Books
automatic translateCharles Bukowski’s "Post Office" Summary
The text was written in just three weeks, immediately after the author’s final departure from the postal service to pursue professional writing. The book opens a series of works about the alter ego of a writer named Henry Chinaski.
"The poet must be deeply unhappy and even moderately crippled"
MOSCOW. Publishing house "New Literary Review" has released a collection of selected prose of the writer and photographer Boris Kudryakov.
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, summary
A family saga unfolds over half a century around the Clearys, New Zealand settlers who settled in the Australian outback. This book chronicles three generations of pastoralists, deprived of a simple life’s peace by pride and hidden passions.
"Truth is good, but happiness is better" by Alexander Ostrovsky, summary
"Truth Is Good, But Happiness Is Better" is a comedy play by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky, written in 1876The work vividly depicts the clash between the rigid patriarchal foundations of wealthy Moscow merchants and the sincere feelings of young people, where fate is decided not by fair calculation or honesty, but by a simple coincidence and the timely appearance of an old acquaintance.
"The Right of the Predator" by Anna Starobinets, summary
"The Right of the Predator" is the second book in the "Beastly Detective" series, published in 2019. It’s a detective story for children and adults, where animals live by laws almost painfully similar to those of humans: with their own police officers, prejudices, propaganda, and bureaucracy.
"The Right to Walk the Earth" by Arkady and Georgy Vainer, summary
This story was written by writers Arkady and Georgy Vainer in 1968. The text introduces the reader to the first high-profile cases of Inspector Stanislav Tikhonov and his supervisor, Vladimir Sharapov, depicting the difficult work of the police without unnecessary embellishment.
A summary of "A Holiday Dream - Before Lunch" by Alexander Ostrovsky
The comedy "A Holiday Dream—Before Dinner," written in 1857, is the first part of a trilogy about the adventures of the minor official BalzaminovThis book is a vivid satire illustrating the clash of two worlds: the pragmatic patriarchal merchant class and the bourgeoisie, whose representatives dream of easy enrichment through a profitable marriage, while being unwilling to put in any effort into honest work.
Vadim Panov’s "Primamashina," a summary
This fantasy novel was published in 2011. It is the first work in a multi-author project set in the Prime World universe, combining elements of steampunk and political detective fiction.
"The Limit" by Sergei Lukyanenko, summary
This book is a gripping science fiction novel, published in 2019 and 2020. The plot explores the nature of artificial intelligence and hidden aggression, where ancient supercivilizations secretly direct the evolution of younger races.
Kir Bulychev’s "The Predictor of the Past," a summary
In Kir Bulychev’s 1994 science fiction novella from the series about the adventures of Interpol agent Cora Horvat, the heroine encounters a series of mysterious murders on two different planetsThe first part of the story focuses on an investigation on the little-known Dilly, where Professor Gallieni falls victim to a crime, and Cora is temporarily dehumanized as a result of an assassination attempt.
A summary of Mikhail Zoshchenko’s "The Charms of Culture"
This collection of satirical short stories and novellas was created between 1921 and 1936. The work captures the transformation of everyday life, thinking, and morality during the Civil War, the New Economic Policy, and the construction of socialism.
"Putting Things in Order" by Gennady Bashkuev, summary
Published in 2015, this book brings together works by ten contemporary Russian-language authors. This collection of short fiction was compiled by writer Narine Abgaryan, who selected powerful stories about men’s perspectives on everyday life, childhood, military service, friendship, and loss.
A summary of Vladimir Nabokov’s "Invitation to a Beheading"
The novel was written in 1934. It recounts the final days of a prisoner awaiting execution for "epistemological abomination," that is, his opacity to those around him. The author himself later called this text his only prose poem.
"Come into My Dreams" by Tatyana Korsakova, summary
This dramatic mystical novel from 2016 combines historical detective fiction, Ural legends, and a family saga. The most important detail of this book is its inclusion in the extensive "Signs of Fate" series, where ancient magic intertwines with the destinies of people.
"The Prize" by Polina Dashkova, summary
This action-packed novel was written in 2003 and published in 2004. It’s a psychological detective story in which the political systems of the early 2000s, criminal intrigues, and neo-Nazi cults are intertwined with the historical memory of World War II crimes through the platinum ring of an SS doctor.