Classical Russian literature is known to the whole world. The works of Pushkin, Chekhov, Dostoevsky are loved in many countries. Despite the fact that the names of modern writers are not widely known, their novels and works are popular among the modern reading part of the population, and they also receive prestigious Russian and international literary prizes.
Here is a list of the top 10 books by Russian authors: modern prose, popular for 2019. Subtle philosophical works that are interesting to read.
List
- 10. Ostromov, or Sorcerer's Apprentice, Dmitry Bykov
- 9. Bury me behind the baseboard, Pavel Sanaev
- 8. The heart of Parma, Alexey Ivanov
- 7. Three apples fell from the sky, Narine Abgaryan
- 6. Legends of Nevsky Prospect, Mikhail Weller
- 5. The case of Kukotsky, Lyudmila Ulitskaya
- 4. Sin, Zahar Prilepin
- 3. Finist - the clear falcon, Andrei Rubanov
- 2. Secret Views of Mount Fuji, Victor Pelevin
- 1. The scribe, Mikhail Shishkin
10. Ostromov, or Sorcerer's Apprentice, Dmitry Bykov
The plot of the novel “Ostromov, or Sorcerer's Apprentice”Lies the so-called“ Case of the Leningrad Freemasons ”1925-1926. However, it, as is often found in other works of the author, plays the role of only scenery for a complex narration of human destinies at a turning point in Russian history.
In fact, this book is about rapidly changing ideas about good and evil, about courage, which seems something insignificant. In addition, there are thoughts about whether our country is to survive something similar again.
9. Bury me behind the baseboard, Pavel Sanaev
“Bury Me Behind the Baseboard"- this is a piercing story of a nine-year-old boy, Sasha, who lives in a house with his grandparents. His mother lives together with her new husband, so the grandmother does not trust the upbringing of her grandson to her “dissolute” daughter. She practically hates her and her son-in-law, calling him a dwarf bloodsucker, and constantly turns her grandson against her.
Her wounding “love” for her grandson is nothing but the desire to get a humble, lively toy over which she can show her power in every way. This so-called care of the child helps her to revel in the feeling of her own importance and to be a martyr in her eyes, all the misfortunes of which are associated with the ingratitude of her relatives, including her husband and grandson.
This dramatic story is based on childhood memories of the author of the story. For a long time he was forced to live in the family of his grandfather - the famous Soviet actor Vsevolod Sanaev and his wife Lydia.
8. The heart of Parma, Alexey Ivanov
In the novel “Heart of parma”Describes the events that took place in the XV century from the Nativity of Christ, but here the chronology is carried out from the creation of the world. The principality of Moscow, becoming stronger, is eyeing the wealth of neighbors, near and far.
Russia is slowly but surely exploring the Urals. And there - not wild small populations, but real pagan principalities, an almost prehistoric taiga world, bizarre and terrible for strangers. Here they do not pray to Christ and the Virgin, in these places they worship cruel gods of fate.
Will Orthodoxy triumph over the thicket taiga? Will the representatives of the indigenous peoples become Russian? And will the Russians become local?
7. Three apples fell from the sky, Narine Abgaryan
“Three apples fell from the sky”- this is the story of a small village, lost high in the mountains, and its inhabitants. Each of the characters has its own oddities, while you can see the incredible treasures of the spirit.
The style and content of the novel can be compared with the work of Marquez, who won the Nobel Prize, “One Hundred Years of Solitude”.
6. Legends of Nevsky Prospect, Mikhail Weller
“Legends of Nevsky Prospect”- a collection of ironic stories about amazing characters and events that influenced the history of the northern capital.
The author describes in detail the everyday life of representatives of various professions: profiteers, military, sailors, prostitutes, ordinary citizens, officials and so on.
5. The case of Kukotsky, Lyudmila Ulitskaya
“Case of Kukotsky”- a novel describing the long life of the family of Professor Pavel Kukotsky, a scientist who did a lot to ensure that a law on the repeated legalization of abortion was adopted in the Soviet state. Against the background of the private experiences of the main characters, more global events related to the history of the USSR take place.
The work includes 4 parts. The first one tells the story of the life of the main characters: Kukotsky himself, his wife Elena, daughter Tatyana, taken under guardianship, as well as the former nun Vasilisa Gavrilovna, who has been living in this family for a long time.
The second part of the novel is Elena’s dream, immersing her borderline state between life and death. The third part describes the life of the family until Tanya’s death during the second birth. The fourth part tells of several episodes from the life of Elena, who lives in the family of Tamara, and Tanya’s daughter Zhenya.
4. Sin, Zahar Prilepin
Roman “Sin”Tells the story of the life of the author’s alter ego, introducing the reader to the rude, sometimes quite tough main character.
Prilepin portrays his Zakhar as a uniquely positive character whose outlook on life comes down to a clear separation of events and people into black and white, while the hero tries to remain on the “good side” even in the most difficult situation. He basically succeeds in this: in a whirlpool of various adventures, he shows himself from the very best side, putting all his strength to the aid of the afflicted.
Here Prilepin creates in a certain sense the ideal hero of our time: a simple guy, endowed with remarkable worldly ingenuity and rich experience, trying to make this world a better place, as far as possible.
3. Finist - the clear falcon, Andrei Rubanov
Roman “Finist - The Clear Falcon”Is written in the language of oral commotion. This story was never reflected by anyone in a written speech, since at the time when all this happened, the alphabet did not exist.
A girl named Marya went around the earth and went to the sky, trying to find her beloved - Finist, who was not a man. No one hoped that she would achieve her goal, but everyone helped her.
In those distant times, near the people of the Jews were ancient snakes, mawks, kikimors and other fabulous creatures. Three men were in love with Marya, not hoping for her reciprocal feelings. One of them - defended, the other showed the way to the ends of the earth, the third - brought to heaven. And Mary is driven by love, capable of moving the Earth off the axis ...
2. Secret Views of Mount Fuji, Victor Pelevin
Roman “Secret Views of Mount Fuji”Talks about a Russian businessman named Damian Ulitin and his startup Fuji experiences, which is a way to sell people happiness. The entrepreneur offers his clients to use the list of procedures, after which the long-lost joy of life will return to them.
Parallel to the main storyline, there is a description of how the girlfriend of the protagonist enters the New Hunters sect, basing her teachings on the so-called “esoteric feminism”.
1. The scribe, Mikhail Shishkin
“Scribe”Written in the style of love correspondence. The hero writes to his beloved from the front - he takes part in a joint campaign of the combined Russian, American, German, Japanese and French troops to Beijing to crush the Ihetuan uprising, which took place in 1900. The main character lives a great life, which is reflected in the letters to the beloved who died in the war.
Mikhail Shishkin is considered by many critics to be the finest stylist of contemporary intellectual Russian prose. He is able to write easily and naturally about the most difficult for man and the most important beautiful literary language, which seems to be worthy of poetry. At the center of the work, as always, is love, longer than life.