What are you reading?
Ah, the book Lenin had called the most important work of literature. May I ask why you picked it up?Breogán wrote:Gorki's Мать (Mother)
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
I have always liked Russian Literature, one of the reasons why I studied the language, and I need to brush up on my Russian.
Must say I'm loving what I've read so far
Must say I'm loving what I've read so far
Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
Of Мать? Well, Gor'ki was good enough that he could make even a propaganda brochure read well, but... not my favorite story is all I can say. I remember Childhood fondly, though, if you are into Gor'ki.
I didn't know you included Russian in your bouquet of languages.
I didn't know you included Russian in your bouquet of languages.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
A few paragraphs into the story you know you are reading propaganda, that's for sure, but you can still enjoy his work - well, I know I do 
- well, I know I do Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
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truehobbit
- Cute, cuddly and dangerous to know
- Posts: 6019
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:52 am
- Contact:
Well, I don't go around handing my CV to people, THobbit
I studied Russian in college, and then at the VGU, the State University in Voronezh, where I lived for a few months as part of my Russian programme.
While I was browsing the net a few weeks ago, looking for information for my fanfiction, I came across several sites that looked really interesting, and that were in Russian. That's when I realized I was struggling with the language...
I really don't want to loose it, I love the Russian tongue, so I am determined to brush up on it as much as possible
I studied Russian in college, and then at the VGU, the State University in Voronezh, where I lived for a few months as part of my Russian programme.
While I was browsing the net a few weeks ago, looking for information for my fanfiction, I came across several sites that looked really interesting, and that were in Russian. That's when I realized I was struggling with the language...
I really don't want to loose it, I love the Russian tongue, so I am determined to brush up on it as much as possible
Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
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Primula Baggins
- Living in hope
- Posts: 40005
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:43 am
- Location: Sailing the luminiferous aether
- Contact:
What, when you're fluent in both Canadian and American?
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
That from a woman who built a drywall all by herself? 
Bre, you lived in Voronezh? Wow, that must've been a shock! What years was it, if you don't mind my asking?
Yes, Gor'ki could write, for sure. He is labeled a socialist realist in Wikipedia, which is grossly unfair. He was a romantic, forced into the politically acceptable box, as anyone who read Song of the Stormy Petrel, The Old Woman Isergil, or his Italian stories would testify.
Incidentally, I googled around for the text of his stories and came up with an online library (http://az.lib.ru/) I was clicking around that site, and in the sci-fie department stumbled upon a thrilling LOTR AU story, part epic, part spy thriller and a very competent one. The U is very A, with Elves as the bad guys. That seems to be a Russian thing - the best Russian fanfics are the ones that treat the original text as the history written by winners and look behind it to see what really happened. I wonder if it's because in West is good - not a Russian thing, much. Or perhaps it's just because the Russian writers are so trained to mistrust any report of benign power made by the said power. In any case, I'm enjoying myself.
The story also had the best explanation of the incompetent Nazgûl. You see, the Ring was a decoy. They wanted it to come to Gondor and there cause strife and discord, so they carefully herded Frodo and Co. toward Imladris.
Bre, you lived in Voronezh? Wow, that must've been a shock! What years was it, if you don't mind my asking?
Yes, Gor'ki could write, for sure. He is labeled a socialist realist in Wikipedia, which is grossly unfair. He was a romantic, forced into the politically acceptable box, as anyone who read Song of the Stormy Petrel, The Old Woman Isergil, or his Italian stories would testify.
Incidentally, I googled around for the text of his stories and came up with an online library (http://az.lib.ru/) I was clicking around that site, and in the sci-fie department stumbled upon a thrilling LOTR AU story, part epic, part spy thriller and a very competent one. The U is very A, with Elves as the bad guys. That seems to be a Russian thing - the best Russian fanfics are the ones that treat the original text as the history written by winners and look behind it to see what really happened. I wonder if it's because in West is good - not a Russian thing, much. Or perhaps it's just because the Russian writers are so trained to mistrust any report of benign power made by the said power. In any case, I'm enjoying myself.
The story also had the best explanation of the incompetent Nazgûl. You see, the Ring was a decoy. They wanted it to come to Gondor and there cause strife and discord, so they carefully herded Frodo and Co. toward Imladris.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
I would love to be able to speak Russian. I am insanely jealous. The closest I've ever come is singing Rachmaninovs Troparion to the Virgin Mary from the vespers, and the traditional Contakion for the dead. (which is fantastic. I love it. I've sung it in English as well, and the words 'dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou returs' are all sung on the same chord. It's like Old Russian Imperial anthem 'Hail to the Tsar, where the same chord is repeated a whopping 13 times! )
)Why is the duck billed platypus?
