's true memorials are elsewhere. In the remarks of two freshmen Alfred Appel overheard after his first class for the year on Lolita: "Don't you love every sentence?" "Yes. Which are your favorite passages?" Or on the jacket notes for a 1989 Soviet recording of Nabokov's prose: "You feel compelled to reread every sentence several times, enjoying its rhythm, its metaphors, its similes. Reverently preserving in his own work the best traditions of Russian prose, the prose of Pushkin, Lermontov, Chekhov and Bunin, Nabokov creates his own mode of writing, unique in its system of images and in the fluidity and musicality of its phrasing."
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What better tribute? And in a way we in our small way pay tribute to Nabokov with our re-re-reading and analysis and searching out meanings of his words.

/sigh/
 
Never a truer word..... The final tribute by the students says it all and only reiterates what we in this wonderful forum have tried to convey to one another through our re-readings, musings and also the light-hearted banter. VN has shown us his unique insight into the frailties and wonders of mankind and, with that in mind, I am sure he would have had fun with 'his readers' had he still been living.
 
Breaca
First of all, love the kitty cat! But now the picture doesn't come up as it did earlier. Phooey!

Secondly, you are right, VN would have reveled in his rerereaders. :)

Boyd also spoke of VN's last work, The Original of Laura: Dying is Fun, and how VN had it laid out in his mind just so, but simply did not, at the end, have the strength to put it to paper. :(
 
Morning All,
Breaca, Glad I saw the little kitty before s/he disappeared. Must thave been offspring of a Cheshire cat. :)
Pontalba, Another great find! You certainly find nice passages from Boyd. He writes so easily and appreciatively, and the passages sound anything but like a dry biography. My Boyds are at the bottom of a tall stack, sort of like anchors at the base. I'm going to have change that somehow and get them up to where I can loook at them. I wonder if Glory might be found at the end of his Russian Years? (Exercise for the student :) )
Speaking of which, it looks like I'll be finishing the book today. And I have to say it is turning out to have scenes unlike any I would have expected for either a Nabokov novel or a story such as I have seen outlined. VN does it again -- every book different! (Says he, munching on carrot :rolleyes: )

And I agree we are doing the right kind of homage to the Master here in the forum. He is the only author I know to have said 'reread.' Imagine what we might have missed if we had never heard that advice! Oy!

Um, Steffe, you asked if anyone had finished. I'm not sure I heard your answer, or was it in fine print? 'fess up! Or are you back there herding the cats? Definitely need a catherder here! :) j/k j/k

And Still! Many thanks for that link -- haven't seen that in a looooong time! And not the Hunting of the Snark, either, I see. But, anyway, all mimsey are my borogroves and, with sun shining brighly, I'm looking forward to a frabjous day.

Now for coffee --and you know what else,
Maybe 'll pick up some more carrots on the way, :rolleyes:
Anyone like chocolate covered?
Peder
 
lol Peder you don't miss anything, do you? ;)

I'm not finished actually. Nowhere near. I will try and finish tomorrow. I've still got thoughts of poor Timofey running 'round in my head :rolleyes:

I don't mind being a catherder though ;)
 
Peder I checked the index on The Russian Years for Glory but no dice, however I didn't check for the original name.....Podvig...wait a sec......yes, I found some (as Glory) mentions. Not in the index 'proper', but under Nabokov's works in the index.

But they do speak of possible origins of certain scenes in the book, which until we've read it, won't make sense. More of that in the book thread down the road. ;)

More carrots? Heh, heh...I can't throw any stones, I am half way thru a new detective story that is quite riviting, and will finish today. I wanted to finish yesterday, but was too bushed.
 
More carrots? Heh, heh...I can't throw any stones, I am half way thru a new detective story that is quite riviting, and will finish today. I wanted to finish yesterday, but was too bushed.
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pontalba, I'm guilty as hell -- I mean as well -- I'm enjoying this Ali Smith CD immensely, and intend to report back when I finish.

I have begun to read (happily read, one sentence at a time) Glory. I'm also wondering how one herds cats with chocolate covered carrots.

I guess if anybody can do it, our Peder can. ;)
 
StillILearn said:
I'm also wondering how one herds cats with chocolate covered carrots.
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Still,
It's no problem.
If they don't work. I eat 'em myself! Um-yummy! /munch, munch/ :)
Peder
 
steffee said:
...I'm not finished actually. Nowhere near. I will try and finish tomorrow.
I don't mind being a catherder though ;)
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Steffee,
No hurry to finish as you can tell. When we get there, all of a sudden everyone will be there. Maybe even in a sprint to the finish line!
Especially as they begin to see how more interesting the book gets the closer to the finish line it gets. I only have one chapter to go and I am absolutely riveted, still without an inkling of where it is going next!

As for herding cats, you may not realize what you are in for. :rolleyes:
We have very smart and wily cats here. :)

Have a good day,
Wanna carrot?
Charles
 
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