Do you know Leo Tolstoy?

"Have you seen any of my later writings?" Tolstoy inquired of a visitor who came to him as the admirer of "The Cossacks," of "War and Peace," of "Anna Karenina." The question referred to his religious writings. 


When he said no, Tolstoy could only exclaim, "Ah, then you do not know me at all. We must become acquainted." 


- from Ivan Panin's Lectures on Russian Literature.

Long distant, alas I return...

Such an enchanting little playlist that I'm running though; it begins with Sigur Ros, transitions to Explosions, and then The Album Leaf.

I'm 70 pages deep into Ivan Panin's "Lectures on Russian Literature," and he blows my mind. He's exhaustingly cerebral and thoroughly analytical, but its a fascinating piece.

This is a refreshing break from my typical readings - the literary escapade was prompted by an essay in the Times, "It's Not You, It's Your Books."