Hello from Russia!

[Sergo]

Hey, Welcome to the Forum!

My advise, if you're sending your daughter to London, dont let Wabbit know when or where!!

Phil

Hi Phil:

Really? I had not seen any reason yet to fear him in that respect...

 

[Sergo]

Welcome to the forum!

It's been quite some time since I read a Russian novel. Last year I stumbled over 'Kys' by Tatjana Tolstaja. It has been translated into German but in hardly any other language, so I found it hard to find any opinions about the book. I'm not sure if I got all of it because there were a lot of hints at Russian literature and history.
Do you know something about her work? I heard she is well-known in Russia.

Dear Rigana:

Thanks for your interest. Really, I've red several stories by Tatjana Tolstaya about 15 years ago or so. I remember that I liked them very much. But it was not easy to find a book you want in Russia then, so I failed at that.

Now Tolstaja is quite a well-known journalist here, she even takes part in a TV talkshow "The school of scandal gossip".

But alas I am reading mostly English literature lately - I like it and need English for my work, so I am not an expert in Russian literature.

But it would be a great pleasure for me to help you in any way - so please do not hesitate to ask...

Now that you mentioned that - I will try to read something of Tolstaya soon - but I would have to download it into my pocket HP - and that will take some time to revive it...

By the way, I believe that book was called really "Kysh", meaning "Go Away!" addressed to some animal. Though "Kys" might be more appropriate as that means "Come here, cat!" (Kys-kys-kys, or kees-kees-kees...)

 

[direstraits]

Welcome Sergo!

ds

 

[Sergo]

Welcome Sergo!

ds

Hi Direstraits!

By the way, we just loved Dire Straits so long ago...

And, you know, I was very much tempted to mention Ursula le Guin as my favorite author - I had translated some of her stories into Russian really...
But too long ago...

 

[novella]

Hey Sergo, what do you think of this new Russian author/internet blogger who wrote "Give Me!" Think her name is Irina D(something)? If you don't know who I mean I'll look her up and post back. Looks pretty interesting to me. Writes about raves in St. Petersburg, stuff like that.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Hi Kenny:

Privyet Sergo.

we were held too long behind USSR's borders...

Yes, I know the fun of getting visas!

Some of us are not amiable people

I have friends who run a family owned business in Odessa, I seem to remember them mentioning having to deal with less than amiable people

but I think that with help of other Europeans we will get better...

I doubt if you will need much help.

BTW, do you know the books of Valdimir Voinovich? I have read the two about Ivan Chonkin and 'The fur hat', I wondered if you could recommend any others?

vsevo kharosheva!

 

[Sergo]

Hi Kenny:

It is refreshing to learn here how tolerant people are towards all the things one could easily describe as alien - especially gay and lesbian aspects.
Our people react much more heatedly to these, and generally it is quite strange to find a lot of people infected by xenophobia in our multinational country. I imagine that are all things of the past in most of Europe by now.

As to Voinovich... We were just shocked by his "Moscow 2042" once upon a time. It could be obtained only in hand-typing or even hand-written form then, or listened to by BBC sometimes, when broadcast had not been sufficiently suppressed by our government. It was quite widely quoted then by the people.
I am not sure if that is all that exciting by now, as the current situation in Russia is very much different from what it had been then, and all the political-oriented stuff is the most powerful in the circumstances that it was created to uncover & ridicule.
But Voinovich is a wise and experienced man, and with a good sence of humor - and I think his works will be read with pleasure.

 

[Sergo]

Hey Sergo, what do you think of this new Russian author/internet blogger who wrote "Give Me!" Think her name is Irina D(something)? If you don't know who I mean I'll look her up and post back. Looks pretty interesting to me. Writes about raves in St. Petersburg, stuff like that.

Hi Novella:

It would be easier to know more about her to start with.
There are lots&lots&lots of young and not too yong authors here, I know some of them personally (sometimes one thinks that every other person here is an author), so it is absolutely impossible to keep up with new literature trends here, especially when one's turf is different from literature...
And I am in international transportation really... And at the moment we have some very exciting situation here...

 

[direstraits]

Wow, Sergo, love your enthusiasm.

