Crime and Punishment is one of the best books ever written!! Now I'm reading Master and Margarita for the first time and it's just simply amazing!

you are amazing! you opened my eyes on another literature that I never thought or even imagined that I would or could Read . thank you.

Just bought my own copy of The Master and Margarita last week. So excited to read it once work is done! 💛

that's a lovely scarf :D the story line of these books sounds interesting!

Thank you for the feedback, I am happy you like it, yes definitely give Master and Margarita a try, its pretty amazing!

Yes, Master and Margarita was and remains my favorite! I am now looking for the Snow Child and can't wait to read it!

Read and loved The Cherry Tree and Lolita. Dream of reading The Brothers Karamazov, War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and anything by Dostoevsky. Master and Magarita is now goal read since hearing Grace and Conrad talk about it. Enjoyed this video very much! It's sparked my desire of setting some very particular reading goals for next year. Thanks Malinka!

Hi, I saw you in the BookTube Newbs video and I just LOVE your channel! It's so awesome to hear about literature from other countries. All the books you mention sound so interesting, especially Crime and Punishment. I must check them out! Thanks for making these videos :)

As for Master&M I liked it eventually, a lot, it has a wonderful ending and is beautifully weird, but I admit I was confused for a good part of it, especially in the first half! It's not that easy but it's definitely worth the effort :) awesome video by the way!!

I started reading Master and Margarita (in English) at least in part on the basis of your recommendation in this video, and I thank you for it. M&M is astonishing and fully deserves your top ranking, imho. BTW, what do you think of the various film adaptations, especially the 2005 tv mini series?

I was first introduced to the Russian literature in my 9th grade, where I read a Hindi translation of a short story, “A Chameleon” by Anton Chekhov. It was one of the short stories in our Hindi language textbook. It was really a fun read and one of the most enjoyable satires for me. As soon as you said the book #3 by Anton Chekhov, it rang a bell in my head. I thought, “I’ve heard of that name before,” and then I remembered about my old textbook. I’ve also tried to read “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov-but due to some reason, which I cannot remember, I couldn’t finish it. Now that I’m reminded of this book again, I’m thinking of giving it another try and definitely finishing it. All other books sound interesting too, I’m thinking about giving them a go, if I can get time in the future. Good work and DFTBA!

Yes, I read Gogol's Dead Souls and most of Chekhov's stories, but very long time ago. I have on my TBR list Ana Karenina and War and Peace, I hope to get to them this winter :) Thank you for stopping by, I really enjoy your comments!

I'm looking forward to reading The Master and Margarita. I love Russian literature, but finding a good translation always leads to tedious and extensive research as to which translation is best. Any recommendations?

This is so helpful, thank you!

thank you for stopping by! I cut so much of the booktube newbs, I am surprised anyone understood me :) I happy you like my videos and yes, give Crime and Punishment a chance, you will love it!

Like your sharing! Why I feel the Karamazov Brothers is better than Crime and Punishment? I think it's deeper and cover more ideas. It has a slow part in the middle, but most of them make sense in the end. That's my No.1 right now. But I haven't read Master and Margarita yet, I have a close friend who told me it is the most enjoyable read among all his books. I will definitely start reading after watching your video!

I havn't read master and margrita, but its many themes and mix of genres make me think of another russian novel, Petersburg by Andrei Bely

Thanks! These are my favourite too. I have translated M&M into Hindi, and in Marathi too....So, M&M is in two Indian languages. The Marathi version is going to appear in Mid 2018. Hindi is already there since long and is doing well....

Hi! Thank you for this. I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this video. I'm currently reading Master and Margarita for class and my teacher said that Bulgakov managed to survive because Stalin had a soft spot for one of his plays (at least according to my professor) I'm curious to know why most Russians don't seem to talk much about contemporary writing? Is there perhaps a reason why? (Although I know the classics- just like the ones you mentioned- are fantastic!)

