Bonkers Over Brodsky!
350265
This is a great CD - lots of energy - I am listening to it now and it's wonderful! A quartet that's not stuffy and all that stuff - Give it a try -

All the Best,

Simon
3217261
Can you really review a classic? I think that you either have to be Russian or have some significant connection to Russia to be able to appreciate this work. Having lived 3 years in Russia I can now appreciate the history and the state of mind issues that Tolstoy examines. His characters are clearly real Russians. He was an incredible craftsman, but even so, I was anxious to get it over with. I had forgotten how it ended and what a relief it finally was.
3414334
I actually happened to find this book at the dollar store.  I would generally have low expectations from a book found in a dollar store, but I was definitely wrong in this instance.  This book was fascinating!  I loved the characters, the story, the atmosphere in the book.  Korolev is such an interesting character, wrestling internally with the contradictions about his religious faith contrasted against his hopes for the future of Soviet Russia.  He is a brilliant detective, but also a very humble and ethical man -- always trying to rationalize in his mind the injustices and cruelties wrought by the Stalinist government as the somehow necessary cost of attaining the glorious ideals of communism.  A means to an end, no matter how uncomfortable, and a sacrifice he remains willing to accept.  I am now reading the 2nd in the series, The Darkening Field, and it is just as interesting.  I will definitely plan to read all of the books of this series!
1078417
This is another of those daunting books that I only completed after my third try. I'm glad I stuck with it - difficult but worthwhile. It begins with a portrait of the artist, Fyodor Godunov-Cherdyntsev, as a young man, trying to become a published author, scraping out a nearly destitute existence in Berlin. Like Nabokov, Fyodor's family had formerly been titled landowners in pre-Bolshevik Russia and are now living in exile in Berlin.

This book consists of five long chapters - the first describes Fyodor's literary quest, his surroundings, his lifestyle, and some of his poems, published by a small emigre press, as he reminisces over them. The best part of the book is the second chapter where we are taken back to Fyodor's childhood in Russia. There is an amazing description of his father's butterfly collecting expeditions and mysterious death in Central Asia. This section is absolutely fascinating and is among my favorite writings by Nabokov (or anybody else).

In chapters three and four the book becomes increasingly confusing. I think Nabokov is trying to challenge the readers to the point where most will just quit right here. Why? I have no idea. For example, on page 154 of the Vintage International edition he changes narrator and point of view - right in the middle of a paragraph! Then twenty pages later he switches back, again mid-paragraph. Our hero, Fyodor Godunov-Cherdyntsev, has a friend and rival named Chernyshevski. In chapter three Fyodor begins to write a book about another Chernyshevski who was an actual historic figure (?) in Russia; then in chapter four we get to read Fyodor's book about the historic Chernyshevski, which according to some of the other reviews is tremendously funny - I guess I didn't get the joke. Sounds like a pitch for a David Lynch movie.

Finally, in the last chapter, we are back to Fyodor in Berlin, and this section I did find hilarious - plus Nabokov more or less resolves all the plot elements and wraps up what ends up being a coherent story.

