Ersatz TLS discussion

This is an experiment which may or may not be repeated. I call it 'lazy' because there are any number of answers to the three questions, the only rules being that A) you should give only one answer per question, and B) you mustn't give an answer that has already appeared. Otherwise you are free to answer as many or as few of the questions as you choose.

Q1: Name any work - fiction, nonfiction, play, poem (including songs and libretti) - whose title includes the word YELLOW. An extra point given for naming the author.

Q2: Any fictional character whose name (given name, surname, nickname, etc.) begins with U. Must mention the work in which the character appears.

Q3: Any work - excluding nonfiction such as history, biography, art-historical studies, etc.- in which a STATUE/SCULPTURE plays an important role, For extra credit, explain the role it plays.

Note: This topic will be closed on Monday 23 Nov.

Ah, three lazy answers (and the earlier the easier), and to top it all, I have not read any of the three!

1: Le mystère de la chambre jaune (Gaston Leroux)
2: Ubu, Ubu Roi (had to google: Alfred Jarry)
3: Pathetic really, can't think of one where a statue is centrepiece, so: the gargoyles in Notre-Dame de Paris (Victor Hugo). No clue as to their relevance to the plot, probably more for decor and atmosphere (@Flinty?), but these were restored and/or replaced irl after the novel found success.

Hi Inter,
love this!
1. "The Yellow Wallpaper" (not a story I would care to reread just now!). Charlotte (?) Perkins, a story collection.
2. Uther Pendragon in Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (a book I loved as a teen, but the memory of which, I am pretty sure, would be spoiled be a reread).
3. The story of Pygmalion in Ovid's Metamorphoses comes to mind at once. It could be said to be a bit creepy, as an ivory sculpture fashioned by Pygmalion and depicting a woman of his dreams is then turned into flesh, to his better satisfaction (....).

Edit: Hi gladarvor, had not seen your reply before - glad there are no doubles!

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2: Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence - Ursula Brangwen

3. Does Greek mythology count as fiction? Pygmalion, a sculptor, fell in love with one of the statues he carved.

(Edit: Shelllife's post wasn't visible while I was typing mine. Rats!)

Oooh, cool:

1) Crome Yellow-Aldous Huxley

2) Ugla in The Atom Station-Halldor LAxness

3) The Weeping Angels from Doctor Who, apparently novelized in Touched by An Angel which sounds banally dirty ( it will suck your life force, more or less).
Yay, I've watched three Doctor Who episodes in my life and they came in handy

1. The King in Yellow: And Other Stories
2. Uriah Heep in David Copperfield
3. The Eve of Saint Venus (a reworking of "La Vénus d'Ille" by Mérimée, which was also adapted as an opera by Othmar Schoeck). A man about to be married slips his ring unto the hand of a statue of Venus and complications ensue.

Gladarvor wrote: "Ah, three lazy answers (and the earlier the easier), and to top it all, I have not read any of the three!

1: Le mystère de la chambre jaune (Gaston Leroux)
2: Ubu, Ubu Roi (had to google: Alfred J..."

Hi Glad! hope you're well and Mr. Glad has not tried any more culinary experiments on you?

1) Les yeux jaunes des crocodiles / The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol.

2) St. Ungulant the Anchorite in Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

3) Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett:

"Colon turned.
A golem was standing behind him. It was taller than any he's seen before, and much better proportioned - a human statue rather than the gross shape of the usual golems, and handsome, too, in the cold way of the statue. And its eyes shone like red searchlights."

1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John) and Yellow Submarine (Fab Four)
2. "Undine geht" (Undine leaves), story by Ingeborg Bachmann (seeing that her French sister Ondine won't count)
3. pass. Wish you had asked for a skull...

Adina wrote: "1) Les yeux jaunes des crocodiles / The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol.

2) St. Ungulant the Anchorite in Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

3) Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett:

"Colon ..."
Ah! You beat me to it with the Golems.

Gladarvor wrote: "Ah, three lazy answers (and the earlier the easier), and to top it all, I have not read any of the three!

