Russian Novels

[masterof_none]

Anyone here read Russian Novels?

For anyone who hasn't read any Russian Novel, I recommend to give a try. Some of them are depressing, but I think overall, Russian Novels is a great reading.

Russian literature achieve its greatest height during 1860's under the reign of Alexender II. Some of the great novelists including Doestovsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Gogol.

My favorite author (so far) is Tolstoy, although Gogol's (not Google) novel are very funny. You should try read Gogol's writing, like The Nose and a Diary of a Madman. (it's a ridiculously funny), yet posses a great aesthetic value.

I knew them all because I'm taking a course on Russian Novel right now.
So far, I've read only a few, but I like Tolstoy's way of writing. (although some of them are very very long and boring).
His book that I'm reading, Anna Karenina is a great book : a two book in one book. It marvels me!.

Other than that, there's Dostevsky's Crime and Punishment and Fathers and Sons by Turgenev. Those are another two great books.

but first off, you can read Gogol's short story: THe Nose. It's about a guy who lost his nose, and to his surprise, his nose has been transformed into an officer. Read his quest to find his nose back.
ah, I found it on google.
http://h42day.100megsfree5.com/texts/russia/gogol/nose.html
here it is (if you have lots of leisure, don't simply skip those conversations. Read it carefully, and laugh cheerfully. )
It's a stunning piece of humor. !

[masterof_none]

give "Fathers and Sons " by Ivan Turgenev a try.
It's a really good book.

[phantom]

The Raincoat by Nikolai Gogol is a perfect piece of writting.the book was the impetus behind the book,"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri,an indian writer,born in the midst of westerners.

[thesoothsayer]

Always wanted to read Tolstoy but somehow I never got to it. :)

Anyway, since the novels were written so long ago therefore the copyright should have expired and you can find the complete text from the Internet if you don't mind reading from the screen.
http://www.online-literature.com/tolstoy/war_and_peace/

[masterof_none]

Yeah, I like Gogol's writing. He has tremendous weirdness that people never understand. I think the diary of a madman is one of his weird writings.(and the nose, of course).

I haven't read Tolstoy's war and peace, but , anna karenina is a very good piece of writing. (but of course, you can try to compare them with dostevsky's Crime and punishment. .. and notice the difference).

I would like to hear what people have to say on any of the novel..
and what book would you guys recommend.
(btw, give fathers and sons a try... It will "moves" you).

[masterof_none]

The Raincoat by Nikolai Gogol is a perfect piece of writting.the book was the impetus behind the book,"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri,an indian writer,born in the midst of westerners.

You mean The Overcoat?

[phantom]

i think so,it was barely mentioned in Jhumpa Lahiri's book.guess what the main character of her book was named Gogol too.

[masterof_none]

Jumpa Lahiri.

I just read an article about her in the old newsweek and about her novel, The Namesake.

Is this the book that has the "Gogol factor?"

[sanghanuman]

I am reading Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov.. Very creative and persuasive indeed. Somehow, I am pulled to side with him, a pedophile who raped his child step daughter because "he loves her".

Will read Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" soon..Has anybody read that?

[xiaohu]

Have recently read some Russian short stories with authors like Chekov, Gogol, Tolstoy, Dosteyevsky, Gorky, Puskin and Turgenev. All quite varied, but most have that peculiar Russian touch of staying with you until long after you've read it. Really good introduction to Russian literature - don't go plunge into something like Cancer Ward if you've never read Russian lit before. Can get the free ebook from www.gutenberg.org

[khiahsu]

I've been wading through Boris Pasternak's 'Dr. Zhivago' for quite sometime. I keep flipping back to the beginning as I can't remember who the characters were! :oops: Their names, I mean-they're a mouthful. Phew.