Reader's Diary #1037- Carmen Firan: The Russian Fur Hat

Perhaps it was the title's reference to Russian clothing that first made me think of Nikolai Gogol's short story "The Overcoat." Both it and Carmen Firan's "The Russian Fur Hat" deal with the mundane. However, unlike Gogol's Akaky who takes comfort in the mundane, Firan's Betty is stifled by it. In fact, it's her hapless husband Bob who is more akin to Akaky and Betty does nothing to hide her frustration and boredom with him.

Both stories springboard from what could be a serious topic (disenchantment with life, etc), into more humorous directions. In Firan's tale, Betty makes a bit of a blunder and the reader is left to wonder if it wasn't from subconscious desire for a bit of excitement.

"The Russian Fur Hat" is wonderfully paced, the emotions are palpable, and best of all, it's funny.

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