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Back to Moscow
Tuesday night: vodka and dancing at the Hungry Duck. Wednesday morning: posing as an expert on Pushkin at the university. Thursday night: more vodka and girl-chasing at Propaganda. Friday morning: a hungover tour of Gorky's house.
Martin came to Moscow at the turn of the millennium hoping to discover the country of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and his beloved Chekhov. Instead he found a city turned on its head, where the grimmest vestiges of Soviet life exist side by side with the nonstop hedonism of the newly rich. Along with his hard-living expat friends, Martin spends less and less time on his studies, choosing to learn about the Mysterious Russian Soul from the city's unhinged nightlife scene. But as Martin's research becomes a quest for existential meaning, love affairs and literature lead to the same hard-won lessons. Russians know: There is more to life than happiness.
Back to Moscow is an enthralling story of debauchery, discovery, and the Russian classics. In prose recalling the neurotic openheartedness of Ben Lerner and the whiskey-sour satire of Bret Easton Ellis, Guillermo Erades has crafted an unforgettable coming-of-age story and a complex portrait of a radically changing city.
Martin came to Moscow at the turn of the millennium hoping to discover the country of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and his beloved Chekhov. Instead he found a city turned on its head, where the grimmest vestiges of Soviet life exist side by side with the nonstop hedonism of the newly rich. Along with his hard-living expat friends, Martin spends less and less time on his studies, choosing to learn about the Mysterious Russian Soul from the city's unhinged nightlife scene. But as Martin's research becomes a quest for existential meaning, love affairs and literature lead to the same hard-won lessons. Russians know: There is more to life than happiness.
Back to Moscow is an enthralling story of debauchery, discovery, and the Russian classics. In prose recalling the neurotic openheartedness of Ben Lerner and the whiskey-sour satire of Bret Easton Ellis, Guillermo Erades has crafted an unforgettable coming-of-age story and a complex portrait of a radically changing city.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 2, 2016
Martin is a rather shallow young European expat. He has come to Moscow ostensibly to study and complete his thesis on Russian literature, but once he meets a few other expats he instead spends his nights in the many clubs, picking up woman, dyevs, and drinking to excess. He excuses himself by deciding that in order to discover the Russian soul in literature, to understand why the women in famous Russian novels acted the way they did, made the choices they made, that he needs to study the Russian women in the present day.
Many will find Martin an unlikable character I am sure, but he does constantly try to figure himself out, why he acts the way he does, what he really wants out of life. He also changes throughout the novel, grows in slow bits of time, this to me was his saving grace. This novel is written in a lighthearted tone, though serious things do occur. Much discussion of literature, each section starts with a analysis of a famous female Russian character in some of the most noteworthy pieces of fiction. Nabokov, Dostoevsky, Chekov, Pushing, Gorky, Tolstoy and more. I loved reading these, and then contrasting them with the women he picks up. There is. also quite a bit of history here, one notable example is the twisted history of Christ the Savior Church. A completely different view on modern day Moscow, the clubs, the terrorism the politics.
The ending totally unexpected, thoroughly in keeping with the theme of the novel, and the last page, pure brilliance. A first novel and one I enjoyed reading.
Many will find Martin an unlikable character I am sure, but he does constantly try to figure himself out, why he acts the way he does, what he really wants out of life. He also changes throughout the novel, grows in slow bits of time, this to me was his saving grace. This novel is written in a lighthearted tone, though serious things do occur. Much discussion of literature, each section starts with a analysis of a famous female Russian character in some of the most noteworthy pieces of fiction. Nabokov, Dostoevsky, Chekov, Pushing, Gorky, Tolstoy and more. I loved reading these, and then contrasting them with the women he picks up. There is. also quite a bit of history here, one notable example is the twisted history of Christ the Savior Church. A completely different view on modern day Moscow, the clubs, the terrorism the politics.
The ending totally unexpected, thoroughly in keeping with the theme of the novel, and the last page, pure brilliance. A first novel and one I enjoyed reading.
August 5, 2016
A t-shirt. Another t-shirt. A turtleneck. A button-down shirt. A pullover. Sometimes a hoodie. A coat.
My mother always emphasized the importance of layers before I was allowed to venture outside. Layers to keep me warm. Layers to make me look a bit more heavyset. Layers that, once my hormones kicked in, made me sweat like a pig but kept the smell contained within the big ball of fabric encircling my body. Or so I liked to think.
I'm an adult now*, and after a particularly difficult goodbye of all my turtleneck sweaters I left the layers behind me. It's only when I go skiing that I am reminded of their value, or, as was recently the case, when I'm going to Moscow, of which I had heard the winters are long and harsh.
*
When going Back to Moscow, in Guillermo Erades' debut novel, the layering was already done for me with heartwarming results:
Layer 1: The City.
First of all there is the setting. Moscow comes alive through these pages, with the narrator sometimes sounding like a tourist guide, with tidbits of information (only the entertaining kind) of some of the city's buildings, statues and crowds. Sometimes having been to the city helps increase enjoyment and gives extra weight to the "Back" in the title, but it's definitely not required. The surroundings are described in rich detail, sometimes using Russian terminology to give it more flavor, but it's never overbearing in any way.
Layer 2: The Literature.
The author clearly knows his stuff when it comes to Russian literature and gives some insights into the works and lives of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin and Chekhov. Some chapters could easily have been reviews on Goodreads actually. This layer gives Moscow and its inhabitants a rich historical setting within the book. The characters Russians have read about and often grew up with, not only as individuals but as a nation, become characters for "Back to Moscow" and are often a reference point for the narrator's own experiences. The result is a very harmonious melody of past and present, of tradition and everyday life.
Layer 3: The Girls.
What feels a little less harmonious is the narrator's life. His name is Martin, by the way. And he's a bit of a womanizer. He meets a lot of Russian girls, dyevs, in clubs, in coffee houses and on the street. If you think you saw them all, pop, there's another one, just like with those matrushka dolls, only this time lined up and making Martin's life, who's supposed to be working on his PhD, more complicated. Luckily, the author has managed to give each and every one of these girls a richness of character that makes them indelible from your mind. Each one of these girls has a story worth telling and brings out a different side of Martin, allowing the reader to get to know their narrator a lot better.
Layer 4: The Personal.
