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Anita Pomerantz's Reviews > A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
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Can I please go to Syracuse University and have Mr. Saunders as my professor? No? Well, this book is the next best thing, and I loved it.
The book includes seven Russian short stories (3 from Chekhov, 2 from Tolstoy, 1 from Gogol, and 1 from Turgenev). After each story, Saunders helps us understand technically what the author might have been trying to do and what makes the story resonate with the reader. And then, he adds some personal thoughts.
Self-effacing, entertaining, educational, and witty, Saunders is just the best kind of teacher. One that confesses to his own limitations and encourages students to stretch their own wings. And because he is such an accomplished short story writer, he adds useful personal insight into his own writing methods.
While the Russian short stories didn't personally thrill me, Saunders' enthusiasm for them did. I really, really hope he writes a sequel about another seven stories that move him. And if you are actually a writer, the final chapter is pure gold.
The book includes seven Russian short stories (3 from Chekhov, 2 from Tolstoy, 1 from Gogol, and 1 from Turgenev). After each story, Saunders helps us understand technically what the author might have been trying to do and what makes the story resonate with the reader. And then, he adds some personal thoughts.
Self-effacing, entertaining, educational, and witty, Saunders is just the best kind of teacher. One that confesses to his own limitations and encourages students to stretch their own wings. And because he is such an accomplished short story writer, he adds useful personal insight into his own writing methods.
While the Russian short stories didn't personally thrill me, Saunders' enthusiasm for them did. I really, really hope he writes a sequel about another seven stories that move him. And if you are actually a writer, the final chapter is pure gold.
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Reading Progress
December 20, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 20, 2020
– Shelved
March 22, 2021
–
Started Reading
April 10, 2021
–
Finished Reading
