Living in the UK, I realised how many people outside Russia are interested in the modern Russian history, GULAG, Stalin’s rule and the life of Soviet people. The immense worldwide popularity of novels like Doctor Zhivago and Life and Fate is undeniable.… Read the rest
Turning to Listen. Russian Soul
Обращение в слух by Антон Понизовский
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Обращение в слух, which can be translated as Turning into a Listening Ear, is an important work marking the return of the so-called ‘novel of ideas’. The book won the biggest Russian literary prize this year – The Big Book.… Read the rest
Modern Russian Authors: Tatiana Tolstaya. Slynx and the Russian language
Tatiana Tolstaya is one of the most prominent media figures in the modern Russian society, she’s also a publicist and a writer of short stories and novellas, some of which could be found in English.… Read the rest
From Businessman to Writer: Andrei Rubanov. Russian Prison
Many writers create amazing things they’ve never lived through just out their imagination. Still I find writers who experienced terrifying shortcomings of life are able to create truly vibrant prose. Andrei Rubanov is a modern Russian author who has both a very adventurous personal history and a vivid imagination.… Read the rest
Modern Russian Writers: Ludmila Ulitskaya and Her Soviet Chronicles
The Soviet Union collapsed 22 years ago and we now have the whole generation of writers in Russia thinking about the recent Russian history and trying to understand and portray the Soviet phenomenon in their stories.… Read the rest
Shame and Purity. Tatiana Moskvina
Very often incredibly talented people are modest and underappreciated. Three years ago I have read a novel that thrilled me to pieces, it was called Shame and Purity (Позор и Чистота).… Read the rest
Modern Russian Books: Victor Pelevin and Russian Postmodernism
Victor Pelelin is probably the most influential modern Russian writer. In his post-modernist stories Pelevin eclectically combines elements of esoterics, theology, philosophy, pop culture, psychology and politics. His writing is multilayered, rich in symbolism and references to the world culture and history. … Read the rest