To Moudi
I lost track of the letter you posted about reading Fyodor--I think you are on another of his--moving from Crime to Brothers. Interesting--you've chosen a difficult novelist--challenging I should say. But man--does he know the psychology of man--esp of obsession and addiction and of life.
When I first read this man I was working on a BA in Psych and English and thought that when I received my MA in Clinical Psychology I would teach a class on "Psychology through Literature." Well that dream was deferred and like the poet warned: "dried up like a raisin in the sun."
You brought this all back to me.
I have some suggestions for your future reads if I may:
But Russia is not for everyone.
Stories: Gogol (Overcoat,Nose); Pushkin--love this guy (Tales Belkin); Chekhov (stories)
Novels: Pasternak (Dr Zhivago--yes believe it or not); Tolstoy (War and Peace--heavy into length but awesome man); Tergenyev (Sketches from a Hunter's Album and Fathers and Sons) and Pushkin (Eugene Onegin--awesome novel in verse--iambic pentameter I believe--you must read this kid). Pushkin is awesome man.
Poets: Brodsky, Blok, Mayakovsky and another favorite Akhmatova--she is beautiful.
The men who have sent letters here are well and varied readers I enjoyed reading their letters...I am impressed and if we could have all sat together one day/one night and told these stories of what we have read and liked and what changed us and what did not.
Sublime, man.
I tripped over your post and another on Haikus and was so taken -- so many powerful men writing and laughing.
Well, I wrote too much and must go -- you'll be tired after this and that was not my intent.
If you dare--try Fyodor's "The Idiot"--its about long suffering and enduring ... I have felt that here.
---cya