The narrator seems based on the author, making this a very personal book at times. The author's bio does refer to his stay in Moscow, making the theory that this book is based on real-life experiences and encounters more likely. Sometimes there are humorous hints at this being the case, like when the narrator quotes his own little notebooks with lines you read earlier in the book. At one or two instances, it felt a bit too personal though, this being my only small criticism against this book. These were times where it kind of felt like I was reading something that I wasn't supposed to read, not meant for my eyes but for a person on which one of the characters was based.
But aside from that ever so slight criticism, it's this personal layer that makes the book especially strong. Obviously not everything that happened in this book happened for real, but it is virtually impossible to say where reality stops and fiction begins. And that's one of the powers of this book: the intense realism and the showcasing of thought processes that often feel familiar.
Layer X.
All of the above come together in something that I can only call the philosophy of this book, inspired by and infused with the Russian spirit, evoking ruminations on the soul with all of its aches and contradictions. This philosophical element gives tremendous weight to an otherwise light read, resulting in a perfectly balanced book.
Don't forget your hat.
And then there's the ending. Now, this isn't a plot-driven book so the ending is less important than the whole experience of walking the Moscow streets, going to the clubs, inviting girls for a cup of tea or anything else one does besides writing a PhD thesis. Despite that, and despite a rough run-up with a slightly too-Hollywoody-to-be-Russian finale, the last page of this book was simply magical. I have to resist not copying it here, but that wouldn't be fair to the author I think, nor to you. It's something to be discovered and experienced within this book. After having been Back to Moscow.
____
You may have noted that this is one of the first reviews for this book. And we all know how it is with first reviews. The chances are they're by some guy who's so ecstatic to find a book that nobody else has read that he will convince everyone it's great no matter what's in it and try to bask in the finder's glory. But truly, I don't care about finder's glory. When I found the way to make cold fusion work or when I discovered Atlantis I didn't tell anyone about it either, so I'm not in it for that. I care for your enjoyment as a reader and I want you to be happy. Truly! And I kind of want this author to make it, too. He's got a talent that should not go unnoticed. So go on, find out for yourself and never mind about thanking me for it later, though I know you probably will.
As a matter of transparency, I do wish to add I have met the author, once, around a year ago at a dinner party, without knowing he was a writer. I did follow progress on his novel during the months following that dinner on Facebook, but that is the extent of our acquaintance. I hope and trust this didn't stand in the way of me writing an objective review.
My mother always emphasized the importance of layers before I was allowed to venture outside. Layers to keep me warm. Layers to make me look a bit more heavyset. Layers that, once my hormones kicked in, made me sweat like a pig but kept the smell contained within the big ball of fabric encircling my body. Or so I liked to think.
I'm an adult now*, and after a particularly difficult goodbye of all my turtleneck sweaters I left the layers behind me. It's only when I go skiing that I am reminded of their value, or, as was recently the case, when I'm going to Moscow, of which I had heard the winters are long and harsh.
*
When going Back to Moscow, in Guillermo Erades' debut novel, the layering was already done for me with heartwarming results:
Layer 1: The City.
First of all there is the setting. Moscow comes alive through these pages, with the narrator sometimes sounding like a tourist guide, with tidbits of information (only the entertaining kind) of some of the city's buildings, statues and crowds. Sometimes having been to the city helps increase enjoyment and gives extra weight to the "Back" in the title, but it's definitely not required. The surroundings are described in rich detail, sometimes using Russian terminology to give it more flavor, but it's never overbearing in any way.
Layer 2: The Literature.
The author clearly knows his stuff when it comes to Russian literature and gives some insights into the works and lives of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin and Chekhov. Some chapters could easily have been reviews on Goodreads actually. This layer gives Moscow and its inhabitants a rich historical setting within the book. The characters Russians have read about and often grew up with, not only as individuals but as a nation, become characters for "Back to Moscow" and are often a reference point for the narrator's own experiences. The result is a very harmonious melody of past and present, of tradition and everyday life.
Layer 3: The Girls.
What feels a little less harmonious is the narrator's life. His name is Martin, by the way. And he's a bit of a womanizer. He meets a lot of Russian girls, dyevs, in clubs, in coffee houses and on the street. If you think you saw them all, pop, there's another one, just like with those matrushka dolls, only this time lined up and making Martin's life, who's supposed to be working on his PhD, more complicated. Luckily, the author has managed to give each and every one of these girls a richness of character that makes them indelible from your mind. Each one of these girls has a story worth telling and brings out a different side of Martin, allowing the reader to get to know their narrator a lot better.
Layer 4: The Personal.
The narrator seems based on the author, making this a very personal book at times. The author's bio does refer to his stay in Moscow, making the theory that this book is based on real-life experiences and encounters more likely. Sometimes there are humorous hints at this being the case, like when the narrator quotes his own little notebooks with lines you read earlier in the book. At one or two instances, it felt a bit too personal though, this being my only small criticism against this book. These were times where it kind of felt like I was reading something that I wasn't supposed to read, not meant for my eyes but for a person on which one of the characters was based.
But aside from that ever so slight criticism, it's this personal layer that makes the book especially strong. Obviously not everything that happened in this book happened for real, but it is virtually impossible to say where reality stops and fiction begins. And that's one of the powers of this book: the intense realism and the showcasing of thought processes that often feel familiar.
Layer X.
All of the above come together in something that I can only call the philosophy of this book, inspired by and infused with the Russian spirit, evoking ruminations on the soul with all of its aches and contradictions. This philosophical element gives tremendous weight to an otherwise light read, resulting in a perfectly balanced book.
Don't forget your hat.
And then there's the ending. Now, this isn't a plot-driven book so the ending is less important than the whole experience of walking the Moscow streets, going to the clubs, inviting girls for a cup of tea or anything else one does besides writing a PhD thesis. Despite that, and despite a rough run-up with a slightly too-Hollywoody-to-be-Russian finale, the last page of this book was simply magical. I have to resist not copying it here, but that wouldn't be fair to the author I think, nor to you. It's something to be discovered and experienced within this book. After having been Back to Moscow.
____
You may have noted that this is one of the first reviews for this book. And we all know how it is with first reviews. The chances are they're by some guy who's so ecstatic to find a book that nobody else has read that he will convince everyone it's great no matter what's in it and try to bask in the finder's glory. But truly, I don't care about finder's glory. When I found the way to make cold fusion work or when I discovered Atlantis I didn't tell anyone about it either, so I'm not in it for that. I care for your enjoyment as a reader and I want you to be happy. Truly! And I kind of want this author to make it, too. He's got a talent that should not go unnoticed. So go on, find out for yourself and never mind about thanking me for it later, though I know you probably will.
