novels Archive

“At the end of 1879,  the doctors examining Dostoyevsky discovered that he had a progressive lung disease. On the morning of February 28, Dostoevsky told his wife: ”I know I must die today!..”  At 20:38 of the same day...
Why gamble for money when you can win luxury? A Tale of Two Families From the trailer of the 2019 Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Parasite”, one can say it is a film simply about the rich versus poor. Upon...
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” –Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist Fun Facts: Translated into at least 67 languages since the year 2009 Coelho wrote the novel in just two weeks, claiming that...
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” -Louisa May Alcott, Little Women Fun Facts: Loosely based on the lives of author Louisa May Alcott and her three sisters. Alcott proceeded the novel...
“When we get to the end of the story, you will know more than you do now…” ―Hans Christian Andersen, “The Snow Queen” Fun Facts: One of Andersen’s longest (split into seven sections) and most highly praised children’s stories....
Some films inspire you to pick up books. Great adaptations leave you inspired or curious about the source material. Notes From The New World, filmmaker Vitaly Sumin’s retelling of the Fyodor Dostoevsky novel, is an easy way to get drawn...
Good morning, fellow readers. My blog this week will finally focus on the acclaimed film directed by Vitaly Sumin, Notes from the New World. This doesn’t mean it’s the last one I will write — actually the best is...
Award-winning filmmaker Vitaly Sumin keeps his influences close to his heart. While many filmmakers try to diminish (or outright deny) the books and movies which helped shape their art, Sumin has always proudly shared his enthusiasm and love for...
Fyodor Dostoyevsky and cinema have a long and complicated history. There have been dozens of adaptations of his work over the years with filmmakers trying to capture the unique sensibility that makes the Russian author so compelling. His rich...