Before I left on my mission, I had begun reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. I never finished it. During college, I read his short story/novella called The Death of Ivan Ilych. I couldn't really remember either of these works, so I just finished reading Ivan. I get the point, Tolstoy, but it was so dry and pathetic. I want to have some emotion concerning the characters I read about. I was completely apathetic towards anyone in this story. I don't think I'm apathetic towards real people in real events, so I think there is just a bit missing from this "realist" portrayal of an ordinary man dying in a rather unremarkable way.
I haven't written you off, Tolstoy...I just need to try out your greater known works. I need to become friends with Anna or War and Peace. We'll see which one grabs my attention (probably Anna, since my sister is currently reading that selection).
In the meantime, I'm trying out an author I've never read or heard anything about. His plays are on the Honor's Book List, but not his short stories. Anton Chekhov is another Russian writer and I find in his story a lot more interest and excitement as I read. Currently I am midway through Chekhov's The Story of an Unknown Man and would rather like to put it on the Book Club list. However, like I said, he's a bit more unknown and I am afraid the availability is lacking. Ah, but I will enjoy him anyway!
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