Perelandra by C.S. Lewis My rating: 5 of 5 stars Whatever you might think of the quality of the currently popular fantasy …
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Russian Winter: Five Fascinating Folk Traditions
In last week's post, I explained why Russians prefer to get married in the beginning of winter, on October 1 (October 14 by …
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Why the Feast of the Protection is the Best Day for a Russian Wedding
What do you think is the best day for a wedding? Maybe late spring or summer, I would say. Good weather, good wedding, right? …
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The Plague of Swords – Don’t Miss It!!!
If you're anything like me, you're always looking for that amazing book that knocks your socks off. But the more your read, the …
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7 Obstacles for the Heroes of Slavic Mythology
I think many of you will agree with me when I say that one of the great joys in life is making up stories for your two-year-old …
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When Authors Don’t Fulfill Their Promises (Even with Dragons)
Have you ever read a book (with or without dragons) that begins with a promise that is almost impossible to fulfill, and (lo and …
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This was a war you won’t read about in history books
I’m getting to the end of my second novel, and the climax is going to be a real heart-breaker. I’m not going to spoil anything for …
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The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber My rating: 1 of 5 stars If you've ever read my reviews, you'll notice that I …
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Seven Typical Russian Gestures
Recently, a friend and I had a long overdue lunch. The food was good (Burmese), the company lively, and the conversation fruitful. …
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I accidentally discovered N.K. Jemisin about a year ago. It's …
Five Interesting Facts about Russian Ritual Lamentation
Yesterday, I had a remarkably fruitful writing session at the pool. No, I didn’t swim, but my kids' squeals of delight …
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7 Superhero Warriors from Slavic Mythology
Everywhere you look these days in the entertainment world, you see superheroes. And although we may (finally) be getting to a …
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The Tsar’s Menu: A Feast for the Whole World
The Tsar's Menu: A Feast for the Whole World Have you ever noticed how ambivalent people are about wealth? On the one …
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Looking Back and Looking Forward
You know when you have a great plan in place, when you plan your week, when you feel like you're finally going to be your best …
5 Unusual Codes of Behavior in Old Russia
I’ve had a wonderful few weeks, both in terms of work and rest. My kids are growing up fast and beautiful, my work is rewarding, …
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15 Russian expressions you’ve never heard of
I’m having a great time getting into the exciting bits of my new novel. Bear-riders have appeared, my main character is in the …
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8 things you’ve never heard about medieval Russian princes
Many people have an allergic reaction to the word "conventional." Or, worse yet, "traditional." They immediately sense the bonds …
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7 Things You’ve Never Heard about Russian Weddings
Recently, my darling wife and I celebrated our third anniversary. In the midst of writing long swathes of my second novel about …
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