Welcome to Litsy!

1. My sister and I had an interesting conversation with a ballpark acquaintance about various books and other things, in which he declared his love of Russian literature.
2. Amazing French Open men‘s final.
3. Thanks to prompting from @TheSpineView I went to the bookstore and preordered the upcoming Ann Cleeves book.
4. Dark Winds on Netflix.
5. Large #libraryhaul and a pedicure on the same day.
#5joysfriday

Where I finally read a book recommended to me about fifteen years ago. Thank you to mother and daughter, Anna Kosloff & Anna Bilbrough, for writing their story, Stateless.
https://www.suzs-space.com/stateless-by-anna-kosloff-anna-bilbrough/

#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

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.

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.

#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

Jasper apparently doesn‘t appreciate Russian literature.

#catsoflitsy

#firstlinefriday

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

“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.