A Work of Art

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Welcome to this, the humble inaugural edition of Miette’s Bedtime Story Podcast, which is really nothing more than my excuse to have a podcast.

You see, I’ll bet that other people don’t read to you enough. I know that people don’t read to me enough. So this way I can read to you, and then later listen to it myself, and take care of all our problems. Or at least take care of this one. For all of us.

And, damn, in this epoch of soundbites and blurbs and headlines and lightspeed nanonews, maybe we could all take a break and just listen to a Miette read us a story? So whether you’re in bed waiting to doze off, or spinning on one of those elliptical machines at the company gymn, or on your way to work, maybe it’d be nice once in a while to sit back and close your eyes and let me read you a story from time to time?

Unless you get to your work by driving a car, in which case don’t close your eyes. If you take the train or other public transport, on the other hand (and you should if you can! But this isn’t a platform for my opinions on energy conservation), you can close your eyes, that’s fine, but stay alert and keep your possessions close to your cuffs. You know how people are these days (not everyone is the sort of person to PODCAST you bedtime stories. Some people would be more inclined to pinch your wallet, or take advantage of you and your closed eyes in even more nefarious ways). If this is all too complicated, you can keep your eyes open; that’s fine.

I’ll start with something short, so as not to try the patience of either of us, and since I’m starting with short fiction, it should go without saying that I’d start with Chekhov. This is Miette we’re talking about, after all.

Anyhow, there’s a big multi-volume, multi-coloured printing by Ecco Press of probably all of Chekhov’s short stories, simply called The Tales of Chehkov… tonight’s bedtime story podcast can be found in Volume 13, the lavender one if you’re now at the bookstore looking to read along, reading this blog from your blackberry while you listen. My god, that’d be wicked if you were.

Anyhow, if you’re still looking for the book, the lavender volume (volume 13) is appropriately titled Love and Other Stories, and this particular story is titled a Work of Art. It reads like O. Henkhov or something, and for that alone it’s worth a bedtime podcast.

Oh– here is that book, if your bookstore doesn’t carry it and you just want to order online through your blackberry (wow): Love and Other Stories

8 thoughts on “A Work of Art”

  2. I was going to start my podcasts with Chekhov, too! But I’m glad you did it first–I’m looking forward to listening to this next. Thanks.

  4. Hi,
    Just a few hours ago I read this story aloud to one of my dear friend in hospice care. She delighted in the story AND in the reading of it to her. Reading out loud is a fine art form we need to keep alive. Thanks for your rendition. I enjoyed listening to it myself. (I’ve also added your reading of it to a course web page on 19th Century Russian Short Stories. I’m happy to see so many pictures, videos, oral renditions, adaptations, etc. online. Whoever says that Internet is a “waste of time” ought to get online more often! RK

  6. Your website is truly awesome! I cannot begin to say thanks for it has saved my behind a few times this semester, for I have found many of the stories I have to read for class here. It sure helps when time is short. I’ll play them in the car or while I’m cooking or simply just in bed. Point is they have helped me sooooooo much and I cannot give enough thanks! =)

  7. Sometimes it’s because my eyes are tired, other times maybe my whole brain is tired, but I’m not quite ready to fall asleep just yet, and so I turn to Miette for her lilting voice to tell me a story. I’m so grateful to have someone like her be there to tuck me into bed and send me on a journey, quieting my mind and preparing me to dream.

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