IGX

Looking for some good books set in Russia/Europe during the Cold War. Any recommendations appreciated.

Thanks!
Mickey

are you looking for non-fiction? or fiction?

if the latter, le carre is great. the smiley books are brilliant.

http://www.johnlecarre.com/books.php

Mickey, you're asking a pretty broad question. There are many books written on both sides of the Atlantic in this era, both fiction and nonfiction. What in particular is your interest?

Check out Stanislav Levchenko's book "On the Wrong Side". It's mostly about his time in Japan but I haven't read a better book about the KGB.

Plus you can get it for a penny on Amazon.

A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Gulag Archipelago, From Under the Rubble (actually anything by him)-- Solzhenitsyn
Heart of a Dog-- Bulgakov
Doctor Zhivago- Pasternak
Omon Ra- Pelevin
Darkness at Noon- Koestler

"The Aquarium" by Victor Suvarov, pen name for Vladimir Rezun. He's got others, his "Spetznaz" was a fun read and "the Liberators" is a fantastic inside look at the invasion of Czekoslovakia.

Mickey O'neil wrote:Looking for some good books set in Russia/Europe during the Cold War.

Nostalgia?

BTW "Omon Ra- Pelevin" not form times of cold war.
"Heart of a Dog-- Bulgakov" i read more than 1 time (but it also from other times).

Fat Cat wrote:Mickey, you're asking a pretty broad question. There are many books written on both sides of the Atlantic in this era, both fiction and nonfiction. What in particular is your interest?

I guess I have a broad interest. I would like some fiction books like the ones mentioned as well as some real life accounts. As far as the fiction goes something along the lines of adventure/spy/thriller. I have a good bit to start with here.

Thanks!

Mickey

Martin Cruz Smith's "Gorky Park" is a great place to start.

Shaf wrote:Martin Cruz Smith's "Gorky Park" is a great place to start.

Of course! I was thinking about this book a few weeks ago but forgot about it. Thanks, Shaf.

Wild Bill wrote:

Mickey O'neil wrote:Looking for some good books set in Russia/Europe during the Cold War.

Nostalgia?

BTW "Omon Ra- Pelevin" not form times of cold war.
"Heart of a Dog-- Bulgakov" i read more than 1 time (but it also from other times).

Bill, Oman Ra seemed to me like a good satire of the space race from the Soviet perspective, but I've never talked to any Russians about the book. What was your impression of it?

I don't like Pelevin's books. And don't like Omon Ra. For me Pelevin's books just glitches of druggy (i have low taste, i like westerns, sf, etc).
But many considered him as great author.

The definitive work on Stalin's purges, Robert Conquest's The Great Terror.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A966958260

Wild Bill wrote:I don't like Pelevin's books. And don't like Omon Ra. For me Pelevin's books just glitches of druggy (i have low taste, i like westerns, sf, etc).
But many considered him as great author.

Cool, thanks.

I kow 3 men who likes Pelevin, but they don't likes "Omon Ra", they says it one of his worst.

DEATHTURD wrote:A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

I strongly second this vote. With very few exceptions, I rarely re-read books. This is one of those exceptions.

steamboatwillie! wrote:The definitive work on Stalin's purges, Robert Conquest's The Great Terror.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A966958260

This is interesting, I'm reading the article about it now.

stosh wrote:

DEATHTURD wrote:A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

I strongly second this vote. With very few exceptions, I rarely re-read books. This is one of those exceptions.

I'm going to pick up Gorky Park this week and this looks good as well. Thanks.