What Book Would You Recommend?

The Russia House :) or Hunt for Red October. Or try a little Dostoyevsky, or some Pasternak. Solzhenitzen (sp?)

I'd recommend "Master and Margarita", of course! :-) And if only we have enough time, I would show you all the Bulgakov's places in Moscow - including the famous Pashkov House, which in fact belongs to our Library! :-)

Love and belssings to my dear friend -

Sveta

Not knowing what you have already read I hesitate to send you a list of books. Perhaps Louis L'Amour's "Sitka" or his "Last of The Breed"....both of which are about Russia at 2 periods of history. You may wnat to read Gogol's, " Taras Bulba"

I recently finished reading THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD by Debra Dean. If you are passing that way and have a chance to go to the Hermitage there, this is a beautiful book that discusses the impact of the war on both the city and the museum.

Hope you have a wonderful, safe jouney.

Tolstoy's "War and Peace"

Dostoevski's "Crime and Punishment"

Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago"

Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina"

and anything on the Romanovs...the last Tsar of Russia and his family...all murdered at Ekaterinburg"

"Nearly eighty years after the slaughter of the Romanovs, the controversies were laid aside long enough for the family to be laid to rest. On July 17, 1998, "The Tsar's family members tossed white sand, representing the Earth, onto the coffins before the crypt was covered. On the riverbank, cannons boomed in a 19-gun salute, two shy of the customary 21 because the Tsar had abdicated." ("Russia finally buries") President Boris Yeltsin attended this ceremony, in which he stated, "We must tell the truth--the massacre has become one of the most shameful pages of our history." (qtd. in "Russia finally buries")

Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, 1872-1918

Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia, 1872-1918

Olga Nicholovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1895-1918

Tatiana Nicholovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1897-1918

Marie Nicholovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1899-1918

Anastasia Nicholovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1901-1918

Alexis Nicolaievich, Tsarevich, 1904-1918

Gorky Park, by Martin Cruz Smith -- this introduced me to one of the most interesting recurring characters I've ever read, and this first book in the series takes place (mostly) in the Cold War Soviet Union. Other than that entire series, how about Doctor Zhivago?

Thanks, Kris, Felix, Sheryl, James, Donald, Lydia, and dear Sveta. Some I've already read (Dr. Zhivago, Anna Karenina, Red October, Russia House), others I'll be checking in with Amazon for summaries (Sitka, Last of the Breed, Madonnas of Leningrad) and others I'm not sure I have the mental capacity to comprehend them (Gogol, Bulgakov, Dostoyevsky).

As for War and Peace. . . . I have 52 HOURS, not 52 DAYS! :-)
(but I do want to one day read it)

I appreciate all your suggestions. Keep 'em comin'!

edward rutherford writes really long (and good) books - he wrote one in russia that i enjoyed. i loved his stonehenge and london books, too!! and they are in paperback (and still quite thick!). lucky you!!

Have you thought about some Russian plays like Chekov's...play's are not very long and they give you a feel about Russian people. Also, Tolstoy has some very good shot stories, as does, Maxim Gorky.

Again, I recommend, books on the Romanovs...

One excellent book on them is, "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" by Robert K. Massie

Somewhat off subject but involving a plot line that takes you to Russia -- The Queen's Gambit, by Walter Tevis, about a chess prodigy who makes a mess of her life but sure is interesting to read about. I hope it's still in print!

Felix, no I hadn't thought of a play. Actually, I don't think I READ a play since high school! As for the Romanovs, I've read many books on their story but would love to read the latest!

Kris, yes, a story with a plot line taking me to Russia might be just what I'm looking for. And according to the reviews on Amazon, sounds like an amazing read!

Ted, yes, psychological thrillers are fun for conversation, but not for getting to sleep! Not sure I can go that route! :-)

I loved the book "Peter the Great" by Robert K. Massey. It was one of my favorite books of all time and it's nice and LONG so that should take up a lot of the travel time. I am so jealous about your trip. It sounds so exciting to me. Anyway, the book will give you a ton of background of Russia and is very easy to read and get engrossed in.

Try "A Distant Mirror" by Barbara Tuchman. It's am amazing read that covers some of the events that shaped Europe for hundreds of years.

I think just about every book mentioned above is well worth the read! I favor Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and Pasternak. Bulgakov's Master and Margarita seems to be a favorite of many of my Russian friends.

Of course there's always my novel, THIRTEEN TO GORKY. Of course, it's not been published. I wrote it years ago after my second trip to Russia, and I set the majority of it in Nizhniy Novgorod with chapters in other cities, such as St. Petersburg and Moscow.

I just got back from my sixth trip to Russia last month. Looks like their belated winter finally arrived, so dress warmly!

Riding the Russian rails is great -- enjoy!