Status Updates From The Collected Stories of Is...
The Collected Stories of Isaac Babel by
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Dennis
is on page 155 of 512
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.
— Feb 25, 2026 09:21AM
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Dennis
is on page 140 of 512
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!
— Feb 22, 2026 09:09PM
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Dennis
is on page 133 of 512
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.
— Feb 21, 2026 08:53PM
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Excited to read the Odessa Stories now.
Dennis
is on page 127 of 512
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
— Feb 21, 2026 06:51PM
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Dennis
is on page 122 of 512
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.
— Feb 20, 2026 10:03PM
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Dennis
is on page 105 of 512
The sin of Jesus Christ story was great. Others are short and interesting too (Marescot, Quacker)
— Feb 16, 2026 09:29AM
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Dennis
is on page 84 of 512
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.
— Feb 13, 2026 08:10AM
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Shabos story: “[she] had only ten fingers, but she had many more curses.” made me laugh.
Dennis
is on page 48 of 512
The grandmother short story was relatable and interesting
— Feb 07, 2026 07:47PM
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Dennis
is on page 42 of 512
Shloyme was short and interesting. Old man kills himself when he finds out his son is converting away from Judaism?
— Jan 31, 2026 05:38PM
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Dennis
is starting
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).
— Jan 30, 2026 09:36PM
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“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).












