Hi all!

[Tati-Ana]

Hi, I am keen on reading (probably like everyone here). I am russian native speaker, but have been living in germany since 2004, so please don't laugh about possible numerous grammatical mistakes on my part. I will do my best:)

[Suzanne]

Hello and welcome to BookTalk Tati-Ana!

[Chris OConnor]

Welcome to BookTalk.org!

[Kevin]

Hi, I am keen on reading (probably like everyone here). I am russian native speaker, but have been living in germany since 2004, so please don't laugh about possible numerous grammatical mistakes on my part. I will do my best:)

I wont laugh at your's if you don't laugh at mine! So what is The Possessed about?

[Tati-Ana]

Deal:) So, its about different socialistic and revolutionary groups in russian empire at the end of the 19th century. By describing a small province town and its citizens D. satirised almost all typical left-viewed groups of the time: politically active students, socialistic idealists unable to handle, radical directed revolutionary circles etc. I was told at the school that this book was not really allowed for reading and discussing in the ussr because of its criticism.

[Kevin]

I do love me some Dostoyevsky! I will definitely pick it up when next I have the opportunity. Speaking of not really being allowed to be read - or at least the State frowning upon a particular work - I recall, vaguely, years ago being told by an online pal that Stanislaw Lem's works contained veiled critiques about the USSR but that they were hidden enough to allow publication. I've read a few of his works, years ago again, and think I might go back through Solaris. I've been trying to find a quote from Solaris where he describes the decision to bomb an ocean - I recall it as being quite funny. I did a google search on it and - funnily enough - found many hits for the urging on of many real-life nuclear strikes against the ocean! whee! Anyway... I think Solaris will be the next book I read.

[Tati-Ana]

Wow, interesting view! I read Solaris for ages, but, to be honest, I didn't notice any references with nuclear development in soviets. From my point of view at the time, Solaris had more psychological, than political background. Inner conflict and difficulty to meet you own past expressed by repressing memories was the reason why people were dying. Both black humour and sadness of the situation was this frustrating difference between technical progress and high level of technical development and impossibility to be honest with yourself. Rather superficial observation, I know. But I also wouldn't like to summarize for you the whole story. You will definitely find your own hidden places:)
have you already read the "crime and punishment"?

[Kevin]

I have. It's a good book! The next Dostoyevsky I plan to read is The Brothers Karamazov. It would be a treat to be able to read him without the necessity of a translation... but I'm still working on Spanish!

[Tati-Ana]

I was dreaming about reading "The Capital" by Karl Marx in origin, but had being stuck on the page 20 for 4 years. Maybe I should start the second attempt.
And Dostoevsky uninterpreted could be ...difficult anyway. The language of the 19.th centuary sounds archaic through its sophistry in comparison with modern Russian. The best sample is Tolstoi, whose sentences are too complex composed for normal russians.
After the Oktober Revolution the current tendency in the language evolution was an extrem simplification (similar with "1984") caused, I suppose, by the common illiteracy rate. But I should better finish with my short historical information. Finally I wasn't asked about

[Amit Shrivastava]

most welcome my friend Tati.