What do the writers themselves read? What authors, plots and characters make a particularly strong impression on them? Every month, famous writers answer questions from Psychologies.
1 What are you reading now?
«Adamov Bridge» by Sergei Solovyov («New World», No. 4, 2008). An amazing book that blurs the line between prose and poetry. Perhaps in the future this will be the art of the word.
2 What book did you read that made the strongest impression on you?
Re-read Alexander Goldstein. You can take any book from this brilliant author and open it on any page. His words radiate such power of joyful being! I don’t know if Alexander believed in the resurrection, but what he does in his books is the resurrection of himself with a word — himself and his joy from life. Probably, there is no other way to resurrect, to return.
3 A book you turn to when times are tough?
I always have «War and Peace» at hand for this. It is completely unclear where undertook. From Stendhal? From The Captain’s Daughter? Fell from the Russian sky? The freshness of Tolstoy’s prose is striking. You read the authors of the past and feel time in its purest form, its quintessence. After all, nothing remains of their era, except for stones and dust in the museum, and their words, written then, became for us that time. And when you read Tolstoy, you forget about the time, you read to yourself. After all, the reader always wants to read a book about himself.
4 What do you expect from books — entertainment, recognition, understanding?
I was waiting for a revelation. But over the years, you understand: only one revelation is possible — but everyone takes this last and main revelation with them and will not share it with any of the rest. And now from the book I expect the author to share his happiness with me, wise or stupid, it doesn’t matter. Although happy novels are not written.
5 Which of the now deceased authors would you like to meet in person?
Theoretically, in an already fully conscious state, I could meet Nabokov. But even then — if such an opportunity arose — I would have refused. I have already received everything in his books from meeting him. And what to talk about at breakfast in the hotel — about the weather? Or about fees? Nabokov himself taught to be afraid of platitudes. Or, for example, why meet with Tolstoy? He just taught me not to be afraid of platitudes, but I have no doubt that the most disgusting type was for communication. I would start teaching. Don’t eat it, don’t do it! And what, reverently kiss the great old man on the shoulder? I’ll manage. It is better to communicate with him for real, in his books.