This amusing little tale had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of man. Two life long friends call it quits over a momentary error when one Ivan calls the other Ivan a goose. From here everything falls apart.

Like I said, I actually had moments when I laughed out loud at this one. If you are a fan of Russian literature, you'll probably enjoy this short novella.

TUZENBAKH [holds up a finger to her]. Laugh! [To VERSHININ] Not only in two or three hundred years but in a million years life will be just the same; it doesn't change, it remains stationary, following its own laws which we have nothing to do with or which, anyway, we'll never find out. Migratory birds, cranes for instance, fly backwards and forwards, and whatever ideas, great or small, stray through their minds, they'll still go on flying just the same without knowing where or why. They fly and will continue to fly, however philosophic they may become; and it doesn't matter how philosophical they are so long as they go on flying. . . .

MASHA. But still, isn't there a meaning?

TUZENBAKH. Meaning. . . . Here it's snowing. What meaning is there in that? [A pause.]

MASHA. I think man ought to have faith or ought to seek a faith, or else his life is empty, empty. . . . To live and not to understand why cranes fly; why children are born; why there are stars in the sky. . . . You've got to know what you're living for or else it's all nonsense and waste [a pause].

VERSHININ. And yet you're sorry when your youth is over, . . .

MASHA. Gogol says: it's dull living in this world, friends!

TUZENBAKH. And I say: it is difficult to argue with you, friends. Oh, well, I give up. . . .

from [b:The Three Sisters|143513|The Three Sisters|Anton Chekhov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416873197l/143513._SY75_.jpg|1000099], by [a:Anton Chekhov|5031025|Anton Chekhov|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1317162641p2/5031025.jpg]

And that's how I remembered I had this short story on my to-read list.

April 26, 19

Ukraine

Brilliant and hilarious. A quick and delightful read.