tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post1785337101588512235..comments2024-02-05T01:55:53.566-08:00Comments on Gently Mad: Beware of Pity by Stefan ZweigSharon Wilfonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-4656763102879796472019-03-12T14:44:22.310-07:002019-03-12T14:44:22.310-07:00HI AtW: Thanks for visiting my blog. I love Shost...HI AtW: Thanks for visiting my blog. I love Shostakovich as well and this is a beautiful work that you suggested. I'm listening to it right now. I'm a professional musician and classical piano is my instrument and genre.<br /><br />I think everyone but me has read Zweig's Chess Story. I have it, I just need to read it.<br /><br />I have not read The End of the Affair, either but am collecting every Greene I can find. I've read a number of his books but still have many yet to read.<br /><br />Have a great week!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-57296276520428459412019-03-12T06:51:40.695-07:002019-03-12T06:51:40.695-07:00Well hello to you,
You have a magnificent blog her...Well hello to you,<br />You have a magnificent blog here! We have much in common it would seem. I just read Chess Story by Zweig last month. The review was my first post actually. I saw you read a book by Graham Greene. He's a favorite author for me. If you haven't already, you should read 'The End Of The Affair.' Truly a remarkable book, and I think you would enjoy it. Dmitri Shostakovich is one of my favorite composers from any century. This piece moves me to tears almost every time I listen to it. Have a memorable week.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/JlMHjo7JwhkAnchors To Windwardhttps://anchorstowindward.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-87231089249867989952018-07-16T12:34:31.403-07:002018-07-16T12:34:31.403-07:00Hi James. I am now a devoted Zweig fan. I have s...Hi James. I am now a devoted Zweig fan. I have since ordered a collection of his novellas and short stories.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-74122889211445506572018-07-16T11:09:15.461-07:002018-07-16T11:09:15.461-07:00Great review! I remember having a similar response...Great review! I remember having a similar response to it as yours. Zweig's ability to pull the reader in to the emotional and moral life of the protagonist was impressive.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-91076381507422603672018-07-15T21:11:43.433-07:002018-07-15T21:11:43.433-07:00Hi Marion, I have ordered Zweig's Chess Story ...Hi Marion, I have ordered Zweig's Chess Story and a collection of his short stories because I enjoyed this book so much. Since this is my first Zweig I don't know if there is a certain order you should read them.<br /><br />I see what you mean about parallels with the Idiot. The Prince is very naive and thinks he can save two women who are desperate in their own ways, but he is very wrong. In the end he cannot even save himself.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-58897371238231673772018-07-15T21:09:59.022-07:002018-07-15T21:09:59.022-07:00Hi Carol. I think the people I despise the most (...Hi Carol. I think the people I despise the most (and I really don't despise people, generally speaking) are people who manipulate others to get their way.<br /><br />I have had multiple people in my life-family members and friends- who have used me to their advantage and my disadvantage. Because, as you say, I'm a slow thinker. I don't realize what has happened until it's too late.<br /><br />This book is fascinating, but I believe as Christians we would have a stronger sense of right and wrong and would not deceive ourselves into thinking we could help someone as deranged and desperate as some of the characters are in this novel.<br /><br />The protagonist did because of an arrogance and weakness of character on his part. He had no higher power to reach to and give him balance and perspective. He felt he was the only one who could "save" people.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-10425661380470885142018-07-15T16:19:14.517-07:002018-07-15T16:19:14.517-07:00This sounds like a fascinating novel! I see paral...This sounds like a fascinating novel! I see parallels immediately with The Idiot, where the main character's sense of empathy/pity draws him further into the drama, with mixed results. I was going to read Zweig's Chess Story first, but maybe I will start with this one.Marian Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115916138435761469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-32906317076078445932018-07-14T22:55:40.378-07:002018-07-14T22:55:40.378-07:00Sounds very interesting, Sharon. I don’t think ver...Sounds very interesting, Sharon. I don’t think very quickly in my feet either & tend to get sucked into things easily. As you say, by the time you realise what’s happened, it’s too late! Do you think books like this help? I find it’s partly my impulsive nature that is the problem...Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-13255406928258071352018-07-10T10:57:32.754-07:002018-07-10T10:57:32.754-07:00So I noticed. I just visited your site. And I re...So I noticed. I just visited your site. And I remain imprisoned in my son's account.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13170734890264872428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-5264456416906025262018-07-10T10:03:13.879-07:002018-07-10T10:03:13.879-07:00Sharon, Mudpuddle.... FYI....I remain still alive ...Sharon, Mudpuddle.... FYI....I remain still alive at ...<br />https://rtdsinformalinquiries.blogspot.com/<br />RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-36944213085101775112018-07-10T09:46:31.107-07:002018-07-10T09:46:31.107-07:00Hi R.T. I really hate it when people manipulate m...Hi R.T. I really hate it when people manipulate me. I had a friend who did that to me. She was a faster thinker than I was. By the time I realized I really did not want to do what she asked me "as a favor" it was too late.Sharon Wilfonghttp://sharonhenning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-91971338834188617452018-07-10T09:44:59.222-07:002018-07-10T09:44:59.222-07:00Hi Mudpuddle. This is the first book I've eve...Hi Mudpuddle. This is the first book I've ever read by Zweig and I really liked it. I plan on reading more of his work. I have ordered the Chess Game.Sharon Wilfonghttp://sharonhenning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-62288417157571603372018-07-10T09:35:56.579-07:002018-07-10T09:35:56.579-07:00Hi Brian. To me the best stories suck you in to t...Hi Brian. To me the best stories suck you in to their reality. Of all the vices, controlling manipulative people are the ones I loathe the most. I think because I have been a victim of those kinds of people myself. I just don't think quickly on my feet.Gently Madhttp://sharonhenning.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-71401468151456727942018-07-09T15:59:00.306-07:002018-07-09T15:59:00.306-07:00good to hear from you, RT...good to hear from you, RT...Mudpuddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194891656971454279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-4813736990768046222018-07-09T08:04:19.893-07:002018-07-09T08:04:19.893-07:00Very interesting, Sharon. I’m left to wonder about...Very interesting, Sharon. I’m left to wonder about the ways people — consciously and unconsciously — either manipulate others or let themselves be manipulated by others. The novel you so adroitly highlight really piques my curiosity about that dynamic. Alas, we are all manipulated, and we are all manipulators. Hmmm.RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-33112411464021602562018-07-09T07:59:32.082-07:002018-07-09T07:59:32.082-07:00i actually started reading this about six months a...i actually started reading this about six months ago but got distracted, which occurs all too often... Stephan Zweig was a well-known writer when i was young and i think i read some of his work then; haven't heard the name for quite a while, though... nice review; i'll have to get back to it...Mudpuddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194891656971454279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948826710613032587.post-255081965158383132018-07-09T01:57:23.098-07:002018-07-09T01:57:23.098-07:00Great review Sharon. You make me really want to re...Great review Sharon. You make me really want to read this. In the real world it is all too common for people to fall into emotional traps. Such situations make for good, but often disturbing, fiction. I also sometimes find myself stepping into stories and trying to talk to characters, especially if the characters begin to frustrate me. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com