RKS Literature: All Your Doctor Wants is to Take a Peek!

“And these doctors too. Once you let them get in these white coats and hold you by the wrist they want to tap you on the chest. Then they want to see in the mouth. Later they put you on the table and go to the cabinet for the knife. They say they just wantContinue reading “RKS Literature: All Your Doctor Wants is to Take a Peek!”

RKS Literature: Not Wanting to be Caught by Anyone (J.P. Donleavy)

“I don’t want to be caught by anybody. Nor imprisoned or put down. In England they put a rope around your neck and let you go, whoops. Just across the channel they hoist that thing, shined and sharpened and tell you lay your sylph-like thing in there. I don’t know why I am so terrifiedContinue reading “RKS Literature: Not Wanting to be Caught by Anyone (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: “The Irish and Their Children” (J.P. Donleavy)

“The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time, But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more than we hadContinue reading “RKS Literature: “The Irish and Their Children” (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: Making a Marriage Happy (J.P. Donleavy)

“Fold my trousers. Must have everything neat. My underwear is a bit tattered. Whether to sleep naked or have the modesty of these torn undergarments. Modesty at all costs. These are the things that make the marriage happy. Meals on time, sugar, butter and salt on the table. Socks darned and go to the drawerContinue reading “RKS Literature: Making a Marriage Happy (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: Non-Payment of Rent and the Testicular Itch (J.P. Donleavy)

“Things here are a bit desperate. You see, a man gives you a key and you go into this house and start to carry on your life and at the end of the week you give this man three slips of paper with redeemable London written on them and the man lets you stay whereContinue reading “RKS Literature: Non-Payment of Rent and the Testicular Itch (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: A Massive Vista of My Total Ignorance (J.P. Donleavy)

“In the front gate of Trinity. At least this is a bit professional with all these notices tacked up here. Must admit to an overwhelming fear when I think of exams. I hear these students say they haven’t done a scrap of work when their eyes are bloodshot. But me. I see a massive vistaContinue reading “RKS Literature: A Massive Vista of My Total Ignorance (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: The Waging of the Russian Holy War: The Russian Jihad (Nikolai Gogol)

“It is common knowledge how a war for the faith is waged on Russian soil-no earthly power is stronger than the power of faith. It is insurmountable and ferocious, like a rock rising from the depths of a stormy ocean, fashioned from a single unshatterable mass of stone, towering into the skies, seen from vastContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Waging of the Russian Holy War: The Russian Jihad (Nikolai Gogol)”

RKS Literature: A New Russian Czar Will Spring Forth! (Nikolai Gogol)

“So you thought you caught us, you damn Poles. Do you think there is a single thing in this world that will frighten a Cossack? Just wait, the time will come when you will understand the meaning of the Russian Orthodox faith. Word has already spread through every nation. A Russian Czar will spring forthContinue reading “RKS Literature: A New Russian Czar Will Spring Forth! (Nikolai Gogol)”

RKS Literature: Execution by the Poles of Cossacks: Entertainment (Nikolai Gogol)

“The square on which the execution was to take place was not hard to find: the whole town was streaming there from all directions. In that grim bygone era an execution was considered one of the most engaging spectacles, not only for the masses but also for the aristocracy. Devout old women, matrons and timidContinue reading “RKS Literature: Execution by the Poles of Cossacks: Entertainment (Nikolai Gogol)”

RKS Literature: Tarus Bulba on Women and Vodka (Nikolai Gogol)

“Enough! Enough whining, old woman. Cossacks aren’t Cossacks so they can hobnob with women! Given half a chance you’d hide them under your skirt and sit on them like a hen. Off with you, quick, and get the table ready. Lay out everything we have. No need for fritters  and poppyseed cakes, or any otherContinue reading “RKS Literature: Tarus Bulba on Women and Vodka (Nikolai Gogol)”