Litsy

Twenty Poems | Anna Andreevena Akhmatova

#NationalPoetryMonth #April #day18 #water #AprilPoetryChallenge
These poems were translated by Jane Kenyon with Vera Sandomirsky Dunham in 1985. They are included in her book, Collected Poems, which is how I was introduced to this Russian poet.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anna-akhmatova

wanderinglynn

BooksandCoffee4Me Ah, someone else who knows and appreciates Akhmatova‘s poetry! Last year when I was teaching adult Ed English language learners, one of my students from Russia read one of Akhmatova‘s poems with me for the class, I reading in English and he reading stanzas then in Russian. 2w

dabbe 💙🩵💙 2w

quietlycuriouskate @BooksandCoffee4Me I am haunted by the one with the line about the miraculous being so close to the ruined houses. 2w

wanderinglynn Love! And thank you for introducing me to a new (to me) poet. 2w

44 likes1 stack add4 comments

Abailliekaras

Memoirs from the House of the Dead | Fyodor Dostoyevsky

so-so

This didn‘t work for me as a novel (as its described) because there is no plot and there are no main characters who you get to know or care about (The narrator is an observer not driving most scenes). But as a documentary it‘s interesting, with intricate detail & some vivid scenes from prison life in Siberia in the 1850s. I found it slow & dense but it‘s a valuable record for anyone researching the subject, done with an eye for human nature.

Abailliekaras Coming up on the podcast! 1mo

Tamra I just had this in my hands today at the bookstore. Now I‘m glad I made other choices. (edited) 1mo

22 likes2 comments

Liz_M

The Idiot | Fyodor Dostoevsky

Two bingos, thanks to strategic “Free“ space reading 😉

The library took Hood Feminism before I finished and it'll be weeks to get it again. I enjoyed the tagged enough to finish well-ahead of schedule. Discomfort was the most felt-in-the-body read and Skylark was hopeful-poignant-then sad. The two main characters in Night Boat had a rhythm to their conversation that reminds me of Godot (also because Irish and because waiting)

#BookSpinBingo

24 likes

Nebklvr

Yevgeny Onegin | Alexander Pushkin

pick

Bold and evocative. Pushkin immerses the reader in Russian life and a Russian winter with his lively words and biting wit. His hero left much to be desired but Russia was the heroine of the story.

38 likes1 stack add

wanderinglynn

Ward No. 6 and Other Stories | Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

pick

#OffMyShelf for short stories; anthology, or essays

I‘m really wishing I had taken a Russian literature class in college. I absolutely loved this short story collection. An incredible writer, Chekhov definitely transcends time. I can see why he‘s considered one of the greatest short story writers.

So this book is off my TBR shelf, but I‘m definitely keeping it & will revisit these stories often.

#2025OffMyShelf

Ruthiella Nice work! I‘ve not read Chekov yet, but he‘s on my list. All the classics really, because they are the building blocks for what came after. 3mo

wanderinglynn @Ruthiella I recommend Chekhov—he‘s very readable. 3mo

Lesliereadsalot I took two Russian literature classes in college. Have never regretted reading War and Peace and The Brothers Karamazov among many others. The professor was blind and made these novels come alive. Best classes I took! 3mo

wanderinglynn @Lesliereadsalot how awesome! 3mo

ferskner Russian lit is so daunting before you start but then so addictive! 3mo

67 likes1 stack add5 comments

wanderinglynn

Ward No. 6 and Other Stories | Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Jasper apparently doesn‘t appreciate Russian literature.

#catsoflitsy

AllDebooks 🥹🐾😍 3mo

dabbe Especially if it's THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV! I'm with ya, Jasper! 🖤🐾🖤 3mo

wanderinglynn @dabbe 😂 it‘s actually Anton Chekhov‘s short stories. 3mo

See All 13 Comments

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 3mo

Aims42 I see this and think, “CHEEEEEESE!” 😸 3mo

tpixie 😹 3mo

wanderinglynn @Aims42 😂 that totally fits. 3mo

Aims42 @wanderinglynn 😻❤️ 3mo

AlaMich He‘s flossing his teeth with Russian literature! 😹 3mo

wanderinglynn @AlaMich he‘s definitely not impressed by Chekhov 😂 3mo

julieclair That‘s hysterical! 😂 3mo

Cupcake12 A great photo 😂 3mo

wanderinglynn @julieclair @Cupcake12 thanks! I was lucky to capture that exact moment. 📸🐱😹 3mo

91 likes13 comments

wanderinglynn

Ward No. 6 and Other Stories | Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

#firstlinefriday

“In the hospital yard there stands a small lodge surrounded by a perfect forest of burdocks, nettles, and wild hemp.”

50 likes

wanderinglynn

Ward No. 6 and Other Stories | Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

“But people have grown better,” observed the bailiff.
“In what way?”
“Cleverer.”
“Cleverer, maybe, that‘s true, young man; but what‘s the use of that? What earthly good is cleverness to people on the brink of ruin? One can perish without cleverness. What‘s the good of cleverness to a huntsman if there is no game?”

From The Pipe. Written in 1887. Still relevant (or even more so) in 2025.

Readergrrl Heartbreakingly so. 💔 3mo

49 likes1 comment