“Or is reading self-help books just part of my whole procrastination thing?” Ding ding ding!! We have a winner!! 😂 Seriously though, I love how you ended it though: you’re a survivor. The capitalistic world wants us (NEEDS us) to believe that we’re sick so we continue to pay them to fix us. What would happen if you changed your mindset to believe you don’t need fixing? What if you believe you’re a survivor and now you’re ready to help others and that drives your vocation?
Thanks Katie. With friends like you in my corner I can't fail. The friend who called me a survivor is a longtime friend from back ini my army days. He's a rock for me. I'd like to be a rock for friends, too. So, as you put it, I'm ready to help others and have that drive my vocation.
Have a lovely holiday season, Katie. Big hugs from Scotland.
Thank you for mentioning me and expressing interest in reading The Brothers Karamazov—it means a lot to me.
As for The Master and Margarita, that would be magnificent. Before Dostoevsky, I wanted to do readings of it for several reasons. It was the first Russian classic I read independently, not for school, though at that time I skipped the Pilate chapters. Later, during my final year's oral literature exam, I was asked about this novel. It means a great deal to me, which is partly why I haven't reread it in so long—I've only watched a 6-hour theater production 5 years ago. This would be the perfect opportunity to revisit it.
You and your blocks have many strengths that will make your club engaging. I love your second channel with personal experiences—I'd like to follow your example and share more personal content too.
I have many thoughts about procrastination and creativity. After Crime and Punishment, I considered closing the club because fewer people joined than I expected were interested in Dostoevsky. The time spent writing articles seemed excessive. But my month-long break in November showed me that I truly need this club. Having just a few like-minded people is more than enough, though I sometimes envy how Simon attracted so many people to his club. I'll be joining him again for War and Peace. It's probably his magic. Why do I want to read War and Peace again? 😅
Thanks Dana. It's either going to be Master and Margarita or Oblomov; those are my two favourites of Russian literature from what I've read thus far. I would, however, enjoy trying something new as well. I'm actually about four chapters in to White Guard, which I picked up after finishing a history book that went into the civil war. And I have some Turgenev on the shelf that I've never read. And my wife keeps asking me when I'm going to read Doctor Zhivago. But I don't think I could lead a group through a novel I was reading for the first time!
And yes, Simon's doing great with War and Peace. I was actually thinking of rejoining and reading it in Russian this time. It would be slow and painful, but I really would like to do it.
All three books are perfect for a book club. And you could definitely lead "Doctor Zhivago" while reading it for the first time. The plot isn't complicated, but in my opinion, the historical context is complex - specifically when and how the book was written. The repressions are difficult to discuss.
And Oblomov, by the way, is also a fantastic option. I'm surprised that the novel is rarely discussed. It would have been perfect for book clubs during Covid, and even now Oblomov's lifestyle isn't so uncommon: I think many people want to lie on the couch all day.
Reading War and Peace in Russian is a huge challenge. In places, its language is very strange by modern standards. But it's interesting. If you have any questions at all about Russian, you can freely ask me. I'll be happy to help.
“Or is reading self-help books just part of my whole procrastination thing?” Ding ding ding!! We have a winner!! 😂 Seriously though, I love how you ended it though: you’re a survivor. The capitalistic world wants us (NEEDS us) to believe that we’re sick so we continue to pay them to fix us. What would happen if you changed your mindset to believe you don’t need fixing? What if you believe you’re a survivor and now you’re ready to help others and that drives your vocation?
Thanks Katie. With friends like you in my corner I can't fail. The friend who called me a survivor is a longtime friend from back ini my army days. He's a rock for me. I'd like to be a rock for friends, too. So, as you put it, I'm ready to help others and have that drive my vocation.
Have a lovely holiday season, Katie. Big hugs from Scotland.
Thank you for mentioning me and expressing interest in reading The Brothers Karamazov—it means a lot to me.
As for The Master and Margarita, that would be magnificent. Before Dostoevsky, I wanted to do readings of it for several reasons. It was the first Russian classic I read independently, not for school, though at that time I skipped the Pilate chapters. Later, during my final year's oral literature exam, I was asked about this novel. It means a great deal to me, which is partly why I haven't reread it in so long—I've only watched a 6-hour theater production 5 years ago. This would be the perfect opportunity to revisit it.
You and your blocks have many strengths that will make your club engaging. I love your second channel with personal experiences—I'd like to follow your example and share more personal content too.
I have many thoughts about procrastination and creativity. After Crime and Punishment, I considered closing the club because fewer people joined than I expected were interested in Dostoevsky. The time spent writing articles seemed excessive. But my month-long break in November showed me that I truly need this club. Having just a few like-minded people is more than enough, though I sometimes envy how Simon attracted so many people to his club. I'll be joining him again for War and Peace. It's probably his magic. Why do I want to read War and Peace again? 😅
Thanks Dana. It's either going to be Master and Margarita or Oblomov; those are my two favourites of Russian literature from what I've read thus far. I would, however, enjoy trying something new as well. I'm actually about four chapters in to White Guard, which I picked up after finishing a history book that went into the civil war. And I have some Turgenev on the shelf that I've never read. And my wife keeps asking me when I'm going to read Doctor Zhivago. But I don't think I could lead a group through a novel I was reading for the first time!
And yes, Simon's doing great with War and Peace. I was actually thinking of rejoining and reading it in Russian this time. It would be slow and painful, but I really would like to do it.
All three books are perfect for a book club. And you could definitely lead "Doctor Zhivago" while reading it for the first time. The plot isn't complicated, but in my opinion, the historical context is complex - specifically when and how the book was written. The repressions are difficult to discuss.
And Oblomov, by the way, is also a fantastic option. I'm surprised that the novel is rarely discussed. It would have been perfect for book clubs during Covid, and even now Oblomov's lifestyle isn't so uncommon: I think many people want to lie on the couch all day.
Reading War and Peace in Russian is a huge challenge. In places, its language is very strange by modern standards. But it's interesting. If you have any questions at all about Russian, you can freely ask me. I'll be happy to help.