Introduce Yourself : New Chapter

[Cheryl]

Hi, I have been a Russian literature fan for a long time. I am looking for direction in my next Russian choice, comments from members, and shared pleasure of the reading.

[Mark]

Hi my name is Mark. I'm a big fan of Russian literature. Mostly 19th century. - )

[Cedricsmom]

Hello there,

I'm Linda and I just joined this group. I've read several of the Russian great novels and I'm currently re-reading Fathers and Sons by Turgenev. I'm actually listening to it on CD during my commute for work.

I joined because I feel that I'm missing something in my reading of the Russian masters. I originally read these books because they are such an important part of the Western canon and I've always felt there is some great wisdom to be gained from reading them, but I'm just not getting it. IDK if it's a matter of context or history or culture, or maybe I'm just out of it.

So I thought it would be good to talk about these books with other like-minded readers.

I originally read Anna Karenina, Fathers and Sons, and Crime and Punishment in an extension course about 5 years ago at UC San Diego. Great course and so much fun to discuss these books with others. I read the Master and Margarita 2 years ago and really enjoyed it.

[Kathleen]

Здравствуйте,
Меня зовут катлэн и мне очень нравится русская литература. Я из Бельгии. Приятно познакомиться.

Hello
I am Kathleen and I like Russian literature quite a lot. I am from Belgium. Delighted to make your acquaintance. ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ
I also wonder if there are people here who like contemporary Russian writers؟ ☺️

[Stephen]

What contemporary Russian writers do you recommend Kathleen?

[nadia | notabookshelf]

hey!
i'm russian and i've loved reading ever since i could remember. during my middle and high school years i realised i'm particularly fond of russian literature, and so by now i've read quite a lot of our classical novels. i'm looking forward to reading with a group!

[Peter]

Nadia wrote: "hey!
i'm russian and i've loved reading ever ..."

Добро пожаловать, Надя. Welcome. It is great to have a native Russian around so you can give us insight into good Russian authors that we "Westeners" do not have on our radar.

[Luke]

Hello,
My name is Luke and I'm from the Netherlands. The first Russian book I read was Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which I was most impressed with. Other books from 19th century Russia (Tolstoy & Gogol mostly) also caught my interest. I joined this group to discover more novels and learn more about the (historical, social etc.) context of the books I have read.

[Mark]

Magedah wrote: "Russian fiction is the only kind for me. Black coffee for the soul."

Interesting metaphor! - )

[Suki]

Hi! I'm Suki, and I am very happy to have stumbled across your group. I am very interested in reading more Russian literature, but it is very intimidating stuff! I haven't read much yet-- a few of Chekhov's short stories, and Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: A Novel (actually reading that one right now). I've got The Master and Margarita on my TBR for this month-- several people have highly recommended it. I am sorry that you aren't doing group reads at this time, but there is a lot to read along with in the discussion threads.

[Mark]

Hi Suki! I almost feel like we have crossed paths before: your lovely cat avatar seems familiar. "Intimidating stuff" is an excellent way to describe Russian literature. IMHO Master & Margarita is one of the coolest books on any self. Maybe not quite for everybody, but those that like it usually love it too. A very fun book! - )

[Bri]

Hello,

I am not from Russia myself, but I have relatives from Russia that are also Jewish. I really like Russian literature, history and the language (I have been learning Russian for 10 years, but I'm afraid I'm not very good. I can read and write a bit of it.). I'm looking forward to discovering more literature!

[Jamie]

Hello~~ I'm Jamie Hare, teacher living in Salem, MA and I love Russian lit and am generally fascinated by Russia in general. Wanted to check the group out, get direction and reviews from people and also learn as much as I can about Russian lit!

[Sudeepta]

Hi Everyone, I am Sudeepta from India. My introduction to Russian literature was a short story called At Home by Anton Chekov. I loved it so much that I then read many of his other short stories. I read a lot of Tolstoy as well. I have just started reading Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky and I am loving it. Enjoying my journey in Russian literature

[Cheryl]

Hi everyone. I'm Cheryl. I'm originally from the UK but now I live in Canada. I have always been interested in Russian and Soviet history and have read some great books on the topic. I haven't read very much Russian literature but I want to change that! I am starting my Russian literature project with Eugene Onegin. I'm enjoying it so far, but I am reading an English translation and I can't help wondering how the book would sound in Russian!

[Cedricsmom]

Hi Cheryl. I don't get by here very often, but have you tried listening to it on audio? I ask because I'm currently listening to Moby Dick and it occurred to me how much I would miss if I were simply reading it off the page. Some books are better out loud, especially with a great narrator. I still have Onegin on my TBR stack, but I suspect it's better on audio. Happy reading!

[Cheryl]

Hi Cedricsmom. Thank you for the suggestion. I did think about listening to this as an audiobook but I was about half way through the book by the time I had that thought! I agree that this would be a good books to try on audio!