By the way, we just loved Dire Straits so long ago...

That's great. I'm just starting to listen to their music, myself. Good guitars.

And, you know, I was very much tempted to mention Ursula le Guin as my favorite author - I had translated some of her stories into Russian really...
But too long ago...

Are you a writer yourself?

ds

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Hi Kenny:

It is refreshing to learn here how tolerant people are towards all the things one could easily describe as alien - especially gay and lesbian aspects.
Our people react much more heatedly to these, and generally it is quite strange to find a lot of people infected by xenophobia in our multinational country. I imagine that are all things of the past in most of Europe by now.

Hi Sergo,

Unfortunatly intolerance still exists all over Europe, however I think we're further down the road towards removing it from society. I know there are problems in Russia, I've read about recent attacks on non-white university students in St Petersberg for example.

I am not sure if that is all that exciting by now, as the current situation in Russia is very much different from what it had been then, and all the political-oriented stuff is the most powerful in the circumstances that it was created to uncover & ridicule.

I agree with that very much. Some of the soviet-era work is much more powerful, and meaningful, than what we have now, or had during the same period in the West, due to the circumstances in which it was written. For example, I'm not sure Bulgakov would have written anything as wonderful as 'Master and Margarita' or 'Heart of a Dog' if he was around now.

But Voinovich is a wise and experienced man, and with a good sence of humor - and I think his works will be read with pleasure.

I've read a couple of interview with Voinovich and I'm never sure if he's being 100% truthful with his views or if he has a gleam in his eye and is playing with us just a little.

 

[Sergo]

Wow, Sergo, love your enthusiasm.


That's great. I'm just starting to listen to their music, myself. Good guitars.

Are you a writer yourself?

ds

Hi

No, I am not a writer. Though of course I have written some stories, as almost everybody has, but never even tried to sell them - so I am not a writer...
I would like to try writing as I have quite a lot of experience now in some areas which are interesting to read about - at least in Russia. But I have a family to feed - so at the moment I cannot quit my business, as that would mean no money for some period, and maybe never as much as I earn now.
Writing in Russia is not as profitable as in the West - only the most popular ones here could get rich.

But of course not having to get to my Moscow office everyday just to be seen by my bosses, colleagues and customers - could be wonderful... And I like working hard - so... Ohhh, what a dream: living in our forest house 7 days a week, being paid for what I like nearly most of all - telling stories...

 

[Sergo]

Hi Kenny:

Hi Sergo,

Unfortunatly intolerance still exists all over Europe, however I think we're further down the road towards removing it from society. I know there are problems in Russia, I've read about recent attacks on non-white university students in St Petersberg for example.


=
Yep, and what is even worse - our "average person" doesn't like people who are different in any respect - who have more or less money, who lived in the same place much longer or only arrived recently, with other skin color etc.
I would have liked that to change, but it seems sometimes that it gets even worse year by year.
=


I agree with that very much. Some of the soviet-era work is much more powerful, and meaningful, than what we have now, or had during the same period in the West, due to the circumstances in which it was written. For example, I'm not sure Bulgakov would have written anything as wonderful as 'Master and Margarita' or 'Heart of a Dog' if he was around now.


=
Yep, exactly. Though "Master & Margarita" could be written today too, I think - it depends more on state of mind of Bulgakov, than on political atmosphere. Do you like M&M? I like it very much, and will surely re-read it third time in some near future. Do you know something like that by Western authors?
=

I've read a couple of interview with Voinovich and I'm never sure if he's being 100% truthful with his views or if he has a gleam in his eye and is playing with us just a little.

I do not think anybody in any given period could be 100% truthful. Especially such a figure as a popular author - he has to keep many things back for many reasons.

So, are you interested in our contemporary writers? We have many, but the most popular are several detective authors, and two or three near-fantasy writers... Plus, of course, some others who write "historical" stories...