Frelga, I lived in Voronezh back in 1995 - it was a great and unforgettable experience. I found it quite scary sometimes, having to deal with that terrible and desperate way of living of the Russian youth, as if they knew the world would end in a few hours 
Anyway, it's a pity that a label prevents a lot of people from venturing into the works of Gorkiy. I sometimes wonder whether branding a piece of literature as "propaganda" is basically unfair - many writers write about their beliefs and ideas, however they are not branded as "propagandists", when, in some way and imho, they are... we all are when we write about what we think or believe, our expectations and fears, etc.
Literature is one of the best ways to dive into the Russian soul, passionate and tortured as it is. I have always been fascinated with Russian culture, since my parents got me The Fire Bird, a collection of Russian fairy tales
I will look for that AU story with the evil Elves
Anyway, it's a pity that a label prevents a lot of people from venturing into the works of Gorkiy. I sometimes wonder whether branding a piece of literature as "propaganda" is basically unfair - many writers write about their beliefs and ideas, however they are not branded as "propagandists", when, in some way and imho, they are... we all are when we write about what we think or believe, our expectations and fears, etc.
Literature is one of the best ways to dive into the Russian soul, passionate and tortured as it is. I have always been fascinated with Russian culture, since my parents got me The Fire Bird, a collection of Russian fairy tales
I will look for that AU story with the evil Elves
Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
Voronezh! Platonov and Mandelstam!
Now those are two writers I prefer to Gorky.
I've spent a lot of time in Russia, but never got to Voronezh; I can just imagine how intense "study abroad" must have been there.
The book I have a hankering to reread for some reason is Dostoevsky's Idiot, but I don't have a paperback copy in Russian and am reluctant to tote around the dull green hardback volume.
(I'm just at the point in my packing where I have to decide which books to take for the year, and of course I'm finding these choices traumatic. )
Now those are two writers I prefer to Gorky.
I've spent a lot of time in Russia, but never got to Voronezh; I can just imagine how intense "study abroad" must have been there.
The book I have a hankering to reread for some reason is Dostoevsky's Idiot, but I don't have a paperback copy in Russian and am reluctant to tote around the dull green hardback volume.
(I'm just at the point in my packing where I have to decide which books to take for the year, and of course I'm finding these choices traumatic.
)Yes, Platonov and Mandelstam
The Idiot is a very good novel, although it's not my favourite one by Dostoievskiy, I much prefer The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment
The Idiot is a very good novel, although it's not my favourite one by Dostoievskiy, I much prefer The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment
Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
The Last Ringlord (or Ringbearer, if you prefer) by Cyril EskovBreogán wrote:I will look for that AU story with the evil Elves
It's long, and the language is highly idiomatic, but man did I have fun with it.
I think the difference between literature and propaganda is exactly what you state - whether the writers express what THEY truly believe. Of course, it could still be lame literature. Propaganda is when the writer simply writes to political specifications. Of course, it could still be well crafted, like Gor'ki's Mother.Anyway, it's a pity that a label prevents a lot of people from venturing into the works of Gorkiy. I sometimes wonder whether branding a piece of literature as "propaganda" is basically unfair - many writers write about their beliefs and ideas, however they are not branded as "propagandists", when, in some way and imho, they are... we all are when we write about what we think or believe, our expectations and fears, etc.
If the writer works to commercial specification... what do we call it then?
I've heard this before, and I wonder. Is Russian soul unique in that regard. Is there an American soul? If so, where do we find it?Literature is one of the best ways to dive into the Russian soul, passionate and tortured as it is. I have always been fascinated with Russian culture, since my parents got me The Fire Bird, a collection of Russian fairy tales
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Yes, that's why I think it's unfair when it comes to Gorkiy, I am not an expert on this matter, but as I read on, the least it sounds like propaganda and more like Gorkiy's genuine and utopian beliefs and ideas written on paper, leaving partisanship or political agendas aside.I think the difference between literature and propaganda is exactly what you state - whether the writers express what THEY truly believe. Of course, it could still be lame literature. Propaganda is when the writer simply writes to political specifications. Of course, it could still be well crafted, like Gor'ki's Mother.
Anyway, what do I know?
Am min idhrinn, min arad en-Naur, bain onen aen: noss, nîth ah estel: adaneth im.
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
"For one year, one day, of the Flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth I am."
We should remember, in fairness, that Gorky's "Mat'" was written a decade before the Revolution and long, long before Gorky's troubled reign as "model Soviet writer". So it's propaganda, sure, but probably heartfelt and certainly not "Socialist Realism," which didn't exist as an official category until the 1930's.