tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post2001341471078606863..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. MassieKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-87373031572013460672013-06-17T09:44:45.198-04:002013-06-17T09:44:45.198-04:00As others have said, Nicolas and Alexandra is exce...As others have said, Nicolas and Alexandra is excellent. It's quite a page-turner, so when this one came out I knew I wanted to read it. Haven't yet, though.<br />As far as Russian lit goes, I'd say one of my favorites is Crime and Punishment.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408471966661831444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-32228473979258104032013-06-15T13:16:28.634-04:002013-06-15T13:16:28.634-04:00I just loved it and now I'm fascinated by Russ...I just loved it and now I'm fascinated by Russian history and novels. What other good nonfiction books have you read lately?Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-52748259265889099042013-06-15T10:57:16.673-04:002013-06-15T10:57:16.673-04:00You make it sound interesting. I myself enjoy read...You make it sound interesting. I myself enjoy reading biographies, last time I've read about Elizabeth I., and is on my shelf waiting The Churchills by Mary S. Lovell.TipiTopihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764209562765733216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-24802856124967010142013-06-14T17:02:11.352-04:002013-06-14T17:02:11.352-04:00I've only heard excellent things about this on...I've only heard excellent things about this one. I, too, am finding myself enjoying non-fiction immensely lately (which is a surprise!)nomadreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04795144320842413060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-43741496188496715382013-06-13T21:10:47.032-04:002013-06-13T21:10:47.032-04:00I did listen to this partially on audio and it was...I did listen to this partially on audio and it was excellent, the reader was very good (nice to have the proper pronunciation for all the Russian names!). I definitely want to read Nicholas and Alexandra, then probably the follow up he wrote about the Romanovs in the 1990s.<br /><br />And I did check out Dead Souls from the library! Several people have told me it's quite funny so I thought that would be a good introduction. I've read some of Chekhov's short stories as well. I liked them but I can't remember any of them, maybe I should try Pushkin.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-23459640602368514642013-06-13T21:07:30.506-04:002013-06-13T21:07:30.506-04:00Absolutely, Massie's a great storyteller and h...Absolutely, Massie's a great storyteller and he made the period very interesting. I'm usually much more interested in the 19th century but he really brought the story to life.<br /><br />I'm really impressed by how many great nonfiction books are available right now -- it it just me or has it gotten much better the past few years? I think the writing is so much better than before.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-12204470979531935182013-06-13T21:04:31.072-04:002013-06-13T21:04:31.072-04:00There was a section at the end about the French Re...There was a section at the end about the French Revolution which was occurring towards the end of Catherine's life, so now I'm really intrigued about this period. I've signed up to post some books on France for the July in Paris reading event, so Fraser's book will probably be one of them. Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-33540763559119809932013-06-13T21:03:10.632-04:002013-06-13T21:03:10.632-04:00This was a really easy read, hardly any of it was ...This was a really easy read, hardly any of it was dry political stuff at all. I now have an long list of biographies I want to read. I'm not a huge Woolf fan but her life sounds interesting so if you review that one it'll probably end up on my list as well.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-53266222600317117812013-06-13T18:03:03.858-04:002013-06-13T18:03:03.858-04:00I love Robert Massie although I haven't read t...I love Robert Massie although I haven't read this one yet. I'm tempted by the audio book as I've just listened to Jane Ridley's Bertie (Edward VII) & it was fantastic. Massie's Nicholas & Alexandra is one of my favourite books so I'd recommend that next. Peter the Great is another larger than life character, a big man with grand ideas, but N&A is a more domestic story in the midst of revolution & war. As to Russian fiction, I'd recommend Gogol's Dead Souls & Chekhov's short stories to start with. They're a bit smaller scale than Tolstoy so if Anna put you off, you might want to try something like those. Pushkin's short stories like The Queen of Spades, are also lovely.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-21070451112269167402013-06-13T15:42:13.760-04:002013-06-13T15:42:13.760-04:00Wasn't this great? I realized when I started ...Wasn't this great? I realized when I started reading it that I knew absolutely nothing about her except her name. I wasn't even sure of her era. It just proves that a great storyteller can capture your interest no matter what he/she is talking about. I read Massie's book on Nicholas and Alexandra years and years ago - but I remember it also being very good.Audreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14912114716426828436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-19663028084963527652013-06-13T14:12:50.437-04:002013-06-13T14:12:50.437-04:00You make this book sound so good! I have a copy o...You make this book sound so good! I have a copy on my kindle already, now I can't wait to get to it.<br />Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette book is excellent, it's one of my history favourites.Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-17210380156717054622013-06-13T13:47:46.663-04:002013-06-13T13:47:46.663-04:00Awesome! I really love biographies and now that I&...Awesome! I really love biographies and now that I've got so many books I want to read, I forget that I need to keep up with the bios. I have one of Catherine around here somewhere - not this one. And I own on Virginia Woolf that I seriously should dust off and begin SOON.Carehttp://bkclubcare.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com