John Sandford visited the St. Louis County Library last week to promote Silken Prey. I enjoy and appreciate hearing him speak, as well as to read his books. One of the questions the audience generally lobs at an author is, "Who do you like to read?"
Some of the authors, apparently, don't read for fun. One said, "I read up to fifty books researching one of my novels. I don't have time to read for fun." Another, "Reading novels of the same type I write is not fun. I can't help quibble over how the author said something or plotted the story." John Sandford, however, mentioned a couple of authors he reads, including Alan Furst. I picked up Night Soldiers on the recommendation. I am 10% into it, but I am hooked and impressed with what seems to be an authentic rendition of the slavic soul.
Another writer who captured the feel of Russia (I caught the briefest personal whiff of it in 1992 on a visit to Kiev and Moscow) is Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series.
Some of the authors, apparently, don't read for fun. One said, "I read up to fifty books researching one of my novels. I don't have time to read for fun." Another, "Reading novels of the same type I write is not fun. I can't help quibble over how the author said something or plotted the story." John Sandford, however, mentioned a couple of authors he reads, including Alan Furst. I picked up Night Soldiers on the recommendation. I am 10% into it, but I am hooked and impressed with what seems to be an authentic rendition of the slavic soul.
Another writer who captured the feel of Russia (I caught the briefest personal whiff of it in 1992 on a visit to Kiev and Moscow) is Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series.
If you are interested in a musical rendition of the Russian soul, try "Salvation is Created," by Tchesnokov. In the chorale, in my mind, the long suffering Russian peasant soul resides in the baritone notes, whose bare feet feel the soil, while the alto and soprano notes, cling to life in the same soul and reach for salvation and heaven.
Most of us have a soul.
Some music does too.
Good writing makes it three.
Thanks Mr. S. for the recommendation in the answer you gave.