October Reads (More Russian Lit) and Why You Should Go to Author Events

[@jakealden2517]

Thanks for another great video. I hope your studies are going well.

[@agwriting]

Thank you!!

[@heather1628]

I'm so glad that you talked about going to Author Talks - it reminds me of why they're great and important. My hometown hosts a small literary festival once a year and I remember going to one book signing when I was younger, which felt like such a special moment because I'd never met a well-known author before and listened to them talk about their writing process and such. And then in years that followed, I didn't make as much of an effort to go, I'm not sure why. But I'll give it a go next year. As you said, it can be inspirational to hear about their writing journey, or even just their views and thought processes that have gone into their books. It definitely connects the person to the book, which is cool. I also loved hearing about the little interaction you had in the cafe with the old man. It made me think about being at uni and how each morning, I'd go to campus a little early just to sit somewhere and read. I only had a handful of interactions, if that, but the few times someone asked me about what I was reading, I was so delighted. One time someone didn't even know the book, but simply wanted to know what it was because they liked the look of the cover haha. It's those small moments that mean a lot to me. Anyway, here I am babbling again! I'm keen to check out some of these Nabokovs, as well as the Gogol. They all sound kinda nuts haha, but the writing is great. Also definitely going to check out Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog after this. Since I'm quite a slow reader, it's been nice to get some short story recommendations to read in between novels, so thanks! Hope the football was good on the weekend and good luck for all the work to be done! Keen to hear about your writing whenever you feel like talking about it. :)

[@agwriting]

That's so awesome! And sometimes smaller festivals can be even more fun, if you get to meet and really connect with the author. I just think it's such a cool thing -- I know a lot of people say the writing should speak for itself, and that certain authors don't want to be answering the same questions for a year straight, but I think there's ways to take that into consideration and still have productive events, festivals, etc. I don't know, community is so important now, especially with something like reading. And that comes into play with the interactions day to day which, like you mentioned, mean a lot. Let me know what you think of Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog! It was incredible, I thought. Always great to see your thoughts, thanks for watching!

[@heather1628]

@@agwriting I loved Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog! Thanks so much for the recommendation - I wouldn't know of these stories otherwise. But yeah, gosh, it hit me at the end there. Again, it's that wonderful telling of human behaviour and complexities. It never gets old if it's written well. Gah, there's so much that could be said about this story. I also really liked the line "Sometimes the biggest battles are the smallest ones."

[@magicknight13]

These sound great!!! Thanks for the recommendations and the in-depth descriptions!

[@magicknight13]

Hell yeah to Gogol's short stories!!!

[@Andyboy-s8m]

Thank you. Great video once again.

[@deckchair41]

A third of the way through Crime and Punishment. Taking my time to read this great novel. Hope you enjoy it, Alex.

[@agwriting]

I'm jealous, it feels like I'm reading it too fast and I wish I could slow down a bit. But I'm still loving it, no question.

[@eduardojefferson8736]

good to know ur reading intermezzo

[@bbbartolo]

When you said Edward P. Jones was maybe your favorite writer, I subscribed. Hope you read both All Aunt Hagar's Children and Lost in the City. Nabokov too.

[@agwriting]

I've read all of Lost in the City (actually working on a project right now, comparing it with Gwendolyn Brooks' 'A Street in Bronzeville') and most of All Aunt Hagar's Children. I hope to finish that soon and read his novel as well!

[@AlexIsWorthIt]

You need to read Sorokin!! Absolutely hilarious and amazing contemporary Russian author. I recommend starting with The Day of The Oprichnik.

[@agwriting]

Hadn't heard of him but that book sounds great! Thanks for the rec!

[@-HRH]

I enjoyed this so much, Alex! Your descriptions were like tantalising multilayered gateaux into which I could sink my salivated brainteeth. Could you tell me why Edward P. Jones might be your favourite writer? He might be my next read after I finish Woolf's heartbreaking The Waves.

[@agwriting]

There's a million short story writers I love, but Edward P. Jones is someone I always come back to. What first attracted me to him was the sense of place and community, as his short stories all take place in the African-American communities of D.C. The story ideas are incredible, of course, but he makes the writing look so effortless too -- he finds so much substance within the most mundane circumstances, something a lot of writers just can't do. I haven't read his novel yet, but I would highly recommend anything of his. As for the "tantalising multilayered gateaux into which I could sink my salivated brainteeth," I'm not quite sure what I just read but I'll take it as a compliment haha

[@-HRH]

@ Haha sorry about that 🤭. Also thank you for introducing an amazing author I’d been sleeping on. E. P. Jones sounds a lot like John Updike - another American stalwart who could find the extraordinary in the mundane. So yeah, he’s my next read after The Waves by Virginia Woolf. Cheers!

[@Sam-uk4mb]

Hey- I'm looking for more Russian authors in the same vein as Dostoevsky. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@solarpeony]

Dovlatov was inspired by Dostoevsky, but in the 20th century. You might be interested in reading Pushkin. He is very different from Dostoevsky, but he was Fyodor Mikhailovich's favourite writer.

[@Sam-uk4mb]

@@solarpeony thank you, I will have a look

[@agwriting]

I didn't mention it in the video, but Dostoevsky was heavily inspired by Gogol, so he could be worth checking out for that reason. But similarity aside, Tolstoy and Chekhov are widely recognized as the other two greats. They're not as similar to him as Gogol, but still worth reading. 'The Lady With the Little Dog' is a short story of Chekhov's I've enjoyed recently.

[@solarpeony]

Gogol is amazing! I don't know if it’s possible to feel his wordplay in his English translation, but reading it in the original is an aesthetic pleasure.