1: Le mystère de la chambre jaune (Gaston Leroux)
2: Ubu, Ubu Roi (had to google: Alfred J..."

Hi Glad! hope you're well and Mr. Glad has not tried any more culinary experiments on you?

Ok:1. Yellow Earth, John Sayles
2. Wolfgang Von Uberwald, Angua's rotter of a werewolf brother, featured in The Fifth Elephant (T.Pratchett)
3. The gargoyles of Ankh Morpork - used by the watch as lookouts.
(also Pratchett)

3. The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde.
The statue talks to the swallow who tells him of the suffering of the poor. The Prince says take my jewels and gold leaf give it to them. The townspeople pull down the now drab statue, throw it on the scrap heap with the dead swallow. The Prince’sheart and the swallow are taken up to heaven. Ahhhh
(I used to read it to young children and it immediately sprang to mind)

1. The yellow birds by Kevin Powers
Erm..... might have to come back to 2 and 3!...

1. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2. Uhtred in the Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell, disinherited heir to Bebbanburg (Bamburgh). Started as a trilogy until the author realised he was on to a good thing and has published the final one, No. 13, in the series this year!

3. The Book of Genesis - Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt (does that count as a statue?) because she looked back at the town of Sodom she was fleeing

No fair, so many people get to have a go while I'm tucked up in bed. Anyway, my answers are

1. "Yellow Submarine" - the Beatles

2. "Urn" builder of Discworld's first known steam-powered boat - Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

3. "The Argonath", the Pillars of the Kings on either side of Tol Brandir in the River Anduin where the Fellowship of the Ring breaks up.

Justine wrote: "This is an experiment which may or may not be repeated. I call it 'lazy' because there are any number of answers to the three questions, the only rules being that A) you should give only one answer..."

No fair, so many people get to have a go while I'm tucked up in bed. Anyway, my answers are

1. "Yellow Submarine" - the Beatles

2. "Urn" builder of Discworld's first known steam-powered boat - Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

3. "The Argonath", the Pillars of the Kings on either side of Tol Brandir in the River Anduin where the Fellowship of the Ring breaks up. A highly significant episode in LotR.

1. The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom

2. Ursula from Life After Life

3. The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman

Magrat wrote: "Justine wrote: "This is an experiment which may or may not be repeated. I call it 'lazy' because there are any number of answers to the three questions, the only rules being that A) you should give..."

Whoops! Failed to notice that Yellow Submarine was already taken. Change to "Mellow Yellow" by Donovan.

1. Novel on Yellow Paper, Stevie Smith

All my other answers already taken

3) Galatea by Madeline Miller. A sculptor has his beautiful statue brought to life as a wife. Both of them, for different reasons, end up finding this an unsatisfactory state of affairs.

1. Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley.

2. Ulysses (okay, I guess you'd call him Odysseus, but on my [Latinate] side of the world the name's Ulysses)

3. "La Vénus d'Ille" by Prosper Mérimée, or the consequences of entrusting the statue of a Classical divinity with a wedding ring. Vide "The Eve of Saint Venus" by Anthony Burgess.

PaleFires wrote: "Umberto Umberto in the Italian translation of 'Lolita'"

Ahah, that's a good one!

Machenbach wrote: "
1. The Yellow Book - a poetry collection by Derek Mahon."

Eheh, Dorian's yellow bound book of Wildean fame (or almost).

Here's a few other answers:

1. Yellow Ledbetter, by Pearl Jam.

2. Uriah Heep in David Copperfield

3. The equestrian statue of Peter the Great in Bely's Petersburg. It supposedly represents the Russian capital's mythologised supremacy and comes to life expressly to haunt Nikolai, the novel's main character. Based on The Bronze Horseman, a poem by Pushkin.

'The Yellow Heart' Poems by Pablo Neruda

Undine from Paracelsus's book "A Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies and Salamanders. and on the other spirits" (an undine is a nymph who can achieve immortality by marrying a mortal! Does that sound familiar Booklooker?... such as the blessed Melusine... though this may not count as Undine is a category of nymph but has inspired many an author to adopt it as a name for a character, but I cant resist an excuse to mention Melusine...)

