Status Updates From The Collected Stories of Is...

Odessa stories are interesting and dense. Interesting writing style and I hadn’t read Jewish gangster stories before, much less really learned about Jewish life in Odessa, which was a very Jewish city back when he was writing these.

The King in Odessa Stories is interesting. A bit longer and more grotesque. I have now seen his writing as realism in life and his Jewish characters are more than just scholars, but this is the first one where Jews are the gangsters. Interesting!

Early stories were good and started to give a taste of his writing. Stories are like 1-3 pages but dense and can be hard to follow. Gemini helped explain a lot and unpack things I wouldn’t have gotten myself.

Excited to read the Odessa Stories now.

The end of hypatius is an interesting short story explaining the start and end of the Romanov dynasty. Short and detailed, Gemini is helping me understand all the layers that Babel writes and that a novice wouldn’t fully appreciate

Appreciating the short, punchy, and deep meanings behind the early stories. I am reading and then getting additional context and clarity with Gemini, but enjoying learning about the stories he created based on history unfolding around him.

The sin of Jesus Christ story was great. Others are short and interesting too (Marescot, Quacker)

Shabos-Nakhamu whoa

Doudou was a pretty short story I wasn’t expecting from Babel.

Shabos story: “[she] had only ten fingers, but she had many more curses.” made me laugh.

Dense short stories

The grandmother short story was relatable and interesting

Shloyme was short and interesting. Old man kills himself when he finds out his son is converting away from Judaism?

Dedication page quote:
“You are lucky, Alexander Konstaninovich. A few centuries ago your forebears were still running around covered in animal skins, while I too often feel the weight of the centuries of my people’s ancient culture, and it suffocates me.” - Babel to friend who was executed by USSR in 1937 (Babel also in 1940).