As a matter of transparency, I do wish to add I have met the author, once, around a year ago at a dinner party, without knowing he was a writer. I did follow progress on his novel during the months following that dinner on Facebook, but that is the extent of our acquaintance. I hope and trust this didn't stand in the way of me writing an objective review.
February 18, 2022
This demands a vodka-infused Booktube review!
June 15, 2016
An expat in Moscow whose plans is to read and study Russian Literature focusing on the heroines, but who enfs up clubbing and drinking as if this is the only goal in his life.
The topic of including analysis of books and traditional stories in the narrative is well-known. However, the tone, the pace, the atmopheres created and the unique characters makes this novel an amazing debut.
highly recommended!!!
The topic of including analysis of books and traditional stories in the narrative is well-known. However, the tone, the pace, the atmopheres created and the unique characters makes this novel an amazing debut.
highly recommended!!!
March 22, 2016
"When you are the victim of a vodka ambush there is no polite way to get out of it, even if you are on a bus and it's only ten in the morning."
Being a Muscovite, I felt obliged to read this book, wanting an expat's insight on Moscow in the era of 2000. It is great fun most of the way and It felt amazing to recognise places I've been to or heard of and streets I've walked and to feel that wave of nostagia. I enjoyed Martin's musings on Mysterious Russian soul: "...there is something that makes Russians avoid superficial joy and choose to pursue deeper, sadder feelings - something that makes them chase the resonance and aesthetic value of melancholy." - and his take on Russian classics.
At times very light and shallow (as it's intended to be), it reminded me a lot of Sergey Minaev's Духless and Begbeder's 99 francs rather than Bret Easton Ellis in terms of style and atmosphere and it could have been a 3 star rating if it wasn't for the ending, which was beautiful and completely unexpected, and the 'transformation' of the main character.
It is a fun read if you are fond of anything russian and especially if you have been to Moscow around that time. Also, this one would make a great book club discussion.
I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
Being a Muscovite, I felt obliged to read this book, wanting an expat's insight on Moscow in the era of 2000. It is great fun most of the way and It felt amazing to recognise places I've been to or heard of and streets I've walked and to feel that wave of nostagia. I enjoyed Martin's musings on Mysterious Russian soul: "...there is something that makes Russians avoid superficial joy and choose to pursue deeper, sadder feelings - something that makes them chase the resonance and aesthetic value of melancholy." - and his take on Russian classics.
At times very light and shallow (as it's intended to be), it reminded me a lot of Sergey Minaev's Духless and Begbeder's 99 francs rather than Bret Easton Ellis in terms of style and atmosphere and it could have been a 3 star rating if it wasn't for the ending, which was beautiful and completely unexpected, and the 'transformation' of the main character.
It is a fun read if you are fond of anything russian and especially if you have been to Moscow around that time. Also, this one would make a great book club discussion.
I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
February 7, 2017
Martin has just arrived in Moscow, on the advice of an old girlfriend (she thought it would be easier to score a scholarship from a Russian university). He plans to finish his studies and write a thesis on the Russian heroine, exploring the difference between Russian literature and the western world. However, it is the early 2000s and Moscow is changing rapidly, and the appeal of nightclubs, woman and cheap alcohol is distracting him from his study. Guillermo Erades’ debut novel Back to Moscow is a booze soaked exploration of an aspiring writer in a new setting.
Do not get me wrong, I love those novels that are set in New York that follow to wannabe writers that are often difficult men. I cannot get enough of those types of stories but this is so much better, for starters this is about Russian literature. Back to Moscow thrilled me from start to finish because of the setting and the exploration into Russian classics that appeared at the start of every part.
I am normally am hesitant in picking up a book set in Russia by a western author, but I seem to have decent luck with Spanish authors. Granted I have only read Encyclopedia of a Life in Russia by Jose Manuel Prieto and now Back to Moscow but both have impressed me greatly. Maybe my hesitancy should be directed towards American authors rather than the entire western society. I find the lack of knowledge of Russia often reflects poorly on the author.
With Back to Moscow, the whole novel was structured around understanding Russia and its literature and this is a quest that I am personally on as well, so my gushing review is inevitable. I also enjoy reading about terrible people and Martin fits into that category but I never thought of him as an anti-hero. I had some empathy for him, partly because I have made so many of those stupid mistakes. I have put my desire for pleasure over the feelings of others and as result hurt myself and the people I love.
This does not mean I sympathise with Martin; I did get frustrated with every selfish action but I could relate (as much as I hate to admit it). Add that to the mix of an antisocial writer with a passion for Russian literature, and you have someone that closely resembles me (although the bad life choices are over for me, thankfully). I do wonder if Back to Moscow is at all autobiographical, because the way he writes makes me think this is the case.
I like the focus on exploring the differences between Russia and western society. This becomes the focus of the novel. It is this exploration that allows people to try and gain a better understanding of the differences. One of Martin’s friends even said. “You Westerners are always angry because you want to change everything in life. We Russians are always sad because we know that most things cannot be changed.” This quote really stuck with me in really understanding the differences. There is so much more to understand, but I am working on an essay on Russian literature (stay tuned).
“Russia is lost” she continued. “First we had God. Then we had Lenin. Now we have nothing.”
Without giving away much about the plot, I will say that this debut novel impressed me greatly. There is a definite affection for Russia and the classics coming from the author and I think that is the appeal. The novel ends with the perfect metaphor for the entire story and Russia literature itself.
“In Metro systems around the world, a screen about the platform shows the time left until the arrival of the next train. Five minutes. Four minutes. Three minute. Two minutes. One minute. Then the countdown stops and you feel the breeze and you hear the rattle of a new train approaching through the tunnel.
Not in Moscow.
In Moscow’s metro, the electronic counter about the platform shows the time that has passed since the departure of the last train. With unnecessary precision, the seconds keep adding up one by one, informing you not about the train to come, but the one you’ve missed, the train that would be carrying you, if only you arrived earlier. But that train is for ever gone. You don’t know when the next one will arrive.”
