(no subject)

[oikade.livejournal.com]

Hay :)

I have several grammar books, dictionaries, phrasebooks - for learning Russian. But it would really help me to have simple stories to work with since I pick things up better though reading rather than brute memorization (surprise that!). I do have some stories to translate but they are too advanced for me to understand at this time.

I'm curious about children's books instead. I'm thinking of things like I read when I was learning to read English. Books that are fairly self-explanatory with lines like "Jane has a cat. Jane holds the cat." You know?

Can anyone recommend me books like this?
Does anyone perhaps have old children's books like this? - I'd be happy to purchase them from you.

spasibo :)

Russian question...

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

My little brother's friend's father got something that I would best describe as a "messenger's bag" (you see them on bike messengers in old movies), and it had Russian on the inside. I couldn't understand it, and I suppose some of it is abbreviated:

ШТК (ИМ. or НМ., I wasn't sure which) К. МАРКСА
ОТК - 30. 11. 1978г

I guessed that 1978г was "1978 год..." any help here is appreciated.

Quick translation question:

[philena.livejournal.com]

For my homework, I must answer the following question: Почему Саид хотел во что бы то ни стало найти Джевдета, который его закопал? The problem is that I have no idea what this question is asking. Any help would be very welcome. Thanks!

A question about a document on the Razin Rebellion...

[quem98.livejournal.com]

I'm reading a document written by two Chuvash leaders (I think) who are writing to the Tsar to ask for help since Razin and his retinue have lay siege to the city and have taken to pillaging, setting things on fire and all that fun stuff. But I have come across two sentances that I can't make sense of. It's written in old Russian, and modern Russian is challenging enough.

А женишка наши и детишка они, воры, Цивильского уезду чуваша Алгильдка с товарищи, с ворами, держат у них. И выехать нам, сиротам твоим, от них, воров, из города никуда не сметь, и терпим мы, сироти твои, в Цивильску в осаде нужу большую.

I understand that сироты твои is just an adress to the tsar, something to the effect of "your humble servants"
Also Вор means criminal and not just theif.

As far as I understand, these criminals (rebels, whatever) are holding the women and children hostage? And there is no where for them to run and now they are waiting out the siege, but are in dire straits (in great need). Am I reading that right? Am I missing anything? The grammar is wierd especially that first sentence..

Any help would be very much appreciated.