Admittedly my lack of knowledge of Russian history (Chernyshevski who?) and ignorance to most of Nabokov's inside jokes and Russian literary illusions prevented me from fully devouring and appreciating this novel - but in spite of that I was impressed and moved. This is the seventh Nabokov novel that I've read and my third favorite (after Pale Fire and Lolita). Well worth the frustration.
1477349
A must read for anyone interested in Chekhov, Russian literature and/or traditions or simply short stories in general. Popkin has done a marvelous job of pulling together stellar translations of some of Chekhov's best stories, and the Norton Critical Edition is definitely worth the extra few dollars for the richness that it affords. Great selection of interpretations and meditations on Chekhov's life and work-- a beautiful book.
2979602
Oh I wanted to cry when this book was finished!  I wanted to make it last.  My husband had encouraged me to read it but I put it off, thinking, How exciting could a story about a man confined to a hotel be?  And yes, there isn't much tension but it is endlessly entertaining on many levels.  It is an enchanting story that kept me wanting to return to it every time I had to stop to carry on with my life.  I loved the Count.  He is a wry optimist, a pragmatist, a truly kind man of great knowledge and compassion.  He has the taste and education of an aristocrat so when the Bolsheviks take over he is in trouble.  But he is saved from the gulag because of a pre-Revolutionary poem he wrote, so he is instead banished to Moscow's grand Metropol Hotel where he must remain inside its doors forever.
All of the hotel characters are fun and its interesting to see how they all change over time.  They are all so vividly rendered that I wanted to move in to the Metropol and meet them all, especially the Count.  Even though its Russia in the 20th century with all its grim craziness, reading this story was like taking a holiday from the political insanity of our current world.  I think Amor Towles hit it out of the ballpark with this one.  He is a terrific writer!
2166836
a novel with his own pace and rhythm with awesome results!  With a wonderfull mix of history and a must for Russian art lovers!
1478997
It's been a while since I was carrying a paper book with me to work and reading it everywhere I could!

I am a tournament chess player and thus I have to read chess books for my improvement. But this one by David Bronstein is of the kind of chess books I like most, with stories about chess players and how they are (were) as humans. David himself strikes me as a very thoughtful and nice person who loved people, countries and cultures as much as he loved chess. His greatness shows in the stories he told in this book. He had many great friends among chess players and chess lovers, too! I'll have to reread the book again to play through the games, but the stories are what already made me think the book is great.
2590875
As a Jodorowsky nut, I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone interested in his work, even just a little bit. The shot by shot deconstructions are priceless.
1974569
This amazing collection of fiction and non-fiction by one of the 20th century's most talented and most overlooked writers re-demonstrates that Grossman was a meticulous documentarian of the Russian soul. There is pathos and sorrow here, most notably in "The Hell of Treblinka," but there is hope and lightness as well, albeit at times tinged with the inescapable Soviet Orthodoxy. Grossman's letters to his deceased mother are heart-wrenching, and his short stories profoundly memorable. Robert Chandler's superb editing, introduction and notes make this a collector's edition.

As reviewed in&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Russian-Life/dp/B00008CQIB/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Russian Life</a>
4201725
This is a great movie. Even though the jacket claims that there are only Russian sub-titles, I was amased to see that THERE ARE ENGLISH SUB-TITLES, also. So enjoy this rare treat. Gabin and Bardot in one great movie!
3172114
This is a great book - it will hold your attention and bring you back again and again. Dealing with personal relationships and the ambitions and needs of a group of Russian society (young and old) in pre-revolutionary Russia, it will grip you! Long but not verbose (at least compared to other Russians and "classic" English writers like Dickens, I thoroughly recommend this book.
4258981
I've always been a fan of Babel's Red Cavalry stories, but was surprised and delighted to read his other works. His description of life in the Shtetl in Russia, as well as his reportage are lucid and easy to understand. His prose is superb, and he belongs in the upper pantheon of great Russian writers.
3451903
This series of Russian-language readers is great! I'll be looking for more such adaptations of Russian classics at all reading levels.
2356017
First Impressions:

The 2012 Neujahrskonzert from Vienna is just DELIGHTFUL!!

Mariss Jansons puts his Heart and Soul into Conducting the VPO, and they respond with obvious enthusiasm and affection. (He is, after all, an honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, so they consider him "One of Us!")

A good example would be The Blue Danube Waltz, on which Jansons puts his own stamp, giving it an Old World charm, grace and courtliness which I have never before experienced. (You might even notice on one of the Scores that a couple bars were inked out to simplify the musical presentation...)

In some of the more energetic pieces, Jansons' feet actually leave the Podium as he urges the Orchestra on, so it's no wonder that his hair is wet with perspiration by the end of The Radetsky March!!