The back of the novel compares Guillermo Erades to Ben Lerner and Bret Easton Ellis, while I can see the comparison with Larner, I debate the other. I think the only thing Erades and Ellis have in common is their ability to write a difficult men. Back to Moscow is one of those books that I wanted to turn back to page one and re-read straight away. I cannot say this is a novel that will appeal to everyone, it appealed to me for the reasons I have mentioned. I do not think there is anything profound to get from this book, but the quotes I have added to this review are lines that stuck with me. I find it hard to review this critically because I got so much out of it personally. If you have a love of Russia and its literature then maybe you need to give this book a go as well.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
Do not get me wrong, I love those novels that are set in New York that follow to wannabe writers that are often difficult men. I cannot get enough of those types of stories but this is so much better, for starters this is about Russian literature. Back to Moscow thrilled me from start to finish because of the setting and the exploration into Russian classics that appeared at the start of every part.
I am normally am hesitant in picking up a book set in Russia by a western author, but I seem to have decent luck with Spanish authors. Granted I have only read Encyclopedia of a Life in Russia by Jose Manuel Prieto and now Back to Moscow but both have impressed me greatly. Maybe my hesitancy should be directed towards American authors rather than the entire western society. I find the lack of knowledge of Russia often reflects poorly on the author.
With Back to Moscow, the whole novel was structured around understanding Russia and its literature and this is a quest that I am personally on as well, so my gushing review is inevitable. I also enjoy reading about terrible people and Martin fits into that category but I never thought of him as an anti-hero. I had some empathy for him, partly because I have made so many of those stupid mistakes. I have put my desire for pleasure over the feelings of others and as result hurt myself and the people I love.
This does not mean I sympathise with Martin; I did get frustrated with every selfish action but I could relate (as much as I hate to admit it). Add that to the mix of an antisocial writer with a passion for Russian literature, and you have someone that closely resembles me (although the bad life choices are over for me, thankfully). I do wonder if Back to Moscow is at all autobiographical, because the way he writes makes me think this is the case.
I like the focus on exploring the differences between Russia and western society. This becomes the focus of the novel. It is this exploration that allows people to try and gain a better understanding of the differences. One of Martin’s friends even said. “You Westerners are always angry because you want to change everything in life. We Russians are always sad because we know that most things cannot be changed.” This quote really stuck with me in really understanding the differences. There is so much more to understand, but I am working on an essay on Russian literature (stay tuned).
“Russia is lost” she continued. “First we had God. Then we had Lenin. Now we have nothing.”
Without giving away much about the plot, I will say that this debut novel impressed me greatly. There is a definite affection for Russia and the classics coming from the author and I think that is the appeal. The novel ends with the perfect metaphor for the entire story and Russia literature itself.
“In Metro systems around the world, a screen about the platform shows the time left until the arrival of the next train. Five minutes. Four minutes. Three minute. Two minutes. One minute. Then the countdown stops and you feel the breeze and you hear the rattle of a new train approaching through the tunnel.
Not in Moscow.
In Moscow’s metro, the electronic counter about the platform shows the time that has passed since the departure of the last train. With unnecessary precision, the seconds keep adding up one by one, informing you not about the train to come, but the one you’ve missed, the train that would be carrying you, if only you arrived earlier. But that train is for ever gone. You don’t know when the next one will arrive.”
The back of the novel compares Guillermo Erades to Ben Lerner and Bret Easton Ellis, while I can see the comparison with Larner, I debate the other. I think the only thing Erades and Ellis have in common is their ability to write a difficult men. Back to Moscow is one of those books that I wanted to turn back to page one and re-read straight away. I cannot say this is a novel that will appeal to everyone, it appealed to me for the reasons I have mentioned. I do not think there is anything profound to get from this book, but the quotes I have added to this review are lines that stuck with me. I find it hard to review this critically because I got so much out of it personally. If you have a love of Russia and its literature then maybe you need to give this book a go as well.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
August 8, 2017
Δεν είναι φιλοφρόνηση, όλες κρύβουμε μια Tatyana, μια Sonya, μια Irina, μια Anna ή μια Olga μέσα μας. Οι Ρώσοι ήξεραν. Το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο.
Αναζωογονητικό ανάγνωσμα.
Αναζωογονητικό ανάγνωσμα.
November 23, 2020
Nope this book wasn't for me
June 25, 2022
*Moscow by Autoheart plays in the background*
It’s so obvious that this book was written by a man
It’s so obvious that this book was written by a man
June 23, 2017
What a book. Released in May 2016, the fact that I did not read (or was even aware of this) this while on my exchange gives me great regret.
Anyways. If you want learn about Russia, Russians, Russian Culture, Literature and what exactly is ‘Russianness’, this is it.
The book is about a young European Male; Martin, who comes to Moscow in the late 1990’s – early 2000’s to do his PHD: His topic? The evolution of the female character in Russian literature and how it would contribute to the West’s understanding of modern Russia. Shortly he discovers that he needs to do his own ‘research’ on modern Russian women themselves because as he puts it. It was real women who inspired the heroines of Russian literature, and vice versa: Tatyana Larina, Anna Karenina, Natalya Rostova, had all influenced the way Russian women sees themselves. As he does his literary and ‘field’ research, he begins to have a greater and greater understanding of Russia and Russian literature
Teeming with references to Russian literature, I found myself learning about Chekov, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Turgenev and Tolstoy without having read any of their non-short stories.
My review thus far, and the beginning of this book make it seem like it’s all about a young man and his hedonistic adventures. This is true, but as the novel progresses, it becomes deeper, more meaningful, and ultimately, more Russian.
Anyways. If you want learn about Russia, Russians, Russian Culture, Literature and what exactly is ‘Russianness’, this is it.
The book is about a young European Male; Martin, who comes to Moscow in the late 1990’s – early 2000’s to do his PHD: His topic? The evolution of the female character in Russian literature and how it would contribute to the West’s understanding of modern Russia. Shortly he discovers that he needs to do his own ‘research’ on modern Russian women themselves because as he puts it. It was real women who inspired the heroines of Russian literature, and vice versa: Tatyana Larina, Anna Karenina, Natalya Rostova, had all influenced the way Russian women sees themselves. As he does his literary and ‘field’ research, he begins to have a greater and greater understanding of Russia and Russian literature
Teeming with references to Russian literature, I found myself learning about Chekov, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Turgenev and Tolstoy without having read any of their non-short stories.
My review thus far, and the beginning of this book make it seem like it’s all about a young man and his hedonistic adventures. This is true, but as the novel progresses, it becomes deeper, more meaningful, and ultimately, more Russian.
