I have just received the book I ordered, “The Idiot”, by Dostoyevsky. For those who have read it, do you think I made a good choice? I find myself personally perplexed and intrigued by the “fool” personality as I find many common traits with myself tied to it, I learned of this book and another I ordered by Tolstoy, called “Ivan the Fool”, from a psychology video I watched on YouTube that explains this personality type.

I think I partially understand Russian naming conventions (given name, patronymic, family name) as they were in the 19th century, and the scenarios in which one used them: diminutives for family and intimate friends, first name + patronymic as standard/formal address, then maybe full or family name only with a title for formal occasion (?) I'm frankly not clear on when one would call someone else by their family name or full name, and that's where my question lies.

in Anna Karenina, the narrator refers to some of his characters by given name + patronymic — Stepan Arkadyich is typically called just that — and he refers to many of his female character by given name or diminutive — Anna, Kitty — then he has some characters who he seems to refer to equally by given name + patronymic and also by family name — Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin is sometimes called Alexei Alexandrovich and sometimes Karenin — then he has characters who are almost exclusively referred to by family name only — Vronsky, Levin. So much so that the only reason I knew Vronsky's patronymic was by googling it.

It also seems to me that Anna Karenina is sometimes called just that, given name + family name with no patronymic, which I didn't even realize was an accepted part of the naming convention.

Basically, I'm trying to understand what is going on here. I understand the gendered reasons why the women get the diminutives/given names, and I can also understand Tolstoy's not wanting to regularly refer to the two different Alexeis who Anna is in a relationship with (Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky and Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin). But why is Levin almost always called Levin?

Am I missing some aspect of the naming conventions? Are these creative and meaningful decisions on the part of Tolstoy? How would a contemporary reader have understood the decision to call one character Stepan Arkadyich and another Levin?

Russians, scholars and readers of Russian literature, please advise!

As the title implies, I am looking for your opinions on translations of A Sportsman’s Sketches by Ivan Turgenev.

I want to read Russian literature, what do I start with?

Hi guys! I've seen a lot of posts where non-Russian speakers ask how reading certain books and authors like Dostoyevsky feels in Russian, and if there's any difference. I've been lurking on the classic literature side of Reddit for about a year and noticed how often the central themes of the books differ drastically (!) for English speakers and Russian speakers.

What’s interesting, you guys generally seem to perceive the books and characters in a more positive light than a Russian speaking person would, almost sugarcoating some aspects. For example, some people perceive Anna Karenina more as a mid-life crisis and tragic love story of a person tormented by mental illnesses while for Russians it is about anything but love, and much more about “being cancelled”by society and human ugliness, the shallowness and self-centeredness of the main characters and the concequences it brought. It’s like English speaking people sympathize with the characters more and want to see them as better humans when it’s not exactly intended. I think this difference of perception is a very interesting topic to discuss.

I know a native Russian speaker with the right education (academic background in psychology, literature and history) who is a writer himself, so I'm thinking about creating a video series about the Russian classics analyzed through the eyes of a person who was raised in that culture.

What do you think, would you be interested in watching? And if so, which books would you like to be analyzed? Which books raise questions in you?

So far we were thinking:

1. Tolstoy's “Anna Karenina”
2. Nabokov's “Lolita”
3. Dostoyevsky's “Crime and Punishment” and his very underrated “The Idiot”

Will be happy if you share your thoughts and ideas!

Ive read a fair amount of dostoevsky and was wanting to start War & Peace by Tolstoy and was wondering if thatd be alright? or is there another work thats better to start with? (for reference, i perfer things that are difficult to read and make u have to rlly think—as most russian literature does)

Anna Karenina and Levin get into a rap battle with disses who do you think would win. I think also Kitty and Vronsky would be the features/duo on each track. I might do some Ai and we can have a funny rap battle. Who’s down?

