Mansoor was merely stating that the book was masterfully written. The Death of Ivan Illych is an incredible book and you either get it or you don't. I believe that Mansoor gets it. Nothing ridiculous about the quote, that book is overwhelming.Originally Posted by Etienne
Of course I'll recommend it to you, you'll read it, and then you'll complain because you don't get it, and I'll be to blame. Thats when my signature comes in handy.
"I am glad to learn my friend that you had not yet submitted yourself to any of the mouldy laws of Literature."
-John Muir
"My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light"
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
I guess I could try reading an english version but I was wondering if they have the old english language like saying for example the "thou" "art" words because I don't think I'll get that lol.
But they are not realism, they are romantism.
At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.
To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM
But I have read it and I loved it.
Most of the books are translated into what we call modern english, e.g "you are" instead of "thou art".
Can anyone recommend some Russian Literature? My current collection is comprised of the following:
Chekhov ~ Selected Stories
Dostoevsky ~ The Idiot ~ Crime and Punishment ~ The Brothers Karamazov ~ The Double ~ Notes from Underground ~ The House of the Dead ~ The Meek One ~ Poor Folk ~ White Nights
Tolstoy ~ Anna Karenina ~ War and Peace ~ The Death of Ivan Ilych
Boris Pasternak ~ Dr. Zhivago
My collection could probably use some Pushkin and Gogol, but what else should I add?\
P.S.: Also, if you have a translation preference, please mention it.
Last edited by Dori; 11-24-2007 at 03:40 PM.
com-pas-sion (n.) [ME. & OFr. <LL. (Ec.) compassio, sympathy < compassus, pp. of compati, to feel pity < L. com-, together + pali, to suffer] sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help; deep sympathy; pity
Dostoevsky Forum!
Dostoevsky - The Possessed (must have), The Gambler
Pushkin - Eugene Onegin (must have)
Turgenev - Fathers and Sons
Bulgakov- Master and Margarita
Gogol - Dead Souls, The Cloak
Nabokov (maybe he is considered as an American writer) - Lolita, Ada
Lermontov - The Hero of Our Times
At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.
To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM
I forgot to mention I had Fathers and Sons by Turgenev. Thanks for the other recommendations.
com-pas-sion (n.) [ME. & OFr. <LL. (Ec.) compassio, sympathy < compassus, pp. of compati, to feel pity < L. com-, together + pali, to suffer] sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help; deep sympathy; pity
Dostoevsky Forum!
I would add Mikhail Sholokhov's Quiet Flows the Don and Gogol's Taras Bulba to Baz's list and then I think you'd be good for awhile.
the luminous grass of the prairie hides
feet lovely and still as sleeping doves,
porcelain bones strong enough to carry a life,
but weighty and unmovable
As black Dakota hills. ~ Riesa
Gontcharov's Oblomov is a must as well.
The short stories of Isaac Babel. Cannot reccomend these enough.
Some of the major works of Solzhenytsin (I always have trouble spelling his name.): One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich is probably his most digestable work, but personally, I find some of his speeches on Western culture (after he moved to America) more interesting.
Last edited by Old Crow; 11-25-2007 at 02:43 PM. Reason: poor spelling
Thanks Idril, Etienne, and Old Crow for your suggestions. I'll be on the look out for them.
com-pas-sion (n.) [ME. & OFr. <LL. (Ec.) compassio, sympathy < compassus, pp. of compati, to feel pity < L. com-, together + pali, to suffer] sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help; deep sympathy; pity
Dostoevsky Forum!
I think you have a wonderful collection so far. I would certainly add Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time and possibly The Romance of Leonardo de Vinci by Merejkowski. There is also Chandler's Russian Short Stories. And, of course, one mustn't forget, although you can if you like, Dr. Zhavago.
I started reading The Birth of Gods (or Tuthakanmun) by Merejkovsky and I don't think it's that great. It's not bad by any stretch of imagination, but I was expecting something better. Petersburg by Biely is supposed, according to Nabokov, to be be great, I'm still on the look for it as it's really hard to get (in french, in english it's easier) and the only edition of it is expensive (it's not pocket format) but I'm going to order it this week.
The russian symbolists are quite hard to get our hands on in the west, but I'm trying to.
Well, that's just not possible.
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