READING

I've first read the book when I was studying Sociology and Psychology at the University in Moscow. It is one of the mind opening books that made an impact of my world view. Eric Berne analyses behavioristic patterns, reasons of decisions, how people act, play roles and put different masks on. Theories are supported with bright, interesting, relatable examples. It is one of the books I come back and refer to regularly. A pleasure to read.

Why do people have to come together and build societies? Why do people need systems, rules and laws to coexist? Why do people need leaders and why can't we just live freely and peacefully? What drives us and how does a social system emerge? In this book Thomas Hobbs answers these questions and goes further. This is another book, that helped me see the world around me from a new perspective. Being a student I enjoyed reading and discussing it.

Why do I like this book? For mysticism, abstractionism, surrealism apart from good writing and very engaging story. I generally like stories that are detached from reality. Everyday reality is banal, grey, often wise cruel, crude and I enjoy escaping it every now and then.

Nikolai Gogol is one of my favorite Russian novelists. To understand Dead Souls it is essential to know a bit about history and mentality of that time. The novel was part of my school program, but I still reread it once in a while. It is very interesting, how Gogol depicts certain aspects of human nature through his characters. Exquisite humor and writing stile.

Although I've read the novel before, it became more emotionally relatable to me after gambling for the first time in Bad Homburg, Germany. Dostoyevsky masterfully describes the specific atmosphere of a gambling house, - smells, emotions, hopes and despair. Fortunately I've never experienced losses of such magnitude, but every now and then, when I play Black Jack in Vegas, I keep remembering the novel.

I've read and enjoyed a lot of books by Heinlein. Starship Troopers to name one of the most popular ones and I've seen the movie too. However to me personally The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is something special. Such aspects as main character being a computer engineer, mysterious AI supercomputer and political tensions sparked my interest. The novel allowed me to read between the lines, gave me room for interpretations and stayed in my memory forever.

A true gem for Science Fiction fen. Enthralling series of novels about adventures of David Starr, the space ranger. I've spent numerous nights reading novels by Isaac Asimov and experiencing full spectrum of feelings.

Books by Edmond Hamilton are always a pleasure to read for me, however this novel is something special to me. The way author characterized human relationships, romance and love wrapped my heart with warmth. The novel made me think about mental differences between generations in regards to love and value of life.

An entire alternative reality, where vampires, werewolves and many other creatures of similar nature, are real. Nonetheless parallel dimension created by Laurell Hamilton doesn't feel completely alien, on the contrary, in many aspects it is very relatable. Glamorous, sometimes brutal, erotic, engaging noir.