It was one of those books that put you in a bad mood, I thought it was a pointless story, full of clichés and poorly constructed characters. I couldn't see any truth in it and everything seemed false to me. However, when I finished reading it I only saw positive reviews. Am I the only one who can't stand it? I read it in Spanish so it could also be that the problem is in the translation... but there are things that you don't need to read in their original language to realize that they are worthless. (forgive me if I sound very disruptive but I really found it insulting)

View Poll

Andrey Kolmogorov the mathematician

Thank you so much

Я новенький книголюб которому захотелось поделиться тем что он читает.

What do you all think of this story? I read it a while ago and it kind of stayed with me.

(Btw I apologize if I remembered some details wrong).

At first, it was frustrating and hopeless how it ended with nothing changed in any of the characters' situations.

Later, I realized that was the point. When people are being oppressed they often fantasize about murder and escape, but most don't do it. They rebel in small and covert ways like Varvara does by being with the priest's son. And by banding together with people who are in the same situation like Varvara and Sofya do, and getting a little bit of encouragement out of it so you can keep going.

I thought that the ending showed how powerless people as individuals are when oppression is so all-encompassing. Varvara's character wants to be free and maybe even has the grit to fight for it. Both women want the boy that Matvey uses like a slave, to be free. But it is still impossible even when the will is there.

What are your thoughts on the story?

I’ve begun my Russian literature journey a few years ago but they’ve been 9/10 male authors. I love them but I want to explore female authors for balance, unfortunately they’re a bit harder to find (aside from the classic ones). Preferably modern authors.

Edit: thanks for all of the suggestions! I should've mentioned that I need them in translation, but I know Spanish too if that makes any difference.

View Poll

I have been thinking about reading it but I have heard people saying that Russian poetry in translation loses basically all its flavour so now I’m not so sure. Will I be able to appreciate it? If yes which translation would you suggest? Thanks!

Previously, I knew about Turgenev mainly in the context of his beef with Dostoevsky and the way he’s parodied in Demons. I was curious to see what his writing was actually like, so I picked up Fathers and Sons. And I like, really loved it??? I totally vibed with the writing style, the characters, the sharp dialogue…Are Turgenev’s other books/stories as good as this one? Can anyone recommend some of them?

(My only stipulation: I think Mumu would literally give me a sadness-induced heart attack, so I’m steering clear of that one for now 😂)

Or an extensive study of the book. Thanks in advance.

View Poll

You can' t really compass even the basic premises of "Lazarus" or "Satan's Diary" from an Orthodox perspective. Earlier writers like Turgenev or Chekhov may have had their doubts about the faith but Andreyev seems to be the first one who all but openly acknowledges their total lack of it. Am I correct in calling him the first open atheist of Russian literature?

Sharing news to fans of Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita! Theater 86 is bringing this novel to the stage on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in NYC! It is based on the late Jean-Claude van Itallie's adaptation, and received a terrific review on Wall Street Journal. It also received Critic's Recommendation on New York Magazine's Vulture section. The extension will play from Thursday 1/23 to Sunday 2/16 at Pushkin Hall, located at 165 West 86th Street in New York City. More info at www.theater86.com

which one is your personal favorite and why? mine is tolstoy because war and peace changed my outlook on life in many ways

I was watching the Michel Gondry documentary and he drew inspiration for a music video from a Russian short story about a man who sees himself on a hill. He doesn’t say the author or the name of story and I tried googling “Russian short story about a man who sees himself on a hill” but have come up with nothing. It sounds intriguing and wanna read it. Any help is appreciated.

does anybody know the best translation to English of marina tsvetaeva? from what i found, the collection Dark Elderberry Branch seems to be the best collection, but has a very short amount of her work, about thirty pages worth, the rest of the translations have very mixed reviews

This book belonged to my grandfather. He really liked Russian literature, so do I, but I have never heard of this author. The book seems interesting and well written. Does anyone know it?

Hello, I'm a huge fan of reading Russian nihilist literature while I don't pay much attention to their political side, I mostly focus on their literature and philosophy, especially among the likes of Antonovich, Dobrolyubov, Pisarev, Zaytsev, and Tkachev. Does anyone here share the same sentiment and if someone has recommendations for reading?