Love, Love and one again Love it Master and Margarita.. This is my book number one!

that is so cool you taking Russian literature, I hope you find more interesting authors. I read Notes from Underground twice and highlighted most of the phrases, I guess I forgot to mention it. And Yes, I have the hype around Lolita being a love story!!!! About Fathers and Sons, I have not read it, still need to do it, its just that there are so many great books in the Russian literature, my TBR is long long !!!!

Thank you for your video! I enjoyed watching it however at the risk of coming off as pedantic, I wanted to clarify that Lolita is not a Russian novel. Although written by a person of Russian ethnicity, the novel was written and originally published in English. Perhaps you are referring to the novel’s translation into Russian. Nabokov wrote not only in Russian but also in French and English. Lolita is full of puns and wordplay specific to the English language. It is one of the reasons the novel is considered a modern masterpiece of the English language.

If I could give you more than a single like I'd give you at least a dozen for the specification on Lolita ^^! That one and Master and Margarita are the only ones I've read from your list (I'm not strong on Russian Literature at all!) but a Russian-studying friend of mine has told me great things about Puskin's lyrical novel :)!

I own a collection of Pushkin's works translated into Polish, as well as a few other books you mentioned except those would be in English. I'm reading Crime and Punishment right now, and I adore it. The only reason it's taking me so long is because I don't want it to end!

Doctor Zhivago. Pasternak's masterpiece is the most beautifully written novel ever. I enjoyed your video Malinka. Like Larissa Guishar you are a girl from a different world...

Yes, you are right, not many Romanians are into reading and among my friends I am an exeption, but I get them exited about books and hope to have the same effect on other Romanians, I trully hope this will change, step by step :)

I was so confused for the first hundred pages of Master and Margarita, that's until I realized who the Magician was. After that it all made a lot more sense. I have no idea how one person could think about all that, it's amazing! Plus, all of my friends that read it either gave it up, didn't like it or thought it was sublime. I would like to read more Russian literature. And I can't wait to hear your thought on Snow Child :)

thank you for stopping by!!!!!! my mother is Russian and my father is Romanian, great combination! i lived most of my life in Moldova (a country in Eastern Europe) then I moved ....

Petersburg by Andrei Biely? Great list by the way

I tried to read Master and Margarita, but I couldn’t continue reading! Maybe I should give it another try?

thank you! At some point I had to take a break because of my cold :) thank you for stopping by :)

oh, I am so happy you like it, it was a great experience for me too!

Read any other Dostoevsky novels besides the ones you mentioned? Or read any Gogol? Short stories by Chekhov? Fathers and Sons by Turgenev? Or War & Peace or Anna Karenina by Tolstoy? I've read the memoirs of composer Rimsky-Korsakov: his chapter fellow composer Borodin's household on rivals Turgenev in humor & description. Eugene Onegin was turned into both an opera (Tchaikovsky) & a ballet; Pique Dame: only made into an opera. BBC (UK) is making a War & Peace miniseries for '15.

Hi! I just found your channel and subscribed. I really like your videos! Just curious - where are you actually from originally?

Thank you for specifying that Lolita is NOT a love story. :) A lot of people misrepresent the story. Have you read any other Nabokov? I loved Pnin. I also love Crime and Punishment, I read it a couple of years ago. I actually I think I liked Brothers Karamazov better, but I think I spent like 3 or 4 weeks reading it! Have you read Notes from the Underground? M & M really blew my mind, but I need to reread it to understand it better. Next semester I will be taking a Russian literature course,yay

Great list!

Hello Yakubi PH, thank you for the feedback and I would like to help you with the movie, let me know how can I help?

yes I love it too, thank you for stopping by :)

my favorite also=and i have a behemoth t-shirt and Bulgakov cap.

Thank you so much for this. I'm new to Russian culture and literature; recently I've developed an interest in Russia and what better than its literature to get to know it? :) This has been very informative and helpful. Moreover, you seem so sweet and nice :) Its a lovely video.

Oh, thank you, really appreciate it!

Hey Derek, I read it in Russian/Romanian (in chiriliks) do not know why but it was half and half, then re-read it in Russian entirely. I will check the English translations to see which ones are good and then let u know :)

Hi Malinka . Can you help me about making a movie about russian literature, the movie is atleast 15minutes. BTW nice video, it gave me a bit of idea. Thumbs up!

yes, give it a try, its very different !