I have seen "Putin's Russia" by Politkovskaya in Sweden, was tempted to buy it, as never liked much our President and am interested in others' views on the subject, but decided against it as thought it rediculous to spend 15 Euros on the book which could be downloaded for free or bought for 1 Euro in Moscow... But upon arriving home I cannot have found the book in the net or shops... But that is not real literature, I imagine.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Yep, and what is even worse - our "average person" doesn't like people who are different in any respect - who have more or less money, who lived in the same place much longer or only arrived recently, with other skin color etc.
I would have liked that to change, but it seems sometimes that it gets even worse year by year.

Mmm, perhaps you are right that exposure to Europe will help this situation. Do you see Russia becoming part of the EU, and if so reluctantly or happily? In Britain we're still reluctant after 30 years!

Do you like M&M? I like it very much, and will surely re-read it third time in some near future. Do you know something like that by Western authors?

M&M is a wonderful book, one of my favourites. I had read 'Heart of a dog' first and M&M was sitting in my 'to be read' pile for some time. However a couple of friends, one Russian, one who lectures in Russian Literature, keep on at me until I read it.
I'd have to think long and hard to come up with a Western equivalent, it's such a unique book. However it was the insipration for the Rolling Stones song 'Sympathy For The Devil'. If you look at the lyrics:
http://www.diamondgeezers.org.uk/sounds/lyrics/sympathyforthedevil.html
you should be able to see that the first couple of verses make reference to the opening scene of the book.

So, are you interested in our contemporary writers? We have many, but the most popular are several detective authors, and two or three near-fantasy writers... Plus, of course, some others who write "historical" stories...

I know a few, Victor Erofeyev, Andrey Kurkov (he's from Kiev - beautiful city), Victor Pelevin, Platanov (is he still alive?), Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Vasily Grossman and of course Voinovich. I've just read the first of the 'Erast Fandorin' books by Boris Akunin, it was ok, not great literature but a good enough read. I suspect he's one of the detective authors you mention, I understand they're very popular in Russia and that he's written about 10 of them now. I'm not suprised that kind of book is popular as I know the Russian TV version of Sherlock Holmes is a favourite. The first time I visited my friends apartment in Odessa I was shown this on TV and told that 'Russian Sherlock Holmes, BEST IN WORLD!'.

I have seen "Putin's Russia" by Politkovskaya in Sweden, was tempted to buy it, as never liked much our President and am interested in others' views on the subject, but decided against it as thought it rediculous to spend 15 Euros on the book which could be downloaded for free or bought for 1 Euro in Moscow... But upon arriving home I cannot have found the book in the net or shops... But that is not real literature, I imagine.

There are quite a few books on Modern Russia in the shops, one is the book you mention. I've read another 'Black Earth: Russia after the Fall' by an American who used to live there, it was quite interesting.

 

[Sergo]

Hi Kenny:

Mmm, perhaps you are right that exposure to Europe will help this situation. Do you see Russia becoming part of the EU, and if so reluctantly or happily? In Britain we're still reluctant after 30 years!

= Really, I would have liked to. But we have too many people interested in keepeng Russia apart from EU (I should be one of them really, as some of my profit depends on how difficult it is to deliver goods to Russia - so far it is sufficiently difficult for most of businessmen to use professional service in Russia, instead of using international delivery services).
And I am not sure our economy could take that (becoming part of EU) and not crack all over...

And what I understand about the English - it's reluctance to part with pound in favor of Euro... There are so much associated with the UK currency - it would be difficult for me to imagine UK with Euros... (Same with Ruble here) =

M&M is a wonderful book, one of my favourites. I had read 'Heart of a dog' first and M&M was sitting in my 'to be read' pile for some time. However a couple of friends, one Russian, one who lectures in Russian Literature, keep on at me until I read it.
I'd have to think long and hard to come up with a Western equivalent, it's such a unique book. However it was the insipration for the Rolling Stones song 'Sympathy For The Devil'. If you look at the lyrics:
http://www.diamondgeezers.org.uk/sounds/lyrics/sympathyforthedevil.html
you should be able to see that the first couple of verses make reference to the opening scene of the book.