The Golem from Jewish/Yiddish folklore. If it has to be an actual book then I guess "Der Golem" by Gustav Meyrink

Machenbach wrote: "he was probably carrying some French smut, 'though not, as is also often thought, Louÿs' Aphrodite"

Funny you should mention it. For a long time I was led to believe that Wilde had A rebours in mind when he wrote about the yellow book, but I read the Norton Critical Edition of Dorian Gray and it appears the most recent criticism has disclaimed that assumption. Nevertheless, Huysmans's novel might have in some way inspired Wilde in what concerns that famous reference though.

I love a quiz.


Yellow Walls. - Jackson C. Frank,
Uriah Heep. - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.
The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett.

Max (Outrage) wrote: "The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett."

MB beat me to it, but yes, nice one. Wish I'd thought of it.

I followed the rules and didn't mention Uriah Heap because he'd already been taken (though I see others have not been so rule-abiding) but what a marvellous character. I can see him now, bent over, rubbing his hands and chortling.

FrancesBurgundy wrote: "(though I see others have not been so rule-abiding)"

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
I used the mobile while patiently waiting for my turn in the dentist's surgery and didn't see Bill's contribution.

FrancesBurgundy wrote: "I followed the rules and didn't mention Uriah Heap because he'd already been taken (though I see others have not been so rule-abiding) but what a marvellous character. I can see him now, bent over,..."

Oh, I know, I know! People here are so disobedient! But they'll be receiving their detention notices at the end of the week.

PaleFires wrote: "How many Undine's are there in literature?"

I might have already done so, but I'd definitely recommend Ondine, the play by Jean Giraudoux.

As for having one's bookshelf looking like MB's, don't forget that mylar shmylar nonsense you need to wrap your books in for full effect!

1. The Yellowhammer’s Nest by John Clare

I love to watch the yellowhammers when they visit the garden, sadly scarcer now.
Hope yellowhammer counts.

Machenbach wrote: "Gladarvor wrote: "that mylar shmylar nonsense."

Underestimate the deleterious effects of UV light on book spines at your peril, young lady."

'Young'? Your polyester film fetish is all forgiven!

Machenbach wrote: "Talking of golems, did anyone mention The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay?"

Indeed. And nobody mentioned Mr Pump and his mates from Pratchet's Going Postal either.

Okay, a few more for the road:

1. The King in Yellow, by Robert W. Chambers.

2. Ulrich - The Man Without Qualities, by Robert Musil [I've yet to read this one].

And just recalled another example:

3. The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole. Can't remember the details but there's a reference to a bleeding statue in the story.

Slawkenbergius wrote: "Okay, a few more for the road:

1. The King in Yellow, by Robert W. Chambers."

Teacher! Slawkenbergius is copying from my paper again!

Bill wrote:
Teacher! Slawkenbergius is copying from my paper again!"

Oops!... I did it again...

Slawkenbergius wrote: "Bill wrote:
Teacher! Slawkenbergius is copying from my paper again!"

Oops!... I did it again..."

Why do I have a mental image of you in pigtails? Very disturbing.

(Yes, yes, I know, that's not even the right video clip I have in mind.)

Gladarvor wrote: "Why do I have a mental image of you in pigtails? Very disturbing."

Now that's an image to lull us all to sleep tonight!

Now that it's more of a challenge not to duplicate, here's a double-barrelled entry:

1a. The Souls of Yellow Folk: Essays by Wesley Yang
1b. The Yellow Claw by Sax Rohmer

2a. Roderick Usher in "The Fall of the House of Usher"
2b. Uncle Sam in Robert Coover's The Public Burning

3a. The statute of the slain Commendatore that escorts Don Giovanni to hell at the end of the eponymous Mozart / da Pomte opera.
3b. The abstract public sculpture in which a dog becomes entrapped, leading to one of the collection of lawsuits that make up the plot of A Frolic of His Own by William Gaddis.

1. Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

2. Uncle Tom ... Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

3. Nelson's Pillar in Joyce's Ulysses ... for all sorts of reasons in the book not least as a departure point for the trams all over Dublin but, principally, for no longer being there.

