Celebrity Chekhov: Classic Short Stories by Anton Chekhov - Perfect for Literature Lovers & Book Club Discussions

In a brilliant cornucopia of life's absurdities and the culture of celebrity, Greenman taps into the universalities of Chekhov's short stories, marrying the Russian's dramatic acuity to current-day actors and reality show personalities. As Chekhov culled insight from every level of Russian society, these angst-riddled folk are equally democratic, "flawed specimens of humanity ruled by ego and insecurity" caught in unscripted moments of tortured self-absorption. From David Letterman's frantic efforts to hide a baby left on his patio ("A Transgression") to an awkward meeting between Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in an airport ("Tall and Short"), these sly stories reveal the burdens of fame and the banality of ordinary life, like Sarah Palin's emergence on a national political stage, family interactions unedited for media consumption ("The Album").Eminem demands absolute quiet while wracking his brain for inspiration, leaving his study door open lest anyone forget a genius is at work ("Hush"); conversely, Alec Baldwin arrives at his family's summer digs only to be shuttled from one room to another, temper waxing and waning with the source of provocation ("Not Wanted"). As Chekhov mines the layers of Russian society, Greenman finishes with a flourish, a mildly poignant "Trilogy" wherein Jack Nicholson ("Gooseberries") admits, "I wish I was young! I wish I was young!" and Jamie Foxx reminisces about a secret love for his friend Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce ("About Love").The sad Fate of Lindsay Lohan is bemoaned in "A Classical Student", Lohan's mother, Dina, flayed for the exploitation of her troubled daughter as a commodity. Uncomfortably coincidental, "Terror" features a bemused Michael Douglas in an existential fugue over his own idealization of his perfect family, quiet confidences to a friend compromised by the down-on-his-luck-but-still-smiling Gary Busy, self-effacing and penitent, but with one eye alert for an appreciative audience.As Chekhov bridges the boundaries of class for a wealth of dramatic material, this author taps into the celebrity-fueled mania of the new millennium, the use of famous (and infamous) names injecting an insidious temptation: the outsider privy to intimate (fictional) conversations of the rich and famous. Where else might a nobody be privy to the rigorous self-examination of Nicole Kidman, a beautiful cipher who entertains no opinions aside from her current mate ("The Darling") or the hubris of Billy Ray Cyrus, a man oblivious to insult when a free haircut is at stake ("At the Barber's)? Celebrity Chekhov has a little something for everyone, a peek into the rarified worlds of those fortunate souls who have capitalized on their fifteen minutes of fame- and a smattering of respected actors- designer footwear tossed aside to reveal feet of clay. Will these stories, like Chekhov's, stand the test of time? Nah, but who can resist eavesdropping on a faux moment of familiarity? Luan Gaines/2010.