The Nimrod Flip Out

I read The Bus Driver who wanted to be God and other stories in my twenties after watching the movie Wristcutters which was based on a short story in the book. I loved them both. In fact I need to reread the book. I decided to try another short story collection by Etgar Keret. This is definitely not for children. I'm not a fan of most adult books nowadays since I don't like to read profanity and so forth. But I have to admit this was done well. Most of the stories are only a few pages. My favorite was easily about the faithful dog who keeps dying and comes back to its master. It was macabre and sweet. Etgar Keret is one of Israel's most famous writers. If you want something offbeat Etgar fits the bill.

When Five Years Pass

This was a later play by Lorca. It's about a man who has been turned down by a girl he waited five years for. The play is experimental. The last act was kind of hard to follow. This isn't his best play. It wasn't made in his lifetime. I think a viewing of it would be more recommended than just reading it.

The Infernal Machine

In The Infernal Machine Cocteau takes on Oedipus Rex. It's the classic story of a man getting an oracle that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus tries the whole play to refute it. At the end as everything takes a tragic turn he can't deny it any more. Cocteau does a pretty good job. I prefer Cocteau's more original works like The Holy Terrors and Les Parents Terribles. Nevertheless, the man was a genius.

Orpheus

After watching Hadestown I decided to revisit Jean Cocteau Orpheus. This time I decided to read his play which the movie was loosely based on. The play was just ok. It's astonishing how much better the movie was. It was more poetic and memorable. I think that Cocteau just became a better writer in time. He wrote the play in the 1920s and the movie was made in 1950. I watched it as a kid. It was my introduction to mythology.

Victoria

This was a lovely novella. An author is in love with a girl named Victoria. Unfortunately her parents want her to marry for money. For a while he is engaged to a younger woman whose life he saved. However, Victoria is really the one for him despite the bad treatment she gives him. Sadly the book ends on a tragic note. This book seems like it's really simple but it speaks volumes more than more complicated works. I think it's one of Hamsun's best. This is my third time reading it over twenty five years.

Bruges-La-Morte

Bruges-La-Morte is about a desperate widower who falls for a dancer who looks like his deceased wife. But she's nothing like his past wife. She's nasty and brings the downfall of him. Even his help leaves and is mortified. This short novel packed a punch. Apparently it was one of the first books to have photographs along with it. I'll have to read more from this author.

The Street of Crocodiles

This is a classic Polish novella. I found it hard to follow so I'm going to reread it and give more of a update some time coming up. The Brothers Quay did a short based on it so it's worth looking over again.