Did you read The Master and Margarita in Russian or in translation. There are 6 English translations and I've read quite a bit about each one but I'm still not settled on which one to read first. Do you have a favorite translation or one that your would recommend above the others?

I'm curious to know if you have read Petersburg by Andrei Bely... I have read Bulgakov, Goncharov, Nabokov, Dostoevsky (who i love with all my heart) Tolstoy... And I must say, No Russian writes like Bely. He is inimitable and criminally unknown, If you have not partaken of this work, i urge you, beg you to pursue it. You will not regret it. The only writer I cannot say he overtakes in raw style is Gogol, In the immortal words of Dostoevsky, "We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'."

what about " Fathers and Sons " by Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev .. i did read that fabulous piece of work i found it worth to be included right this rank ;), it my piont of view anyhow ..!

You have great choices

Where would I find these books? Do you think these would be available in U.S. Book stores? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

Also really liked Turgenev's Fathers and Sons.

another good one is The Bronze Horseman which takes place during world war II, during the Leningrad Blockade and is also written by a Russian Author

Can't argue with Master and Margarita as #1 there really is nothing like it. My #2 would be Nabokov's Pale Fire.

THANKU

mam, I have always been fascinated with Russian empire. I read a book " a soldier's war" by arkadi babchenko. it depicted the chechen war from a soldier's point of view. Could you suggest me a Russian novel ,fiction or non fiction , which depicted post 80s Russian society & post ussr Russian society .

Will do. :)

I'm enamoured by Bulgakov's creativity, but it is quite a western book stylistically. It's not that amazing, but it is almost certainly the best fantasy of all time, I'll give it that. I am surprised there is no Tolstoy or Turgenev here.

Nice.

I adore The Master and Margarita. It's such a tragedy that it's not more popular in North America; I rarely meet anyone who has ever read it here. I mean, the book has a talking cat who likes pickled mushrooms, vodka and firearms; what more needs to be said?

One Romanian I know tells me most Romanians aren't into literature, & that there aren't a lot of lit books even written in the language, unlike say French. Sounds like you being so much into reading are an exception.... Mother tongue English speakers are lucky. We've got so many good books available to read that are originally written in English--& so there's no problem with translation(s). Of course so many people do the not so easy thing & just learn English.

i love russian lit!

Alexander Pushkin Vladimir Nabokov Anton Chekhov Fyodor Dostoyevsky Mikhail Bulgakov you spelled all the names wrong in the video! ;)

Ooh, it's so sweet. I have made this video too!!! ^^

I recently found out that my great uncle is Vladimir Maximov :)

your welcome!

I just can't believe that "The Brothers Karamazov" and "The Idiot" is not in your top five list. Anyways, People have their own liking. Love ❤️

Any books on strategy, manipulation, sucess, etc i love putin simmilar to machivelli 48 laws of power etc etc ...in the rusdian mind

so Tolstoy is not mentioned. This list is not for me then*

If you not remember Tolstoy, Tugnev and Gorki you hurt the soul of Russian literature . There is no camprisen of these greatest writers with others . you can't forget ' war and peace ', father and son and',M other. . Dr. Prabhakar_joshi

I don't think anyone thinks Lolita is a love story tbh

When I think of Russian writers, two words that come to mind are, Intense and unforgiving. Clearly a writing style influenced from the harsh realities of their world. To me Russian and Swedish writers are the most distinct. Keep up the good work, I wish I read more but until then I will learn from those who read.

Why dont you like Tolstoi ?!

you are so pretty. Russian girls are so pretty

read the Sermon On The Mount in Russian !!!! And then you would know why Jesus would have found your fourth choice outrageously pornographic Some say Fathers and Sons is the best Russian novel and I must agree

Just bought my own copy of The Master and Margarita last week. So excited to read it once work is done! 💛

Any books on strategy, manipulation, sucess, etc i love putin simmilar to machivelli 48 laws of power etc etc ...in the rusdian mind