The Spectacle of Mr. Polly: A Tragicomedy of the Mildly Absurd – and then some.

Yesterday, I found myself deeply overwhelmed, though I kept it hidden as best I could as I accompanied my dear dad to the hospital for his first round of chemotherapy. He turns ninety this Sunday, a milestone I cherish even as we navigate this difficult journey. Having helped him care for his late partner, and … Continue reading The Spectacle of Mr. Polly: A Tragicomedy of the Mildly Absurd – and then some.

Navigating the Labyrinth: A Whimsical Critique of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot

There’s no shortage of fools wandering the earth, and I’ll freely admit, I’ve had my share of bumbling moments as well. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, despite its formidable reputation in the canon of Russian literature, is essentially the literary equivalent of that one friend who shows up to the party in mismatched socks and … Continue reading Navigating the Labyrinth: A Whimsical Critique of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot

Gloom with a View: The Miserable Genius of Dostoyevsky’s Notes from the Underground

Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Notes from the Underground is an unparalleled triumph of literary genius, a veritable tour-de-force that renders the ordinary, extraordinary. In this marvelously morose masterpiece, Dostoyevsky transforms the existential crisis of a middle-aged, maladjusted civil servant into an epic odyssey of self-deprecation and philosophical ponderings, peppered with the perfect balance of wry humour and existential dread. … Continue reading Gloom with a View: The Miserable Genius of Dostoyevsky’s Notes from the Underground