[Zuly]

Hi Cheryl and Sudeepta! I am fascinated by Russian literature as well; I read Anna Karenina at 16, and then again 3 more times, along with many of the Russian greats. When I retired a couple of years ago, I decided to explore classics, and with the Russian lit, I listened to Classics of Russian Literature by The Great Courses. It filled in the gaps for me. Enthusiastic and captivating lectures. You may want to try it.

[Cheryl]

Hi Zuly. Thank you for the recommendation! Do you have a favourite Russian classic?

[Zuly]

Probably Anna Karenina and War and Peace. I love Chekhov stories. Haven't revisited Dostoevsky in a while, but he's on my list.

[Cheryl]

I'm glad to hear you like War and Peace Zuly. It's on my TBR but I find the idea of reading it quite intimidating! I liked Anna Karenina though.

[Blackwell]

Hi Russianliteraturephiles,
Have any of you read Laurus - by Evgenij Vodolazkin? It's won a couple of major prizes in Russia. I was awed by its humanity, its evocation of place, as well as its treatment of time. Reminded me a bit of Tolstoy but with more poetry and imagination, less didacticism.

[dely]

Blackwell wrote: "Hi Russianliteraturephiles,
Have any of you read Laurus - by Evgenij Vodolazkin? It's won a couple of major prizes in Russia. I was awed by its humanity, its evocation of place, as well as its trea..."

Seems interesting, I've added it to my wishlist. Thanks!

[Blackwell]

dely wrote: "Blackwell wrote: "Hi Russianliteraturephiles,
Have any of you read Laurus - by Evgenij Vodolazkin? It's won a couple of major prizes in Russia. I was awed by its humanity, its evocation of place, a..."

Enjoy (when you get to it)).

[Zuly]

Cheryl wrote: "I'm glad to hear you like War and Peace Zuly. It's on my TBR but I find the idea of reading it quite intimidating! I liked Anna Karenina though."

The peace sections are fairly inspiring and evocative; the war pieces, a little more challenging, unless you set your mind to discovering what the war was like for those involved....Then it's easier. The first time I read it, I remembered very little; the second time, I talked about it being the perfect novel in every way in a full therapy session, but can't recall why I said that exactly!!! So now I will have to read it a third time. I have 4 translations. Sometimes I would choose a passage or a chapter to read in more than one translation. The last translation was by Pevear and Volokonsky.

[Zuly]

Blackwell wrote: "Hi Russianliteraturephiles,
Have any of you read Laurus - by Evgenij Vodolazkin? It's won a couple of major prizes in Russia. I was awed by its humanity, its evocation of place, as well as its trea..."

I will look for this book--thanks for the recommendation!

[Cheryl]

Zuly wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I'm glad to hear you like War and Peace Zuly. It's on my TBR but I find the idea of reading it quite intimidating! I liked Anna Karenina though."

The peace sections are fairly inspi..."

It's good to hear you thoughts on War and Peace Zuly. Maybe I will need to read it more than once!!!

[Sudeepta]

Zuly wrote: "Hi Cheryl and Sudeepta! I am fascinated by Russian literature as well; I read Anna Karenina at 16, and then again 3 more times, along with many of the Russian greats. When I retired a couple of yea..."

Thanks Zuly I will try it. :)

[Sudeepta]

Zuly wrote: "Probably Anna Karenina and War and Peace. I love Chekhov stories. Haven't revisited Dostoevsky in a while, but he's on my list."

Same I love Chekov stories. Do you have any favorites? Mine is At home

[Sudeepta]

Blackwell wrote: "Hi Russianliteraturephiles,
Have any of you read Laurus - by Evgenij Vodolazkin? It's won a couple of major prizes in Russia. I was awed by its humanity, its evocation of place, as well as its trea..."

Adding it to my tbr

[Mori]

Hello everyone. I'm Mori from Japan. I was introduced to Russian literature by Nabokov's novels, and I'm currently reading War and Peace. I'm quite new to Russian literature, and there are many major works that I haven't read yet, so I'm looking forward to get to them.

[Blackwell]

Vodolazkin has written two other novels that have been received favourably - Aviator, and Solovyov and Larionov (recently released in English). They are on my own (in my head) tbr. )

[Amalie]

Thanks for mentioning about Vodolazkin's The Aviator. I would like to read it myself. I saw few great reviews of it.

[Blackwell]

Amalie wrote: "Thanks for mentioning about Vodolazkin's The Aviator. I would like to read it myself. I saw few great reviews of it."

I like this writer's sensibility.

