Posting has been light since the holidays have been keeping me busy. The family is coming to my house for Christmas Day, so I've been decorating and trying to figure out how to rearrange the living room for arrival of the tree. I hope your holiday plans are also progressing.

Doctor Zhivago continues and I'm starting to get into it. I finally have a grip on all the characters and am having some "aha" moments as I get drawn into the events of the October Revolution. It took a while before I figured out that Bolsheviks are communists and that Cossacks are fighting on both sides. Now that I know where the lines are drawn, it's much easier to understand some of the action. I still need to do some searching for more background on the Russian Revolution and Civil War, and maybe I'll post some links for everyone when I've done it.

I think it's hilarious how my list of preconceptions about Russian lit has been expanded, especially since everyone has been so dead on. The list now includes:

1. The aristocracy speaks French.
2. Male characters are stubborn and ruin the lives of everyone around them.
3. Female characters swoon and die young.
4. No one ever speaks their true feelings aloud, so misunderstandings and missed opportunities abound.
5. First and second names are usually the same.
6. Many streets, cities, or precincts are often mentioned using only a first letter; "He was from X_." [from Cynthia]
7. There is always something swirling: snow, dust, radiation, or blood (atomized by cannon fire). [from Jamie]
8. Vodka. [from Isabella]
9. Parties go on all night and are rich with music, drink, and drunks. [from Isabella and me]

I haven't encountered any evidence of #6 in Doctor Zhivago, but I totally buy it as a feature of older Russian novels. I've seen it from many classic British authors and have always assumed it was either incredible laziness or a kind way to not name real places. In any case, I'm having some fun searching for stereotypes.