= OK, thanks. =

I know a few, Victor Erofeyev, Andrey Kurkov (he's from Kiev - beautiful city), Victor Pelevin, Platanov (is he still alive?), Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Vasily Grossman and of course Voinovich. I've just read the first of the 'Erast Fandorin' books by Boris Akunin, it was ok, not great literature but a good enough read. I suspect he's one of the detective authors you mention, I understand they're very popular in Russia and that he's written about 10 of them now. I'm not suprised that kind of book is popular as I know the Russian TV version of Sherlock Holmes is a favourite. The first time I visited my friends apartment in Odessa I was shown this on TV and told that 'Russian Sherlock Holmes, BEST IN WORLD!'.

= Ouch... Your knowledge of Russian literature is very good - you seem to be like one of our intelligents in your choice...

Andrey Platonov died in 1951...

Akunin is quite popular here, now we have a film based on his story going in cinemas - it is said that many millions of dollars were already paid by poor Russians in order to watch that film... (it is "The Turkish Gambit" - about Turkish-Bulgarian-Russian war).

And I mostly read mass-produced English-American books... Shame on me...

As to our Sherlock Holmes - it is often said here, that our film is the BEST in the world according to some or other English specialists in the field... =


There are quite a few books on Modern Russia in the shops, one is the book you mention. I've read another 'Black Earth: Russia after the Fall' by an American who used to live there, it was quite interesting.

= I do not think it is easy to understand our current situation by reading. Many of us think that the rulers here are all criminals and we have no other option but die out. I think we go ahead to better life... It is something I could discuss for hours, so better to stop and go home...

 

[Kenny Shovel]

we have too many people interested in keeping Russia apart from EU (I should be one of them really, as some of my profit depends on how difficult it is to deliver goods to Russia - so far it is sufficiently difficult for most of businessmen to use professional service in Russia, instead of using international delivery services).
And I am not sure our economy could take that (becoming part of EU) and not crack all over...

Russia may well have the opportunity to see how EU membership works out for the Ukraine first, as Yushenko seems to want to move in that direction. I notice that for a trail period this year EU and Swiss citizens no longer need a visa to visit Ukraine, and that this is being used to see how the EU respond. By the way, my friends in Odessa did not vote for either candidate in the recent elections are they did not trust either; they had suspicions as to who was backing them. But to be fair to Yushenko, he seems to be keeping his word about removing Ukrainian troops from Iraq.
Of course if you want an existing example of Russian life in EU there is always Riga, which is a Russian city more than a Latvian one. If you have chance it may be an interesting place to visit, and to see how people there view being ‘New Europe’.

And what I understand about the English - it's reluctance to part with pound in favor of Euro... There are so much associated with the UK currency - it would be difficult for me to imagine UK with Euros... (Same with Ruble here) =

Well this is one aspect yes, and an important one. Basically the British, and in particular the English, view themselves as apart from Europe and prefer the idea of a ‘Common Market’ rather than the closer ties wanted by other nations. In this way I think the British Government sees themselves in agreement with the new members from the East.

= Ouch... Your knowledge of Russian literature is very good - you seem to be like one of our intelligents in your choice...

Steady on, I’m no intellectual! The Russian books that get translated into English tend to be the Quality ones. Any taste I have is probably due to the publishers filtering out the rubbish!
But for the record probably half of what I read is written in English and the rest varies with Russian, Czech and Japanese writers being favourites. Of the Russian stuff I have I also like: Checkov, Dostoyevski (Crime & Punishment, The Gambler in particular), Gogol (Dead Souls is wonderful), Nabakov, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Zamyatin. I like Russian poets too, Akhmatova, Blok, Maria Svetayeva and of course the Daddy of them all Pushkin.
Incidently, there is a BBC books message board and one of the members there has just published a new translation of ‘Evgine Onyegin’. We’re going to be doing a ‘group read and discussion’ with him about the book, it will be interesting to get the insights of the translator of this wonderful book.

Akunin is quite popular here, now we have a film based on his story going in cinemas - it is said that many millions of dollars were already paid by poor Russians in order to watch that film... (it is "The Turkish Gambit" - about Turkish-Bulgarian-Russian war).

I finished reading ‘Turkish Gambit yesterday! I haven’t seen many Russian films I’m afraid, apart form Andri Tarkovski who is a genius, ‘Solaris’ is just wonderful.