[Harlyn]

Greetings from Alabama! I just finished reading the scene from Anna Karenina where Oblonsky is going to petition Karenin in the presence of Lidia Ivanovna and Landau. I laughed harder than I thought possible at poor Oblonsky in the presence of the "sanctified" and clairvoyant. Then I realized there was nobody in my circle I could tell without their eyes glazing over. I have read this book several times and I know I will be crying soon. I look forward to reading other comments from those who share my passion for Russian literature. Thanks! Harlyn

[Harlyn]

Mori wrote: "Hello everyone. I'm Mori from Japan. I was introduced to Russian literature by Nabokov's novels, and I'm currently reading War and Peace. I'm quite new to Russian literature, and there are many maj..."

Mori, hello! I have read War and Peace several times. Every time I read it, I find something I missed or overlooked the previous reading. This is true of every Russian novel I read. You might have the same experience.

[Mori]

Harlyn wrote: Mori, hello! I have read War and Peace several times. Every time I read it, I find something I missed or overlooked the previous reading. This is true of every Russian novel I read. You might have the same experience.

Hello Harlyn!
I'm looking forward to have the same experience.
Thank you for the reply.

[Mark]

Hi, I’m Mark. I’m friends with 12 members of the group and that is how I found my way here today. I love Russian Literature. And have hit at least the high points of many of its most famous authors.

[Phil]

My name is Phil. I am a retired academic research librarian and library director. I have love long enjoyed Russian literature (although never learned the language beyond the basics). Of 19th century, the standard war horses, and of 20th century, Bunin, Bulgakov, Babel, and Grossman.

[Alexander]

Hi Phil,
What do you think of Grossman?
I'm presently reading Everything Flows & Writer at War.

[Sue]

I've just joined this group - I'v e not read Grossman, I don't feel strong enough at the moment - however, I did go to a talk by Robert Chandler who has translated Grossman, most recently Stalingrad. I though I might start with his short story collection, I think it's called The Road, so I will give that a go when I'm feeling a bit tougher!

[Denny]

Hi This is Denny from Sebastopol CA and have been on a Vasily Grossman binge for a couple of months now. Finished Life and Fate and Alexandra Popoff's excellent book about him and also Writer at War and now I am about 1/2 way through Stalingrad. That, of course, led to Bukharin, Isaac Babel and Zabolotsky, Solzhenitsyn and Alexander N. Yakolev all purchased used and waiting on the shelf. I host a very a channeling series found on GetWisdom.com and I am also an owner there. Here is is short vid about our series https://www.brighteon.com/6047125731001 Great to see others here with an interest in Vasily.

[Claudia]

Denny wrote: "Hi This is Denny from Sebastopol CA and have been on a Vasily Grossman binge for a couple of months now. Finished Life and Fate and Alexandra Popoff's excellent book about him and also Writer at Wa..." I am planning to read Life and Fate at some point. I plan to read first, War and Peace by Tolstoi and then Life and Fate, but I don't think I will read them at least until January next year.

[Elena]

Hello everyone! I’ve been a member of this group for a while but only now realised I’ve never introduced myself.
Well, I’m here because there’s an important ‘before and after’ moment in my life, and that’s when I read Anna Karenina when I was a teenager. It had an enormous effect on me, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I was a different person after reading it. I’ve been hooked on Russian literature (and history) ever since and I’ve read (and re read) many books by Russian authors, seen several Chekhov plays and so on. I believe this is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life and I’m so happy about that.
I’m learning Russian in the hopes of some day be able to read and understand the novels, poems and plays that I love so much in their original language, and I’m also saving for a long trip to Russia.
I’m looking forward to being a more active member of this group and discuss and share my passion with other Russophiles.

[Denny]

Claudia and Elena I am learning Russian too. I started in 1992 at the JC in Monterey Bay CA. Did not follow through. Now I am working with old texts and www.bussu.com . I am having fun with this video learning Pushkin's K poem https://youtu.be/7Pm3N9RkO_M
I have not enjoyed reading so much since I delved into the list above.

[Tetty]

Hi, I'm Tetty, I love Russian Literature and Folklore and I'm always in need of more reading/author recommendations. I have exactly five copies of Anna Karenina, I just love the text so I'm surrounding myself with it, I guess, and my collection of other Russian classics and contemporaries is growing and so is my passion for the genre.

[Stephen]

Hi Tetty, I see you are reading The Master And Margarita, one of my all time favourites. What do you think of it so far?

[Tetty]

Stephen wrote: "Hi Tetty, I see you are reading The Master And Margarita, one of my all time favourites. What do you think of it so far?"

I absolutely adore it. The prose is so lyrical and all the characters are dynamic and intensely interesting. Can't wait to read more!

[Stephen]

That’s great to hear! I’ve read it twice but could read it again in a heartbeat.

[Brenda]

Hello to the group !
As introduction, my name is Brenda. I hail from the Detroit area of Michigan in the U.S. I am a bit of a Francophile, will read most anything if well written and interesting but lean towards classic lit.
I have recently returned to Goodreads after a many year absence.
I am new to the groups but look forward to reading along and participating in some lively discussion.