Books

I heard a lot of praise for Bulgakov's oeuvre in the past, so I decided to give it a go.

I have read Russian literature in the past by recommendation of family and friends who always showed much interest in it; be it Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov or Pushkin.

But recently I noticed that knowledge of Russian literature virtually stops at the onset of the revolution. When it comes to the Soviet era, there is a sort of intentional silence regarding the literature of that time, at least in the West and its colonized peripheries. Anecdotally, I once had a conversation with my mother during which she claimed that the Soviet period was a dark time to be living in Russia. When I asked her what's the basis of her statement, she said this is based on the novels she read, citing Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The awkward smile on her face after telling her that these authors died decades before the revolution was priceless; bless her heart, but I am digressing.

When a few exceptions of Soviet literature emerge out of the iron curtain, it turns out to be some anticommunist rambling, just like Bulgakov's Master and Margarita.

Considering the critical acclaim, it feels wrong to say that I found it to be average. Was I supposed to cheer for the devil and his retinue as they terrorize Moscow? Maybe it's my ideological orientation which prevents me from fully engaging with the novel, and I'm alright with that. Though I did enjoy the chapters narrating Pontius Pilate's encounter with Yeshua Ha-Nozri.

Anyhow, was Soviet literature ever popular? Did it die out after the collapse of the union? Or has it always been curtailed in the West?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17539998

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17539905

@MaxBlumenthal

Government By Gunplay. A collection that never gets old.

I'm trying to read some more books (canon) set in the Metro universe. The books don't have to be written by Dmitry Glukhovsky, I'm just looking for some recommendations to expand my knowledge of the lore. Bonus points for chronological ordering! Ty

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17146897

The Fisherman is a horror novel by John Langan that won the 2016 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. The story follows two widowers, Abe and Dan, who bond over their shared grief and a passion for fishing. When they hear rumors of a mysterious and cursed fishing spot called Dutchman's Creek, they decide to investigate, despite warnings from locals. Soon, the men find themselves drawn into a tale as deep and old as the Reservoir. It's a tale of dark pacts, of long-buried secrets, and of a mysterious figure known as Der Fisher: the Fisherman. It will bring Abe and Dan face to face with all that they have lost, and with the price they must pay to regain it.

Reviews

grimdarkmagazine.com | goodreads.com |

Lovecraft Done Right | The Fisherman by John Langan - Book Review (video)

author interviews

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16892902

The best horror books of 2024 according to the Esquire (April 10)

• The House of Last Resort, by Christopher Golden
• This Wretched Valley, by Jenny Kiefer
• Among the Living, by Tim Lebbon
• In the Valley of the Headless Men, by L.P. Hernandez
• The Haunting of Velkwood, by Gwendolyn Kiste
• Mouth, by Joshua Hull
• King Nyx, by Kirsten Bakis
• The Angel of Indian Lake, by Stephen Graham Jones
• The Black Girl Survives in This One, edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell
• Bless Your Heart, by Lindy Ryan
• This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances, by Eric LaRocca
• Diavola, by Jennifer Thorne
• The Underhistory, by Kaaron Warren
• Incidents Around the House, by Josh Malerman

Hiya,

My local library summer reading challenge has a few items with which I could use y'all's help.

Read a book with a musical theme.

Read a book outside your comfort zone (I read mostly novels, and mostly sci-fi).

Read a book by an author from a different cultural background. (I'm a white American and I've already read Three Body Problem)

Read a book suggested to you.

I would appreciate any suggestions!

-Pidgin

We see you, hard-core NPR readers — just because it's summer doesn't mean it's all fiction, all the time. So we asked around the newsroom to find our staffers' favorite nonfiction from the first half of 2024. We've got biography and memoir, health and science, history, sports and more.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/34435904

I've been seeing her name a lot lately in terms of good science fiction and fantasy. I feel like I've lost so much attention span in terms of my ability to read and stuff and I'd like to start getting back into it, perhaps starting with her (or Terry Pratchett lol).

If I start with her, what's a good place to start with her work?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16219937

https://bookriot.com/2023-stoker-award-winners-for-best-horror-and-dark-fantasy/

The Bram Stoker Award is a prestigious literary award presented annually by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) to recognize "superior achievement" in dark fantasy and horror writing.

Here are the 2023 Stoker Award Winners

• Superior Achievement in a Novel: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
• Superior Achievement in a First Novel: The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen
• Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel: The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf
• Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel: She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
• Superior Achievement in Long Fiction: Linghun by Ai Jiang
• Superior Achievement in Short Fiction: “Quondam” by Cindy O’Quinn
• Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection: Blood from the Air by Gemma Files
• Superior Achievement in an Anthology: Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele & John Joseph Adams
• Superior Achievement in Long Nonfiction: 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann
• Superior Achievement in Short Nonfiction: “Becoming Ungovernable: Latah, Amok, and Disorder in Indonesia” by Nadia Bulkin (Unquiet Spirits: Essays by Asian Women in Horror)
• Superior Achievement in Poetry: On the Subject of Blackberries by Stephanie M. Wytovich
• Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel: Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu, art by Soo Lee
• Superior Achievement in a Screenplay: Godzilla Minus One

I do not read books as often as I watch movies, but I am willing to create a habit of reading by taking a suggestion for a book from this community, and I want to start from this genre.

However I am quite picky in this matter. I cannot stand romance involving breakups, betrayal, love triangle or anything of such sorts. All I am looking for a simple story where only the couple is the protagonist, if you understand what I mean. I do not wish for any other character act as a rival in their relationship. Minor inconveniences or tensions could still be tolerated but I wish for the couple to have a satisfying ending as they were destined to by spending time with each other or being involved in circumstances that reveal similarities between them.

I would be more inclined towards stories with settings during the present times or having the characters hate each other at first, but these are optional.

Jessica Huang from Fresh off the Boat TV series, said this in response to Honey quoting the movie. I totally feel the same way.

I've been feeling really lonely lately so I've been trying to find any romance books to distract me.

However, the only books with male heterosexual protagonists I can find are either sports romances or have "alpha male" protagonists.

Are there any books where the main character is nerdier and more relatable?

For me, the first time this happened was with The Royal Assassin Saga from Robin Hobb, and then Metro 2033.

This year, it’s The Witcher saga… (I can’t move on) I love all those introspective books with thoughtful heroes trying to make sense of the world they are forced to evolve into.

Do you have any other book like that?

At the start of the book, there's an acknowledgement by the author, that goes something like:

This one is for Stephen

The idea for this book was suggested by a boy in a school I was visiting, who asked me to write a book called The Moving Castle.

I wrote down his name, and put it in such a safe place, that I have been unable to find it ever since.

I would like to thank him very much.

Any recommendations for left wing reads. Preferably something not depressing. Thanks!

Hopefully I'm in the right place.

This is what I remember. The book is set in outer space some time after an intergalactic war with an alien species. Large ships were built during the war. One such ship was placed on the very edge of the known universe, which was where the aliens came from, as an outpost/watchtower of sorts. They keep watch over the edge for any sign of the aliens returning. Anyways, the characters in the book realize that the universe is contracting back in on itself and destroying everything in its path. Over the course of the book they must figure out what is going on while staying ahead of the contraction.

Please help.

Después de ver la serie #ReinaRoja en #Amazon decidí comprar la trilogía de libros 📚 para mi #Kindle