And I mostly read mass-produced English-American books... Shame on me...

But in another thread you mention Douglas Adams, he is both mass-produced and very good. What else do you like?

 

[Sergo]

Hi Kenny

I think you are right generally... As to Riga - I do not like Latvija getting more and more pro-fascist (at least one could get that impression from TV news from there - I hadn't been to Latvija for 20 years or so). I understand their feelings towards us - yes, it was quite bad that our fathers had annexed the Baltic states, but to praise German fascists as liberators of Latvija - that's too much... And their govermental attitude towards Russian nationals who happened to live there... I cannot find a proper name for it due to my poor knowledge of the language. The Russians who live there now cannot be held responsible for anything bad that had happened there once. And yet are held responsible and punished for what they hadn't done.

I cannot understand why this New Beautiful Europe had not pointed out that to do what Latvija does now is hardly better than what Russia had done 65 years ago.=


Steady on, I’m no intellectual! The Russian books that get translated into English tend to be the Quality ones. Any taste I have is probably due to the publishers filtering out the rubbish!
But for the record probably half of what I read is written in English and the rest varies with Russian, Czech and Japanese writers being favourites. Of the Russian stuff I have I also like: Checkov, Dostoyevski (Crime & Punishment, The Gambler in particular), Gogol (Dead Souls is wonderful), Nabakov, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Zamyatin. I like Russian poets too, Akhmatova, Blok, Maria Svetayeva and of course the Daddy of them all Pushkin.
Incidently, there is a BBC books message board and one of the members there has just published a new translation of ‘Evgine Onyegin’. We’re going to be doing a ‘group read and discussion’ with him about the book, it will be interesting to get the insights of the translator of this wonderful book.

= That's great. It is very interesting to know that our literature is so popular in the West. And what about an average reader? I imagine that there are not many more like you, who read more "serious Russian literature" than an average Russian? =

I finished reading ‘Turkish Gambit yesterday! I haven’t seen many Russian films I’m afraid, apart form Andri Tarkovski who is a genius, ‘Solaris’ is just wonderful.

= As to Solaris... I am not sure, I've seen it very long ago, and as it noticeably differed from the original book, I remember not having liked it too much then. Sometimes I want to try it again... But failed so far.

And some of our films are very good indeed - "Moscow doesn't believe in tears", for example... I've shed my own tears over it once or twice... It is as close to reality as it could be, and as poetical, as it could be done...=


But in another thread you mention Douglas Adams, he is both mass-produced and very good. What else do you like?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I like Adams very much - he is exactly my kind of a writer: humorous and thoughtful and paradoxical... Too bad he left us so early...
But I like all his works to different extents really.

I like... You know, when I was young, it had not been easy to get a book one wanted. My family was very poor, and there were no Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky in the bookstores, not to mention Dumas, Zolas etc. So I read what I could have found then. So I very much liked SF, which could be found back then in several technical magazines... Then - my aunt presented me all the books by Chekhov. Then - we were given a possibility to get books in exchange for so-and-so tens of kilograms of used paper, that we collected for recycling... Then - I started earn my own money and got access to English bookstores, then - our Russian publishers began to print books enough for everybody to read for hundred years...
So I like SF. Ursulla Le Guin, Heinlein, Azimov, Bradbury, of course our brothers Strugatsky, Stanislaw Lem - author of Solaris, and many others. I liked more "serious" things too - but I haven't read them enough...

Ouch, I have to leave now - see you soon.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Hi Kenny

Hello again Sergo.

I think you are right generally... As to Riga - I do not like Latvija getting more and more pro-fascist (at least one could get that impression from TV news from there - I hadn't been to Latvija for 20 years or so). I understand their feelings towards us - yes, it was quite bad that our fathers had annexed the Baltic states, but to praise German fascists as liberators of Latvija - that's too much... And their govermental attitude towards Russian nationals who happened to live there... I cannot find a proper name for it due to my poor knowledge of the language. The Russians who live there now cannot be held responsible for anything bad that had happened there once. And yet are held responsible and punished for what they hadn't done.