About 60 members of The Vienna Boys' Choir are crowded into the Organ Loft for Josef Strauss' "Feuerfest", and it is a real treat to see and hear them singing at the top of their lungs - brings a smile to your face and tears to your eyes: all that youth, energy, enthusiasm and promise for the Future... In addition to conducting this piece, Jansons plays twin Tuned Anvils, which adds to the fun!

Those who expect the charming Julie Andrews to announce each piece, as she did on Television, will be disappointed. However, you WILL see her sitting in the Audience, looking not much older than she did in "The Sound of Music"

"Great Music, and all Great Art, is food for your soul and your heart. Without it we might as well not exist."
This quote by Mariss Jansons summarizes his approach to Life and Art. Many other interesting facts are contained in the Nicholas Wroe Interview for the Guardian. Google it to discover what a Treasure of the Human Race Mariss Jansons actually is, then include him in your Prayers for a Long, Happy, Healthy Productive Life.

p.s. Audio and Video are absolutely State of The Art. Lots of Sony Deep Colour, and their Rotating View From the Ceiling may even upset those who are not normally prone to Vertigo! There is also an amusing "Music in The Air" Video featuring "The Philharmonics" Quintet playing Pablo Sarasate to Chick Corea (Stolen From Rodrigo!) with Tourists taking off their SONY HEADPHONES and floating through the Air in Downtown Vienna - how did they do that????

p.p.s. Anyone who objected to the brilliant Franz Welzer-Most, and his 2011 "Cool as a Cucumber" light touch should be delighted by the 2012 Version!!
3581208
The Brothers Karamazov is a magnificent piece of literature.  Anyone the least bit familiar with Fyodor Dostoevsky will easily spot his hand at work here, which means some familiar ground for readers of other works by the author.  This is not at all negative, however; this volume overflows with illuminating, thought-provoking Dostoevsky ideas.
The Constance Garnett translation is somewhat awkward; I find Garnett overly monotonous and convoluted.  Though Dostoevsky is no quick nor casual read, his text was certainly confused in some of Garnett's meandering passages.  I feel other translators do a more concise and entertaining job, while keeping the same ideas intact, though I've only briefly read other translations.
To give evidence to my critique, the notes on translation in the back of my text indicate some issues, including the title itself!  Instead of "The Brothers Karamazov," the book should probably be "The Karamazov Brothers."  As editor Ralph E. Matlaw states, "we do not refer to 'the brothers Kennedy'," and I'll mention "the sisters Hilton."  On the bright side, I feel the strange title makes the book feel more "foreign" and exotic.
Matlaw also states Garnett doesn't just confuse the reader with some language, but actually simplifies and cleans up other language, turning at least one character into a more polished version than Doestoevsky probably intended.  Thankfully, Garnett's peculiarities become familiar and comfortable.  Overall, this book is sufficiently readable.
Of note to first-time Dostoevsky readers is the extreme number of characters quickly introduced near the beginning of the book, with the traditional cavalcade of Russian names, surnames, and nicknames.  This is no deficiency of the translator, but rather a difficulty inherent with the source text.
Fans of Dostoevsky may simply be wondering: is this worth the time to read?  After taking in all 700+ pages, I can answer a resounding yes.  Ideas introduced in earlier works are here fleshed out into living, breathing, bleeding human beings.  I feel the characters are some of the most real I've ever encountered in literature.  The variety in people eases the reader's process of identifying with a character; I identified with multiple throughout the book.
For those being introduced to Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment may be better, simply because Karamazov has a slow, disorienting beginning.  However, if you enjoy the Russian master, you will relish in the delight of Karamazov.
1407529
Here's a really short review: It took me just a few days of reading this on the subway to finish it.  If you are at all interested in Russia, the former Soviet Union and the characters in the news from those places, you will find this a fascinating read.  Yes, much of the 'evidence' is circumstantial, but it left me with no doubt that much of what Goldfarb and Litvinenko allege is fact, particularly the FSB involvement in the apartment bombings and probably Putin's use of means even he has called immoral even to think of.

Question for the other readers:  How does this compare to Litvinenko's own book "Blowing up Russia" on substance and montage?