The narrator of a story by this author scribbles a quote from The Brothers Karamazov under an inscription reading, “Dear God, life is hell.” In another story by this author, the title character quotes a haiku about “the voice of the cicada” and explains (10[1])Vedantic reincarnation before possibly drowning during a swimming lesson. The five-year-old Charles entertains himself with the riddle “what did one wall say to the other wall?” in a story by this author, which ends as “Sergeant X” receives a wristwatch from the title English choirgirl. The protagonist of a story by this author describes how the title animals eat themselves to death during a day at the beach with Sybil Carpenter. For 10 points, name this author of “For Esmé – with Love & Squalor” and “A Perfect Day For Bananafish.” ■END■