I cannot understand why this New Beautiful Europe had not pointed out that to do what Latvija does now is hardly better than what Russia had done 65 years ago.=

I first visited Riga in about 1998/99, I remember from talking to a local that, at that time, most Russians (those who settled after the war) did not have citizenship as this involved sitting an exam in Latvian and also cost an amount of money, I forget how much exactly, that was too much for an average person to afford. I believe that as a condition of EU qualification the fee had to be dropped from the process. However, I feel very strongly that this should have gone further and, as a condition of EU membership, all Russians should have been given automatic citizenship; as a situation where 20% of the population of a country are considered non-citizens is clearly ridiculous. In fact it would make sense to me that they have joint EU/Russian citizenship so they are free to travel in the EU and also to Russian where they may have family. This did not happen; but then just because this is the ‘New Beautiful Europe’ does not mean that mistakes are not made or that politicians do not make compromises and deals behind closed doors.
The issue of the Government passing a law to make the majority of school classes be taught in Latvian (even in Russian schools) is more difficult for me to decide on. I can see how Russians would want to learn in Russian, but also how if they do not learn Latvian then this divide will remain. But then it is a strange situation, at least for an Englishman, when such a large part of the population does not choose to speak the official language of the country!
I hope, and believe, that Latvia is not becoming more tolerant of fascism as you say. Of course there were the marches by former members of the Latvian SS, and I for one can not understand how they can show pride in this fact. But in a democracy they have a right to do so, however much it may turn our stomachs to see it. But I do not believe they represent anything more than an extreme nationalism amongst a minority of people who are easily led. To take a more concrete example, I have visited the ‘Museum of Latvian Occupation’ and that details the ‘hardships’ under BOTH German and Soviet occupation.
Oh, and for what it’s worth, for all the arguing and name calling that goes on between Latvian, Russian-Latvian and Russian politicians, I never once got the feeling that there is a problem between the ordinary Russians and Latvians I met in Riga.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

That's great. It is very interesting to know that our literature is so popular in the West. And what about an average reader? I imagine that there are not many more like you, who read more "serious Russian literature" than an average Russian?

I would say that most people here read only books written in English, unlike say Germany where I think about 25% are non-German. But of the non-English countries, Russia is generally regarded as having one of, if not the, best literary tradition. I would say that even the people who don’t read them know how great Tolstoy, Chekhov and Dostoyevsky are.

= As to Solaris... I am not sure, I've seen it very long ago, and as it noticeably differed from the original book, I remember not having liked it too much then. Sometimes I want to try it again... But failed so far.

And some of our films are very good indeed - "Moscow doesn't believe in tears", for example... I've shed my own tears over it once or twice... It is as close to reality as it could be, and as poetical, as it could be done...

Solaris is not for everyone, it is very slow paced, but I love it. You are right that it differs from the book, which is perhaps why Stanislaw Lem did not like it!

Yes, I like Adams very much - he is exactly my kind of a writer: humorous and thoughtful and paradoxical... Too bad he left us so early...
But I like all his works to different extents really.

Adams had a very British sense of humour, it runs through his books. I’m reminded of him more when I see certain comedy shows on TV than I am by other writers.

I like... You know, when I was young, it had not been easy to get a book one wanted. My family was very poor, and there were no Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky in the bookstores, not to mention Dumas, Zolas etc. So I read what I could have found then. So I very much liked SF, which could be found back then in several technical magazines... Then - my aunt presented me all the books by Chekhov. Then - we were given a possibility to get books in exchange for so-and-so tens of kilograms of used paper, that we collected for recycling... Then - I started earn my own money and got access to English bookstores, then - our Russian publishers began to print books enough for everybody to read for hundred years...
So I like SF. Ursulla Le Guin, Heinlein, Azimov, Bradbury, of course our brothers Strugatsky, Stanislaw Lem - author of Solaris, and many others. I liked more "serious" things too - but I haven't read them enough...

I’ve not read much SF, bits of LEM, F451 by Bradbury and ‘Roadside Picnic’ which I think was by the Strugatsky brothers.

 

[Sergo]

Hi

Hello again Sergo.

