The Stalin biography

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[Yvonne]

I've just finished reading the new Stalin biography. I thought it was quite difficult to follow which was which of his entourage - but it was very interesting as I hardly new anything about him.

Any good ideas for other good books about Stalin or Russia?

[Tormod]

Hey, tell us someting about what you learned from the book. Did he really kill 50 million people? How did he manage that?

[Yvonne]

 In my judgement he did kill all those people. I think of it as the greed for power that gets out of hand, an able manipulator and really no feeling for any other than his own need.

I guess that once you've done it (a crimial/evil deed) it's easier to do it again, and from there it gets worse and worse. It's also intriguing to read how he controlled everybody around him. Playing with them like a cat can play with a mouse. In trouble, safe, in trouble, safe... in trouble again??

Some of his closest workers actually were tortured, but when he needed them he got them out, and they started to work right away as if nothing had happened.. quite incredible.

I'm not much of a book reviewer - better check it out yourself.

[Tormod]

Yeah, well, I rarely read books that have more than 2000 pages. 

[Boerseun]

Won't it be easier if you just get up and walk down the passage, T? Or maybe if you guys converted one room into a shared study, you can talk about it... Or simply steal the book off her night table and read it! 

[Tormod]

LOL...that tome of a book has taken up too much space in our bedroom already. 

[Yvonne]

We have a shared study for the time being...

[Racoon]

Any good ideas for other good books about Stalin or Russia?

Do you mean specifically Non-Fiction history??

Because Fyodor Dostoevsky has written some good books.

I read a book about a guy being in a Gulag, but can't think of the Title off the top of my head...

[Racoon]

One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich. Very good book, Id recomend it highly. Solzhentisin, I think, not Dostoevesky.

Thats it Panj! A  Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Thanks!  It was a great book! (but sad  )
I didn't imply Dostoevesky wrote it. I know he didn't. I was having a mind fart. Solzhenitsan or however you spell his name did. 

Crime and Punishment is the Dostoevsky I was referring to. Which I hope you have read Panj.  You know..., Morality and Mental Disorders and all that!    It took me a little while to get through it. And I had to re-read several chapters...

Other good books I've read from Russian authors:
Notes from Underground - and White nights and Dreams of a Ridiculous Man - also Dostoyevsky. but short stories
&
Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol that Panj mentioned. (of course the title alone intrigued me to read it  )
&
The Death of Ivan llyich by Tolstoy.

Thats about it for me... But I have read tons of classics from Europe and United States

[Tormod]

Kafka! And Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is incredible. Okay, modern classics...

[Boerseun]

Modern classics? Does Catch-22 count? 

[Yvonne]

So many great books to read - and not enough time. I'll check out the books you've all mentioned. Thanks.

[Racoon]

Modern classics? Does Catch-22 count? 

Catch-22 is AWESOME!
I loved it... Pretty damned funny too. 

Modern Classic,  Yes!
If you are able to question your sanity, then that disqualifies you from being insane! Fly Another Mission! 

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