August 17, 2018
Good thing with book clubs is you sometimes come across a book you'd never pick up for yourself and it ends up being a pleasant surprise.
Bad thing with book clubs is this doesn't happen very often.
Worse thing with book clubs is that quite often you come across a book you'd never have picked up for yourself and it ends up being not worth the trouble.
I didn't like this one. I seriously should reconsider my long-time refusal to stop reading books I'm not enjoying as there are so many brilliant ones out there more worth my time. Alas, I kept on going with this one because of some reviews over here on Goodreads talking about a worthy ending that saves the day. Well, it didn't. This book lacks plot. The main character is almost detestable and the narration is utterly repetitive. It feels like you are reading a diary with neither sense nor purpose, just ordinary days one following the other with nothing exceptional going on, nothing remarkable ever happing.
I don't know what was the author's intention behind this book. Did he want to pay his tribute to Russian literature? Indeed, he seems to be well-read and researched but the way he used literary details ended up being more confusing than serving as a way to tie the story together. Did he want to share his insight and experiences on modern-day Russia and Moscow and link this to the past? Would be an interesting idea but the execution failed. It certainly didn't feel like he had a story in mind that he wanted to put on paper so I, for one, end up feeling quite lost.
I would probably recommend you pass this one up.
Bad thing with book clubs is this doesn't happen very often.
Worse thing with book clubs is that quite often you come across a book you'd never have picked up for yourself and it ends up being not worth the trouble.
I didn't like this one. I seriously should reconsider my long-time refusal to stop reading books I'm not enjoying as there are so many brilliant ones out there more worth my time. Alas, I kept on going with this one because of some reviews over here on Goodreads talking about a worthy ending that saves the day. Well, it didn't. This book lacks plot. The main character is almost detestable and the narration is utterly repetitive. It feels like you are reading a diary with neither sense nor purpose, just ordinary days one following the other with nothing exceptional going on, nothing remarkable ever happing.
I don't know what was the author's intention behind this book. Did he want to pay his tribute to Russian literature? Indeed, he seems to be well-read and researched but the way he used literary details ended up being more confusing than serving as a way to tie the story together. Did he want to share his insight and experiences on modern-day Russia and Moscow and link this to the past? Would be an interesting idea but the execution failed. It certainly didn't feel like he had a story in mind that he wanted to put on paper so I, for one, end up feeling quite lost.
I would probably recommend you pass this one up.
January 27, 2016
Мартин, молодой студент из Европы, приезжает в Москву, чтобы в МГУ написать диссертацию по русской литературе. На дворе 1999 год, и Москва полна ночных клубов: "Голодная утка", "Пропаганда", "Карма-бар" и т.д. Они кишат экспатами, отрывающимися там, и русскими девушками, жаждущими познакомиться (и переспать) с иностранцами.
Думаю, все, кто тусовался в то время, вспомнят этот угар с улыбкой :)
Но книга не так проста, как кажется сначала. Если без спойлеров - я ее считаю алхимической. Она о трансформации души и о цене, которую придется за нее заплатить. И еще там много размышлений о классических женских образах, тонких замечаний об окружающей героя жизни, о случае, судьбе, цели.
Я в восторге, если честно :) И благодарна автору. Это его дебютный роман, надеюсь, будут еще книги - я буду следить (это угроза! ;) ).
Думаю, все, кто тусовался в то время, вспомнят этот угар с улыбкой :)
Но книга не так проста, как кажется сначала. Если без спойлеров - я ее считаю алхимической. Она о трансформации души и о цене, которую придется за нее заплатить. И еще там много размышлений о классических женских образах, тонких замечаний об окружающей героя жизни, о случае, судьбе, цели.
Я в восторге, если честно :) И благодарна автору. Это его дебютный роман, надеюсь, будут еще книги - я буду следить (это угроза! ;) ).
July 24, 2016
Really liked this one and wish I could give 4.5 stars. Works some Russian literature into the story. The protagonist is a womanizer and has his jackass moments, but I sort of wonder if there isn't an element of Chekov's "The Professor of Literature" to the character. Many other Russian lit elements and themes at work here. It's a nice snapshot of current Russian culture too. A well-paced read with some interesting thoughts on the overrated value of happiness and the struggle for purpose.
May 22, 2016
I really enjoyed this book about a young man making the most of life in post-perestroika Moscow, especially when it comes to exploiting the many beautiful women he meets. Packed with references to classic Russian literature the book wears its learning lightly and even if you haven't read Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Pushkin there is still much to gain from this first novel.
June 8, 2016
A superbly engrossing book! Loved how how the author simply but vividly shows the readers a changing landscape of Moscow through the advetures of a PhD student in Russian literature. This is a multi-layered novel touching upon many topical aspects of modern life and its reflections in literature.
May 16, 2016
Grad student in Russian Literature compares heroines to his personal experiences in 1990's Russia.
February 17, 2020
”Martin, tell me, are you a superfluous man?”
The only lasting human feeling is toska, the ‘dull ache of the soul’.
This novel was such a pleasant surprise. It seemed cliche at first — European expat travels to foreign country, ignores his studies, spends his nights at clubs and seeking girls — but the overlay of Russian literature and philosophy made it quite complex. The protagonist grows, both as a character and on the reader. And while I enjoyed this mainly because it taught me so much about Moscow in a way that was clearly authentic and lived in, it also explored one’s relation to culture, history, even gender. All to the beautiful backdrop of Moscow, Chekhov, and that underlying melancholy. There are more important things in life than being happy.
The only lasting human feeling is toska, the ‘dull ache of the soul’.
This novel was such a pleasant surprise. It seemed cliche at first — European expat travels to foreign country, ignores his studies, spends his nights at clubs and seeking girls — but the overlay of Russian literature and philosophy made it quite complex. The protagonist grows, both as a character and on the reader. And while I enjoyed this mainly because it taught me so much about Moscow in a way that was clearly authentic and lived in, it also explored one’s relation to culture, history, even gender. All to the beautiful backdrop of Moscow, Chekhov, and that underlying melancholy. There are more important things in life than being happy.
November 7, 2017
"Russia is lost," she continued. "People here need guidance. First we had God. Then we had Lenin. Now we have nothing."
