Dina Rubina, author of «Leonardo’s Handwriting», «White Dove», «Petrushka’s Syndrome» about her favorite literary heroes and books to which she returns again and again.
1. What are you reading now?
I have just finished a book by the wonderful Polish writer Marek Hlasko “Beautiful, twenty years old” (B.S.G.-Press, Foreign Literature, 2000). Magnificent humor, complete freedom of intonation, rather bitter attitude towards life.
2. A book that you regularly return to?
These are books by writers who, apparently, somehow resonate intonation with my inner world. Therefore, for example: Chekhov, not Dostoevsky; Nabokov, not Beckett; Brodsky, not…
3. A book that inspired you to be creative?
I started composing so early that I don’t remember who or what pushed me. But the full set of passionate teenage affections passed in due time. As well as youthful — later. Oddly enough, in adolescence, Chekhov’s letters were his favorite. I knew them by heart: “My friends are Tungus!..” and so on… It sets the tone and style great.
4. A book that made you laugh to tears?
Well, it’s not difficult, I’m generally funny and I really appreciate humor, and I’m not a fool to joke myself. At various times, Ilf and Petrov made me laugh, and some passages from Dovlatov, the other day I laughed at a few phrases from Marek Hlasko — he has a very subtle, caustic Polish humor.
5. A book that helped you through hard times?
I’m afraid you’ll be surprised. The fact is that I always go through difficult times very hard, I can’t work, I’m not able to distract myself from thoughts and topics. Oddly enough, the hard times for me are connected with reading, or rather, swallowing detective stories. True, good detectives — to forget.
6. A hero who is close to you?
No, I am not able to isolate and clearly name this and that. At different moments of my life, I have been in love with various literary heroes, including the heroes of my own books — for me, these are absolutely living people. If we talk about today, then, perhaps, like this: I very often return to the collection of essays by Joseph Brodsky. When I read «Embankment of the Incurable», my heart shrinks from love and absolute understanding of every intonation of the author’s «I». Should the author’s «I» be considered a hero? This is a question.