Learn Russian

Within the last 10 years or so. I read enough classic Literature in my classes. Part of the reason I was asking about modern literature is that I want to keep in touch with Russian as it is currently spoken.

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olga-mukhortova.livejournal.com

"a decent grasp of the language" - what do you mean?
please, specify the year of studing, your linquistic background

may be you had better think of adopted literature?

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I've already made mention of this in another reply, but..

2 years in High school, 4 years in college, and a year of study in St. Petersburg.

I don't know if the kind of stuff I'm looking for is adapted. I'm looking for books that are relevant to modern Russians and use the language as it is currently spoken.

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If you want it, you're welcome to use it. I'd be obliged if you put my screenname in the keywords.

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Studying English I've read a lot of detective stories in Engligh because of their modern but not too complicated language, a lot of slang in dialogues, and modern culture and life situations.

So I'd suggest you to do the same. Unfortunately I don't read Russian detective stories and can't recommend any authors. :(

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I've taken Russian for 2 years in grade school and 4 years in university. I've also lived in St. Petersburg for a year. I'd like to think I have a solid grasp of Russian, but I want to find books that will keep me from losing what language I do know.

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I've been reading some of Tatiana Tolstaya's short stories, but a lot of the biting humor that she's so famous for goes way over my head unless it's explained to me five times by a native speaker.

That kind of humor is very difficult for foreigners to understand. I was hoping to find something funny and interesting, but doesn't rely so heavily on cultural innuendo.

Likewise, if anyone on this list could help me make sense of Tatiana Tolstaya, I'd be eternally grateful.

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Don't even try :) There's not so much sense anyway :) (I'm a native!)

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orloffm.livejournal.com

I think that Dontsova's detective stories for women are just what you are looking for.

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velocityb0y.livejournal.com

A related question: where can people in the U.S. find a good selection of books in Russian? Bookstores carry none that I can find (here in Florida, the only non-English books they carry are in Spanish), and amazon.ru has nothing to do with Amazon.com :-) Can anyone recommend a good online bookstore?

Thanks!

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commiegirl.livejournal.com

Kniga.com! :-)

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komov.livejournal.com

Я бы посоветовал Вам небольшие рассказы современного прозаика Дана Марковича. Даю Вам ссылку на его сайт "Перископ" (http://www.periscope.ru/). Обратите внимание там на сборники "Здравствуй, Муха!" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_1/pr4/proza/obldan.htm), "Мамзер" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_2/pr4/proza/fly/content1.htm) и "Цвела сакура" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_4/proza/sakura.htm).
Советую посмотреть также ЛивЖурнал (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=synthesizer)Михаила Бару (http://www.livejournal.com/users/synthesizer/). У него есть замечательные прозиаические миниатюры и переводы с английского небольших стихотворений хайку.
Посмотрите также прозу Александра Хургина (http://www.litera.ru/slova/khurgin/). Есть еще журнал петербургского прозаика (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=maccolit)Александра Житинского (http://www.livejournal.com/users/maccolit/). Он известен также, как издатель современной литературы, и часто анонсирует новые книги.

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I would love to remind that the working language of this community is English. It's OK to answer in Russian, BUT you are expected to provide an English translation as well. Most of those who Learn Russian here are on a very earle stage of their study, so it's simply polite!

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komov.livejournal.com

You are correct of course, sorry for my only in Russian answer. I put below my response in English.

I would like to propose You the little stories of modern Russian writer Dan Markovich. This is the link to him personnel site "Periscope" (http://www.periscope.ru/). Look at the collections "Zdravstvuy, Muha!" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_1/pr4/proza/obldan.htm) (Hello, fly!), "Mamzer" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_2/pr4/proza/fly/content1.htm) (Illegitimate), "Tsvela sakura" (http://www.periscope.ru/prs98_4/proza/sakura.htm) (The sakura was flowering).
I propose too the LiveJournal of (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=synthesiser)Michel Baru (http://www.livejournal.com/users/synthesiser/). He write wonderful prosaic miniatures and translate form English the little poems haiku.
Look also the prose of Alexander Hurgin (http://www.litera.ru/slova/khurgin/) and LJ of well-noun Petersburg's writer and editor of modern literature (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=maccolit)Alexander Zitinsky (http://www.livejournal.com/users/maccolit/), who frequently announce the new books.

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If you dig sci fi / fantasy, try Sergey Lukianenko (Сергей Лукьяненко) - he is relatively understandable AND quite modern. Try this (http://www.lib.ru/LUKXQN/lknkmpnt.txt) short story to try.

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Lukianenko must die! :O

:D Really, I wouldn't recommend the author. Maybe Oleg Divov or Lazarchuk, but definitely not Luka.

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The question was not about how good or bad the author is, but about how understandable for a non-native reader his texts are. This community is Learn Russian, not Sci Fi Critics Forum. And nobody must die only because somebody do not like his writing.

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And anyway I have no gun. :/

So, dear Lukianenko, live long and prosper! And forget about sci-fi.

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Lukianenko... That's a Ukrainian name, isn't it? Nevermind. I guess that's besides the point.

I'll be making a trek to Brighton beach in a few days to pick up some books and videos and things. I'll keep an eye out for him.

One of the many advantages if living in New York. :D

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His last name is Ukrainian but he is originally from Kazakhstan. Nevermind. With those Russians you never know ;)

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pgmatg.livejournal.com

The only thing I can think of that might be interesting is Perumov (www.perumov.com)'s books.
Also you might want to check out lib.ru modern favorites section

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It seems to me that it's not too easy to read about all these "мечи", "поножи", "магические свитки" etc. And besides you don't need such the words in modern life.

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pgmatg.livejournal.com

Current (Modern) Russian is a dumbed down version of what was commonly used version 15-20 years ago. And "меч" is as current a word as "пистолет".
And if you really want modern language read "Аргументы и факты" or some other newspaper:
http://www.geocities.com/rusatg/search.htm

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What words do you use and hear more often, "мобильник", "сидюк", "калаш" or "кинжал", "стремена", "шоры", "харчевня"?

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pgmatg.livejournal.com

First 3 are a part of a garbage jargon, learning those for someone who does not live in Russia is pointless, because it will disappear fairly soon or be replaced by something else, while the actual names will stay. And I do not hear or use those. Next 2 I do use and hear from others. As to the last 2, those are not as obsolete as you think, though more used in Ukraine.

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