Back to Moscow is the type of book we sorely need today, considering the current geopolitical atmosphere and the seeming endlessness of Cold War sentiment. Through its focus on the everyday and the mundane, the book offers a sympathetic - even, at times, ostensibly romanticised, though I am not qualified enough to judge - view of the tumultuous atmosphere in the early 2000s as Russia transitioned away from Communism, and the impact and conflict it caused for their sense of national identity. A poignant tale of the intersection between the past and present - on both the personal and societal level -, the reader aches with Nadezhda Nikolayevna for the cultural richness that we hear of from Soviet and pre-Soviet histories, fallen victim to globalisation and increasing cultural influences, whilst also recognising the excitement of the trend the book tries to vocalise towards the amalgamation of Western European lifestyle and the "Mysterious Russian soul" (and in doing so, without providing any names, it also comments on the nuances behind some political events and figures in a way that is not seen much at all, especially with seemingly every second action/thriller novel having a Russian antagonist). From the beginning of the book the only word I could use to describe its emotional impact was toska, and that was a few hundred pages before Martin himself introduces it to the audience; such explicit depiction of intent necessarily changes reader opinion, but the beauty of this book lies in that Martin's naivete allows the reader to experience these emotions before he articulates them. We are, for most of the novel, one step ahead of him - until the denouement.
Apart from its cultural reflections, the novel also provides meaningful analysis of several classics of Russian literature; Martin distills some of the key themes and comments on the psychological relevance to reality, without spoiling the book. (I must confess that despite being a Dostoyevsky fan, Crime and Punishment did not sit favourably with me, but the elucidation provided here has kindled a desire to have another go at it.) Martin's journey of maturation lies in the recognition that ultimately, literature is necessarily hyperbolic to be realistic. Whilst his epiphany and subsequent rapid character development are, ironically, also hyperbolic, it is certainly a fine line to balance and does not detract much from the overall impact.
The main issue with the novel is perhaps that some characters are incredibly difficult to empathise with, although this is, of course, mediated by personal preference and experiences. Martin and his "brothers" are frustratingly shallow at times, and I could not for the life of me understand his obsession with Lena. Whilst this makes for unpleasant reading at times, it was perhaps necessary to accentuate the characteristics of the Russian psyche - if such a phrase can be used. The only other drawback was the inconsistency (in my edition, at least) of the transliteration of Russian words. Despite using 'ye' and 'ya' in "Dostoyevsky", "Natalya", etc., to reflect native spelling and pronunciation, this was conspicuously absent in some other words. I also noted with horror that while the я in names such as Natalya were written as 'ya', on its own я became 'ia', which was momentarily disorientating and quite off-putting.
The novel requires a little bit of language competency to understand the occasional sprinklings of russkiye slova, but perhaps even burgeoning Russophiles can surprise themselves with how many words or cultural and historical references they understand. Often there is just enough context that a reader can apply their own knowledge to make the leap - an artfully balanced and stimulating read.
Back to Moscow is the type of book we sorely need today, considering the current geopolitical atmosphere and the seeming endlessness of Cold War sentiment. Through its focus on the everyday and the mundane, the book offers a sympathetic - even, at times, ostensibly romanticised, though I am not qualified enough to judge - view of the tumultuous atmosphere in the early 2000s as Russia transitioned away from Communism, and the impact and conflict it caused for their sense of national identity. A poignant tale of the intersection between the past and present - on both the personal and societal level -, the reader aches with Nadezhda Nikolayevna for the cultural richness that we hear of from Soviet and pre-Soviet histories, fallen victim to globalisation and increasing cultural influences, whilst also recognising the excitement of the trend the book tries to vocalise towards the amalgamation of Western European lifestyle and the "Mysterious Russian soul" (and in doing so, without providing any names, it also comments on the nuances behind some political events and figures in a way that is not seen much at all, especially with seemingly every second action/thriller novel having a Russian antagonist). From the beginning of the book the only word I could use to describe its emotional impact was toska, and that was a few hundred pages before Martin himself introduces it to the audience; such explicit depiction of intent necessarily changes reader opinion, but the beauty of this book lies in that Martin's naivete allows the reader to experience these emotions before he articulates them. We are, for most of the novel, one step ahead of him - until the denouement.
Apart from its cultural reflections, the novel also provides meaningful analysis of several classics of Russian literature; Martin distills some of the key themes and comments on the psychological relevance to reality, without spoiling the book. (I must confess that despite being a Dostoyevsky fan, Crime and Punishment did not sit favourably with me, but the elucidation provided here has kindled a desire to have another go at it.) Martin's journey of maturation lies in the recognition that ultimately, literature is necessarily hyperbolic to be realistic. Whilst his epiphany and subsequent rapid character development are, ironically, also hyperbolic, it is certainly a fine line to balance and does not detract much from the overall impact.
The main issue with the novel is perhaps that some characters are incredibly difficult to empathise with, although this is, of course, mediated by personal preference and experiences. Martin and his "brothers" are frustratingly shallow at times, and I could not for the life of me understand his obsession with Lena. Whilst this makes for unpleasant reading at times, it was perhaps necessary to accentuate the characteristics of the Russian psyche - if such a phrase can be used. The only other drawback was the inconsistency (in my edition, at least) of the transliteration of Russian words. Despite using 'ye' and 'ya' in "Dostoyevsky", "Natalya", etc., to reflect native spelling and pronunciation, this was conspicuously absent in some other words. I also noted with horror that while the я in names such as Natalya were written as 'ya', on its own я became 'ia', which was momentarily disorientating and quite off-putting.
The novel requires a little bit of language competency to understand the occasional sprinklings of russkiye slova, but perhaps even burgeoning Russophiles can surprise themselves with how many words or cultural and historical references they understand. Often there is just enough context that a reader can apply their own knowledge to make the leap - an artfully balanced and stimulating read.
July 13, 2018
I've had this book sitting on my shelves since my internship at Simon & Schuster. Why did I wait so long to read it? It’s amazing!!
Back to Moscow by Guillermo Erades tells the story of Martin, an expat, who moved to Moscow in the search of the Mysterious Russian Soul. That 'soul' depicted in the works of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Chekov. As a PhD student, writing about the female characters of the Russian classics, Martin wants to live life to the fullest. Above all, he wants to understand the meaning of life. So he wanders through the streets, he visits bookstores, he reads at cafés, he goes out at night, he gets drunk and he gets involved with several interesting women.
