Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

 

I read Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin thirty years ago for the first time in college for a Russian literature course I'd enrolled. I have a BA in Russian language and taking a elective in the form of a Russian literature was part of earning my degree.

I wasn't a huge fan of this iconic Russian classic at the time. It wasn't that I disliked Eugene Onegin when I first read it. It's just that sometimes when you're required to read something for a college course, it isn't something that one ends up truly enjoying or appreciating at the time.

So, thirty years later I decided to give Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin another look with fresh eyes and a new perspective. Maybe, I thought to myself, I'd enjoy this novel more now than in my twenties.

What did I love about Eugene Onegin? It's entirely written in verse (aka poetry), which I found to be unique. Eugene Onegin covers the topics of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.

Alexander Pushkin is widely considered to be Russia's greatest writer and also the founder of modern Russian literature. I also learned from Google that Alexander Pushkin is often compared to William Shakespeare. Pushkin mastered multiple genres.

Although, I enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, I wouldn't say I loved this Russian classic novel. I'm not sure if it was due to the translation itself, as translating a novel in verse is difficult to do I would imagine. Or if it's simply due to the fact that a novel in verse isn't my thing.

Below is the summary for Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin from Chirp's website:

In this timeless Russian classic, the charismatic but aloof Eugene Onegin rejects love, friendship, and opportunity in favor of cynicism and self-isolation. When he returns to his rural estate, he crosses paths with the idealistic Tatyana, who falls deeply in love with him. But Onegin’s cold dismissal of her leads to a tragic sequence of events that changes all their lives. With sharp wit and vivid characters, Eugene Onegin is a rich exploration of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.

I am giving Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading! 

The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov, which is well narrated by Ben Allen.

I've been meaning to read more books written by Russian writer, Mikhail Bulgakov, for decades now. I first learned about Mikhail Bulgakov in college from my Russian language professor in the early 1990s. My professor absolutely loved Bulgakov's novel, The Master and Margarita. So, based on my professor's glowing review, I decided to read The Master and Margarita in the early 1990s. I absolutely loved this novel beyond words. The Master and Margarita is the only book I've ever read by Mikhail Bulgakov until now.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of when The Heart of a Dog was written. I figured the time was right for me to read this novella as my next choice for something to read that was written by Mikhail Bulgakov.

The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov is a political, satire set in Moscow after the Russian revolution has already occurred. There are a lot of references in this novella that flew over my head, so I was forced to do a lot of digging online to figure out some of the symbolism referenced throughout The Heart of a Dog. Doing the online research wasn't so bad, as it did add to my understanding of what the author was trying to convey.

As far as the storyline goes, it is fantastical as I'd imagined it would be considering the author. I enjoyed the storyline and interesting characters in The Heart of a Dog. 

Essentially, you have a professor who transplants the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man into a stray dog with consequences no one sees coming... The dog begins to transform into a human with a spectacular outcome and results that are less than positive.

These events portrayed in The Heart of a Dog seemed reminiscent of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley... You have a scientist playing 'God' (if you will) by trying to reanimate a dead body (Frankenstein) or in this case, transplanting human organs into dog's body (The Heart of a Dog). It all made for interesting reading.

If you are into Russian literature, classics, and political satire, then The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov may be your next read to devour.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov from Chirp's website:

A well-to-do professor working in Moscow strikes up an unlikely friendship with a stray dog and attempts a scientific first by transplanting the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man into the dog. With a wild, but alarmingly human animal on the loose, the professor’s previously respectable life becomes a nightmare beyond his imagination. A superb satirical novel, it is also a sharp and pointed criticism of Soviet society, especially the new rich that arose after the Bolshevik revolution.

I am giving The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

As a side note, The Heart of a Dog marks my 50th read of 2025. It looks like I'll meet and exceed my reading goal of reading 52 books this year much sooner than anticipated, which is always good news.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Why Should You Read The Master & Margarita?

 

I'm long overdue for a reread of The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. This Russian literature classic is the BEST!! I love The Master & Margarita and I hope the above video I discovered on YouTube makes you want to read this Russian classic!

Life Lessons From Russian Literature

I graduated with a BA in Russian and love Russian literature. So, I enjoyed reading an article found on the The Guardian's website titled, Happiness is a salty potato – and other life lessons from Russian literature by Viv Groskop.

Viv Groskop shares life lessons from ten different pieces of Russian literature. Ms. Groskop's article was entertaining reading for me and probably also a pleasant read for Russian literature lovers.