Bill wrote: "Now that it's more of a challenge not to duplicate, here's a double-barrelled entry:

1a. The Souls of Yellow Folk: Essays by Wesley Yang
1b. The Yellow Claw by Sax R..."
Well done for Don Giovanni:)

Reen wrote: "1. Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

2. Uncle Tom ... Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

3. Nelson's Pillar in Joyce's Ulysses ... for all sorts of reasons in the book not least as a departure..."

Do you know the song 'Up went Nelson'?

Greenfairy wrote: "Reen wrote: "1. Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

2. Uncle Tom ... Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

3. Nelson's Pillar in Joyce's Ulysses ... for all sorts of reasons in the book not least a..."


I do. I admire it more for its syllabic profligacy than anything else ... the people came to Dubahlin...etc... Ha. But guess what I'll be humming marching up the stairs. Damn you.

Dear Justine...

Merriam Webster tells me "whar" is a dialectical variant of "where", which I already knew of course ... but I think there may be a typo in this week's post title. For the clarity of the record, which I am ever concerned about, I just thought I'd point it out politely.

Today, we had a new fridge delivered because the other one was past its best. Masked men brought it in swiftly and beat a hasty retreat with the discarded one. There followed hours of discussion and standing around looking at it parked in the middle of the floor (the men said it needed to be left standing for four hours before being plugged in ... presumably to get used to us and our strange ways) in the manner of the two Ronnies or at least one of them. Wrenches were produced to level the feet. Spirit levels were summoned to establish the degree of lean. The manufacturers were badmouthed for their lack of clear instruction (the 25 pages didn't cover the very specific problem being experienced). Meanwhile the meagre contents of the old fridge languished in a cool bag in the garage losing the will to live, as I myself was. Finally, after a long day at work in another room, I felt it was safe to venture into the kitchen to make the dinner with the remaining freezer item which had now defrosted ... a packet of 15 prawns. As I tried to fashion something passably edible (the prawn sambal from Sunday's Food Monthly) Ronnie went into overdrive screwing and sighing (alas, reader, not in that way) and the whole scene descended into chaos. The fridge eventually had the good grace to reverse into its appointed place, albeit at a slight angle, and we dined on a surfeit of rice and five prawns each, which was no recompense for the suffering I had endured. To add insult to injury, the bottle of Pecorino which might have washed away some of my irritation stood, lukewarm, on the counter, mocking me. Ronnie lives to tell the tale Reen writes but only just.

Reen wrote: "Dear Justine...

Merriam Webster tells me "whar" is a dialectical variant of "where", which I already knew of course ... but I think there may be a typo in this week's post title. For the clarity o..."

I think some noxious gases may be escaping from the new fridge. I can no longer see the "Whar" I clearly saw only minutes ago and I didn't mean to post this comment here but I will leave it as a lesson to myself. God above.

Reen wrote: "I think some noxious gases may be escaping from the new fridge. I can no longer see the "Whar" I clearly saw only minutes ago and I didn't mean to post this comment here but I will leave it as a lesson to myself. God above."

It's just been changed, so I suspect the powers that be saw your comment :-). Yes - I thought you might have meant to leave this on TLS, I guess that lukewarm wine is to blame!

My parents had to replace their freezer during the first lockdown. I hardly felt sorry for them (and it was done super safely): here I was cutting in four each slice of chorizo sausage to make it last, and they were complaining they didn't know what to do with all the duck, foie gras and lobster that was defrosting in the fridge. The dog was extremely happy. The transition from veal steak to dry food was not a smooth one.

Listening to Blue now...

Gladarvor wrote: "Reen wrote: "I think some noxious gases may be escaping from the new fridge. I can no longer see the "Whar" I clearly saw only minutes ago and I didn't mean to post this comment here but I will lea..."

No alcohol passed my lips, that was the pity!

Alwynne wrote: "Reen wrote: "Greenfairy wrote: "Reen wrote: "1. Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

2. Uncle Tom ... Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

3. Nelson's Pillar in Joyce's Ulysses ... for all sorts of..."


I'm either sorry or you're welcome Alywnne!