I don't like fiction either, hence my selection. The Italian Renaissance Tales are fictional accounts but I'd like to read them for profound themes relating to the rapid social and political changes of the times above all.

 

Any 5-star reads?

Which part? My friend is also reading the Bible atm, he says the OT is a boring mess. I've heard that a lot.

no i hate books

I made a thread about it but 100% The Oligarchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia is 5/5. It starts by giving the reader a general overview of the USSR in the late 80s and its decay, and then it goes on to dedicate a chapter to each of the 7 featured Oligarchs' life in the USSR. The second half of the book discusses the 90s and all of the shady and reprehensible dealings by the Oligarchs. Klebnikov's Godfather of the Kremlin is another good read, although it focuses more on Berezovsky himself while still giving an overview of the situation in the 90s.

 

Remnick's Lenin's Tomb covers the fall of the USSR exclusively, and for better and worse, it is a type of gonzo journalism in the sense that the story is told through the author's experiences with Soviet citizens (which then are tied back to the general narrative of the decay that was ongoing). It was interesting to read of his experiences as he went just about everywhere in the Union. So it isn't just focused on Moscow, but there are a few chapters about his time in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and so on. Overall, it was fairly good but I would like something a bit more objective. Unfortunately, I haven't really been able to find anything that fits that criteria.

 

 

It's funny you mention it because I'm having trouble with the old testament as well. It's hard for me to really get into it. On the other hand, on Christmas I read through the Gospel of Matthew, and it really grabbed me. I know that I will enjoy the New Testament a lot more, but I feel as though I need to get through the OT in order to have the appropriate context.

That does sound good, I've been wanting to learn a little more about the oligarchs that isn't straight from some imageboard post or picture. Added it to my to-read shelf.

 

That's interesting, he said he was looking forward to that most too. I used to have an East African Orthodox friend who used to tell me lovely fables about Solomon and such. That's in the OT, isn't it? Can't be all that bad...

how could you hate books?

Currently reading the Unbearable Lightness of Being. So far I am finding similarities in characters and the narration to the book the Possibility of an Island.

I am also reading some random punk zine as well.

Weird book but I really enjoyed the book White Fever for a bit of a journalistic and almost sociological look over some different subgroups within post-soviet siberia.

I remember this book used to be really popular on /lit/ when it had some quality back in the day. It's good, isn't it? What do you think of it?

 

My update: I'm currently reading book 4 of Livy's History of Rome. I have a lot of other books laying around that I started recently but none kept my interest. This history is a bit dull as well and I hope it picks up when we get to more exciting dates in history (currently in 440 B.C.)

Last year read 7 books of varying difficulty.

Going to start off this year with some comfy Japanese reading. Unsurprisingly the founders of anime and manga can make relaxing stories.

I am quite liking it. The whole honest but a shit person narration (if you know what I mean) is kinda interesting. I almost feel a more honest portrayal of the average persons interior life.