Emmet, Another Vlad, Jamey & More
I’ve read a few contemporary Russian novels and found them bizarre, impenetrable in many instances. Vladimir Sorokin’s Day of the Oprichnik, published in 2006, is eminently readable as translated by Jamey Gambrell. That is the only good I have to say about it. It may be the most unenjoyable book I’ve ever read. The setting is 2028, largely in Moscow. Russia is a totalitarian state based on the Orthodox faith as interpreted by those in power. Here’s part of a booze/cocaine fueled rant from the head of the goon squad that does the bidding of the Tzar-like ruler: “…That’s why His Majesty built this magnificent Wall, in order to cut us off from the stench and unbelievers…” The narrative covers a single, eventful day. The group referred to in the title are plunderers, murderers and rapists. The story is told from the point of view of the man fourth in line. They believe — or at least tell themselves — they’re doing God’s work. The novel seems catered to sadists. If there’s a point, I missed it. Is it satire, allegory? I have no idea. It delves into science fiction, one example the conjuring of screens in mid-air rather than the use of phones. Mercifully, it is only 181 pages and reads like less given the abundance of dialogue and the many blanks between chapters. 453 users at Amazon have rated Day…, forging to a consensus of four on a scale of five. I’ll go with one. It is still selling modestly at the site… Born in 1955, Sorokin was part of the pre-collapse underground scene. A devout Christian, he was baptized at 25. His work has been published in many languages. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he received many honors. In 2016 pro-Kremliners accused him of extremism. He has denounced the Ukraine war and, as a result, had his books withdrawn from many stores. Fortunately, he is still living. His Wiki page lists 16 novels, eleven short story collections, twelve plays, and six screenplays. Photo from Google Images:
Born in Manhattan, Jamey Gambrell lived an unconventional life. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and earned a Master’s at Columbia. She lived in Moscow in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, immersing herself in the underground scene, adopting a daughter. She translated at least five modern Russian books and numerous articles on art. She was awarded the Thornton Wilder Prize for Translation of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She succumbed to cancer at 65 in 2020. Photo from GI:
RIP M. Emmet Walsh, 88, premier Hollywood supporting player. Born in upstate NY, he was an alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His roommate at Clarkston College in Potsdam was William Devane. There are 234 titles under his name at IMDb, career spanning 1968 to the present, his final work to be released posthumously. He appeared in four films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy (1969), Bound for Glory (1976), Ordinary People (1980) and Reds (1981). Somehow, he was never nominated for any of his great work. Arguably, his finest performance came in Blood Simple (1984), the Coen brothers first full length feature. Here are appearances of his in films I really like: Blade Runner (1982), Knives Out (2019). He was comfortable on the big or small screen. He did a voiceover on all 26 episodes of Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, appeared in 46 of Pound Puppies, and did many guest shots on popular primetime fare. Here’s a quote attributed to him: “I’m being paid for what I’d do for nothing.” He never married. Well done, Sir. Photo from GI:
Encouraging news out of Maine, headline from foxnews.com: “Dem state rejects EV mandate in stunning blow to climate agenda.”
Another gem from the Staten Island goombah:
Mother Nature played a mean trick, blowing us back into winter with an icy wind. I spent most of today’s session of the Anti-Inflation Book Shop in the car. It looked like a goose egg was coming until I started packing up. My thanks to The Frenchman, who bought Roget’s Thesaurus and KL: The History of Nazi Concentration Camps by Nikolaus Wachsmann; and to the young man who purchased Soccernomics by Simon Kuper & Stefan Szymanski, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, and Angels Walking Among Us by Ronald McClure; and to the lovely, elderly lady library volunteers, who donated a hardcover thriller.
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