The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessons from Russian Literature

I've read a couple of previous books by this author and have listened to many of her podcasts. I think she is interesting, intelligent and empathetic to her topics. I've also dabbled superficially in Russian literature and will go back to it as time allows. This book popped by as a suggestion when I was looking for something else and it sounded interesting."Classic - a book which people praise but don't read" - a Mark Twain quote starts the book in an amusing way.The author has chosen 11 pieces of Russian Iiterature which she tells us about, touching on her link to the piece and, along the way, also telling us about her obsession with Russia.I found that there was a lot that I could learn from this book and it expanded my very little knowledge of Russian Literature.Viv Groskop is writing about a subject she knows well and that she clearly loves a lot. It's a delight to read about the authors and their work with the most fascinating part being finding more about VG herself with each chapter gradually unfolding her interest.The language used makes the book very accessible, even making me want to read some of the classics discussed. VG is enthusiastic and that is contagious. I did feel slightly guilty as I was gaining knowledge of the books without actually reading them but that's research isn't it. Whilst reading I spent a lot of time on Wikipedia giving me more information about the authors which is always a good thing.Some of the authors I'd heard of and others I hadn't but it was great to find out more about them all. After six or so they did start to merge a little but my interest was held by the authors personal story. The chapters were structured in a similar way which became formulaic but this didn't retract too much.The references to her ancestors were very touching and I loved that the process of researching the Russian connection seems to make her very grounded.

Excellent. Her love of the Russian classics shines from the pages, and its difficult not to be inspired to go and read (or re-read) them! Very interesting, not to forget humorous, backgrounds and insights into the texts, the authors and their peccadillos. At times the autobiographical thread is a little less interesting and/or relevant, but as an exercise in highlighting the major/underlying themes of the novels and applying them tin a Universal way to everyday life, it is very successful, and highly readable . Or, as i've heard it said, "We all came out of Gogol's overcoat""

Bittersweet, hilarious, self-deprecating, insightful, warm, witty and glorious. A romp through Russia with ill-filling Levi's, prized eyeshadow and the joie de vivre of a young woman on a mission. I laughed, I cried and I remembered why I named my daughter Anna. Thank you, Viv, for a travelogue with a difference. This would be a perfect gift for anyone with a love of the classics of Russian literature - and of the country itself.

I worried that I would need to have read a lot of Russian literature to enjoy this book but that wasn't the case at all - it is a warm and witty book. Viv Groskop wears her knowledge very lightly and weaves tales from her time in Russia into chapters on unrequited love, the feeling of always being in the wrong place and accepting who you are. I particularly loved the story of the hedgehog trainer.Buy this as a proper hardback book - it is beautifully produced with a gorgeous cover.

I absolutely adore this book. It charts the author's relationship with Russian language and culture, weaving in her memoirs with classic Russian literature. She writes so beautifully, the book reads like a dream: part funny confessional, part erudite literary analysis. There's also a generous helping of fascinating biographical details about the authors of said Russian classics. The author draws you in with her humour and intelligence. Her wry but compassionate take on the Russian authors and their characters presents us with lessons for living that are human and life-affirming. As I got towards the end of the book, I found myself missing it in anticipation and had to order War and Peace and Anna Karenina. I thoroughly recommend this book!