I am crazy about Russian culture and literature. I am also a PhD student and I am always thinking about who I am and what I am doing here. So I loved this book. I also loved how Erades intertwined several writing styles. It has a whit of autobiography and of academic research, for instance. It was such a quick yet intense read. I absolutely loved the ending. It left me breathless! I highly recommend this book.
For more reviews, follow me on Instagram: @booksturnyouon
Back to Moscow by Guillermo Erades tells the story of Martin, an expat, who moved to Moscow in the search of the Mysterious Russian Soul. That 'soul' depicted in the works of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Chekov. As a PhD student, writing about the female characters of the Russian classics, Martin wants to live life to the fullest. Above all, he wants to understand the meaning of life. So he wanders through the streets, he visits bookstores, he reads at cafés, he goes out at night, he gets drunk and he gets involved with several interesting women.
I am crazy about Russian culture and literature. I am also a PhD student and I am always thinking about who I am and what I am doing here. So I loved this book. I also loved how Erades intertwined several writing styles. It has a whit of autobiography and of academic research, for instance. It was such a quick yet intense read. I absolutely loved the ending. It left me breathless! I highly recommend this book.
For more reviews, follow me on Instagram: @booksturnyouon
December 9, 2016
This past Spring, I took an art history class and studied a good bit about the early twentieth century Russian avant garde movement, which sparked my interest in that part of the world. When I saw this book at the library I was intrigued. One thing I do want to mention - he does talk about the plots (and spoilers!) of great Russian novels, so if you have any on your "to read" list you may want to read them before diving in here. You will probably get more out of this book as well. The author obviously knows his stuff and the beauty of it is that he shares it without sounding dry and academic. He uses metaphor but refrains beating you over the head with it, which I find refreshing. It's an interesting story, although as his platonic female friend (I think the only female in the story he saw in a platonic light if memory serves) did say often, he was kind of an asshole. That said, I could understand why Martin reacted the way he did in certain situations. In others, I admit to muttering, "oh come ON."
The ending was unexpected, but it fit and was certainly believable. As others have already mentioned, the last chapter was brilliant. In fact, I copied the entire thing in my journal to remember.
The ending was unexpected, but it fit and was certainly believable. As others have already mentioned, the last chapter was brilliant. In fact, I copied the entire thing in my journal to remember.
December 7, 2016
Martin. The main character. How I utterly loathe him. The way he takes to the young females of the Russian clubbing scene, like an addict to drugs. I hated his lack of restraint and disregard for the feelings of others. This is the story of a predator, as much as it is a story about growing up, inventing cheap philosophical thrills to prop an uncertain ego along the way. Very Russian-like and in much accordance to the whims of his ingenuous dyevs.
The book is very well written and - wow! - a debut! I felt invested in Martin's road to maturity, commiserated with the lost Russians and wished that they all could find their feet and escape the balmy dream of Moscow. The forays into classical Russian literature were also nice, especially since I have always found them insufferable to read, as did Martin to a degree and that brought me to a higher co-sufferance level with him.
The book is very well written and - wow! - a debut! I felt invested in Martin's road to maturity, commiserated with the lost Russians and wished that they all could find their feet and escape the balmy dream of Moscow. The forays into classical Russian literature were also nice, especially since I have always found them insufferable to read, as did Martin to a degree and that brought me to a higher co-sufferance level with him.
October 2, 2017
This books reads as if it was written by someone who used Masha Gessen's book as a primary source for understanding Russia, who drops Russian transliterations (and spellings of English words) into the text without explanation to non-Russian speaking readers, who makes wildly inaccurate generalizations about Russians, and who uses the cheapest of literary tools.
This book would be of most interest to someone who has some knowledge of Russia, but has not lived there for any period of time or actually has an intimate knowledge of Moscow.
This book would be of most interest to someone who has some knowledge of Russia, but has not lived there for any period of time or actually has an intimate knowledge of Moscow.
April 3, 2016
I loved this book! The story begins when Martin, a PhD student arrives in Moscow at the beginning of the 2000s to study the heroines of Russian literature. At the begining it’s all about the fun and the nightlife but soon the story turns into something else, deeper and meaningful (more Russian?). The female characters in the book echo the literary heroines that Martin is studying. The book carried me to Moscow. I really enjoyed the mini sketches on Russian literature (they made me want to read Chekhov and Dostoyevsky) and the surprising ending. I couldn’t put it down.
August 18, 2017
Back to Moscow is the intriguing story of a young foreign scholar's quest to understand the mysterious "Russian soul" through its women. To research this topic and eventually to write his thesis he believes that he needs to get to know Russian women on a deeper level. To that end he sleeps with and falls in love with many of those who he meets in the ten year period that he spends in Moscow after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
May 18, 2016
I absolutely loved the book! It's as interesting for those knowing a bit of the misterious Russian soul as for those who dream about going to Moscow and experience it. It's deeply moving, at point frustrating and it definately makes you read every next page. Unfortunately the faster you read it, the sooner it ends.
April 24, 2016
What an amazing book which I couldn't put down. I was completely transported to a different world: that of Russia and life in Moscow, Russian literature, vodka and Russian women. A country I've never visited but now am curious to.
July 10, 2016
I'm not sure why I am giving this as high as a three. Discoteching in Moscow seems intolerable.
December 4, 2016
Fantastic novel of young expat in Moscow. Fun read with insights into Moscow of late 90s early 00s, Russian lit and culture, and a young mans growth to maturity. Really enjoyed this.
January 12, 2021
Erades was born in Spain and lived in several European cities, including Moscow and he uses that experience to write this first novel which is an amusing read and a diversion from the plague year. Martin is the first person narrator who has left Amsterdam in the late nineties by winning a Phd scholarship despite having little Russian, mostly because no-one wants to go to Moscow. His youthful adventures there are more those of an academic conman and involve numerous ‘dyevs’ or girl friends picked up in bars on the advice of Colin who is the experienced bar guide in their search for ‘export quality dyevs’ and good sex.
Martin’s flimsy excuse for a thesis topic is to research contemporary Russian women in comparison with the literary characters in Pushkin, Chekov and Tolstoy. Dostoyevsky’s speech at the unveiling of the statue fo Pushkin in Pushkin Square is his chief guide to the ‘Mysterious Russian Soul’. Dostoyevsky spoke about the end of Eugene Onegen that Tatyana refused Onegen, despite her love for him because, ‘Russian as she is, Tatyana knows that there is more to life than happiness.’ Colin sees this as ‘a marketing trick…an old slogan to promote a culture of laziness and alcohol’.