I first visited Riga in about 1998/99, I remember from talking to a local that, at that time, most Russians (those who settled after the war) did not have citizenship as this involved sitting an exam in Latvian and also cost an amount of money, I forget how much exactly, that was too much for an average person to afford. I believe that as a condition of EU qualification the fee had to be dropped from the process. However, I feel very strongly that this should have gone further and, as a condition of EU membership, all Russians should have been given automatic citizenship; as a situation where 20% of the population of a country are considered non-citizens is clearly ridiculous. In fact it would make sense to me that they have joint EU/Russian citizenship so they are free to travel in the EU and also to Russian where they may have family. This did not happen; but then just because this is the ‘New Beautiful Europe’ does not mean that mistakes are not made or that politicians do not make compromises and deals behind closed doors.
The issue of the Government passing a law to make the majority of school classes be taught in Latvian (even in Russian schools) is more difficult for me to decide on. I can see how Russians would want to learn in Russian, but also how if they do not learn Latvian then this divide will remain. But then it is a strange situation, at least for an Englishman, when such a large part of the population does not choose to speak the official language of the country!
I hope, and believe, that Latvia is not becoming more tolerant of fascism as you say. Of course there were the marches by former members of the Latvian SS, and I for one can not understand how they can show pride in this fact. But in a democracy they have a right to do so, however much it may turn our stomachs to see it. But I do not believe they represent anything more than an extreme nationalism amongst a minority of people who are easily led. To take a more concrete example, I have visited the ‘Museum of Latvian Occupation’ and that details the ‘hardships’ under BOTH German and Soviet occupation.
Oh, and for what it’s worth, for all the arguing and name calling that goes on between Latvian, Russian-Latvian and Russian politicians, I never once got the feeling that there is a problem between the ordinary Russians and Latvians I met in Riga.

You are quite right about Latvija.
As to Russians not wanting to learn Latvijan language... I do not think they do not. I think that is mostly their protest to being officially outcasts. When people are welcomed to fully enter the society they exist in - I think they will do so. (Though when I had been to London last year, expensive shops gave me the same impression as in United Arab Emirates - Eastern people and Eastern faces, even in bigger proportions even than in UAE. And that's OK, but I speak about it because quite many people living in UK choose to speak their native language, wear their national garments, live closely in some city parts. OK, they have the right to do so, and nobody seems even to think about that. But why should be Russians in Latvija denied this right to choose which language to speak? Why we even have to mention that? There could be two reasons - that Russians are some special evil race, towards which any quantity of caution is justified, and that it is natural for some Western countries to be less democratic than others.)

As to ordinary people... I used to spend much time in Lithuania. I liked it there very much. And most people were quite friendly there, especially after we had some chat together, had some beer etc. But some people, maybe five in a hundred, had openly showed their disgust at need to meddle with us. And as our saying says, "a spoon of tar spoils a barrel of honey", so one person calling you names because of your nationality can spoil your day spent with many friendly people.

The same is with Jews here - there were NEVER many people with antisemite ideas in Russia, but the fact that there are some - is the valid reason for millions to feel themselves not safe here, and to leave Russia.

So... I hope I explained my thoughts on Latvija...

 

[Sergo]

I would say that most people here read only books written in English, unlike say Germany where I think about 25% are non-German. But of the non-English countries, Russia is generally regarded as having one of, if not the, best literary tradition. I would say that even the people who don’t read them know how great Tolstoy, Chekhov and Dostoyevsky are.

= That's great to hear =

Solaris is not for everyone, it is very slow paced, but I love it. You are right that it differs from the book, which is perhaps why Stanislaw Lem did not like it!

= Yep, maybe I was too young then, and expected the film to give me exactly the same feelings as the book had been... =

Adams had a very British sense of humour, it runs through his books. I’m reminded of him more when I see certain comedy shows on TV than I am by other writers.

= Ha. Maybe. But I would say that Adams' sense of humor is quite universal - I like him very much, and so do some of my friends. =

I’ve not read much SF, bits of LEM, F451 by Bradbury and ‘Roadside Picnic’ which I think was by the Strugatsky brothers.

= By the way, Tarkovsky made his film "Stalker" upon "Roadside Picnic" idea... The film and the story differed too much to my liking again...