As sexual encounters multiply, the most repeated phrase in the book is ‘lying naked on my couch’. After Yeltsin appoints Putin as President and the sale of state commercial businesses leads to corruption and rapid change, Martin is hired by his friend Stepanov to be a car salesman which provides the money to rent an expensive, old, inner city apartment with views of Pushkin Square where he meets the ‘dyevs’ he wishes to know longer than the one night and which is the traditional place where lovers meet by the statue.
The six parts of the novel have titles from the heroines of Russian literature, for example, ‘Irena’s Dream’ from Chekov’s Three Sisters and her acceptance that she will never return to Moscow from the cultural desert of the province. There was quite a deal of interest for me in Martin’s notebook of Russian language and social mores such as ‘sudba’ the word for fate. When the terrible disaster of the sunk Russian submarine in which all the crew died occurs, this seems to be accepted by the Russian people as just one of those tragedies that are ‘an integral part of normal existence. The expected’.
Several of Martin’s relationships do develop seriously as Martin begins to understand that his partners have more to their lives than partying at clubs. He wants to give up infidelity for Tatyana, deciding that romantic suffering is not just a literary device in Russia but a test of love. This Rake’s Progress was interesting to me as an exploration of Russian and ex-patriate foreign culture during those times of great social upheaval in Russia.
Martin’s flimsy excuse for a thesis topic is to research contemporary Russian women in comparison with the literary characters in Pushkin, Chekov and Tolstoy. Dostoyevsky’s speech at the unveiling of the statue fo Pushkin in Pushkin Square is his chief guide to the ‘Mysterious Russian Soul’. Dostoyevsky spoke about the end of Eugene Onegen that Tatyana refused Onegen, despite her love for him because, ‘Russian as she is, Tatyana knows that there is more to life than happiness.’ Colin sees this as ‘a marketing trick…an old slogan to promote a culture of laziness and alcohol’.
As sexual encounters multiply, the most repeated phrase in the book is ‘lying naked on my couch’. After Yeltsin appoints Putin as President and the sale of state commercial businesses leads to corruption and rapid change, Martin is hired by his friend Stepanov to be a car salesman which provides the money to rent an expensive, old, inner city apartment with views of Pushkin Square where he meets the ‘dyevs’ he wishes to know longer than the one night and which is the traditional place where lovers meet by the statue.
The six parts of the novel have titles from the heroines of Russian literature, for example, ‘Irena’s Dream’ from Chekov’s Three Sisters and her acceptance that she will never return to Moscow from the cultural desert of the province. There was quite a deal of interest for me in Martin’s notebook of Russian language and social mores such as ‘sudba’ the word for fate. When the terrible disaster of the sunk Russian submarine in which all the crew died occurs, this seems to be accepted by the Russian people as just one of those tragedies that are ‘an integral part of normal existence. The expected’.
Several of Martin’s relationships do develop seriously as Martin begins to understand that his partners have more to their lives than partying at clubs. He wants to give up infidelity for Tatyana, deciding that romantic suffering is not just a literary device in Russia but a test of love. This Rake’s Progress was interesting to me as an exploration of Russian and ex-patriate foreign culture during those times of great social upheaval in Russia.
May 31, 2025
I hated this book because it spoiled me all the classic of russian literature. He summarised them in a couple of pages each.
I liked this book because it made me even more interested in russian literature, and as I've read none, I really want to start asap.
The rest of the book is quite misogynistic and superfluous (the superfluous man). Written in a very simplistic way but felt he was trying to achieve/mock the depth of people like Pushkin or Bulgakov. The problem is that his characters were deep as puddles. I couldn't feel for the protagonist development throughout the story and the ending was very boring.
It's a sort of fiction based on autobiographical experiences of the author in Moscow during the beginning of the 2000s when Russian were still interested/excited about whatever wasn't Russian (in this case foreigners coming to study abroad).
The book is set up to gather material for a phd research where the author tries to find a leitmotif in Russian women's choices and behaviours through the aid of classic literature and his dick.
Although, a friend of mine, a girl from Russia, made me realise her interesting perspective. She lived through those times and went to those bars and let herself to those foreigners as she found them different and interesting. Thinking back she realises they were incredibly dumb and lame (to get laid you need to go to another country?) but unfortunately her mind, like many others, was framed by Russian patriarchal literature.
Interesno.
Info from the book:
Gorky's house, art nouveau, Moscow
"It struck me that the Russian word for compassion, sostradaniye, derived from the word suffering, stradaniye, and literally meant co-suffering."
I want to read three sisters by Anton Pavlovich Checkov
"In three sisters, he exposes the very human weakness of believing that both the past and the future are better places to be. And holding on to the illusion that things will get better is our way of coping with life's dullness."
In Georgia people never toast with beers because it's a bad Omen
I liked this book because it made me even more interested in russian literature, and as I've read none, I really want to start asap.
The rest of the book is quite misogynistic and superfluous (the superfluous man). Written in a very simplistic way but felt he was trying to achieve/mock the depth of people like Pushkin or Bulgakov. The problem is that his characters were deep as puddles. I couldn't feel for the protagonist development throughout the story and the ending was very boring.
It's a sort of fiction based on autobiographical experiences of the author in Moscow during the beginning of the 2000s when Russian were still interested/excited about whatever wasn't Russian (in this case foreigners coming to study abroad).
The book is set up to gather material for a phd research where the author tries to find a leitmotif in Russian women's choices and behaviours through the aid of classic literature and his dick.
Although, a friend of mine, a girl from Russia, made me realise her interesting perspective. She lived through those times and went to those bars and let herself to those foreigners as she found them different and interesting. Thinking back she realises they were incredibly dumb and lame (to get laid you need to go to another country?) but unfortunately her mind, like many others, was framed by Russian patriarchal literature.
Interesno.
Info from the book:
Gorky's house, art nouveau, Moscow
"It struck me that the Russian word for compassion, sostradaniye, derived from the word suffering, stradaniye, and literally meant co-suffering."
I want to read three sisters by Anton Pavlovich Checkov
"In three sisters, he exposes the very human weakness of believing that both the past and the future are better places to be. And holding on to the illusion that things will get better is our way of coping with life's dullness."
In Georgia people never toast with beers because it's a bad Omen
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews