My wonders in the Nobel Prize for Literature world brought me to east, Russia. The last Russian author I read was in high school.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 1958 was awarded to Boris Pasternak “for his important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition” reads the Nobel Prize Committee website.Boris Pasternak first accepted the award, but was later caused by the authorities of his country to decline the prize. First published in 1957 in Italy, this book appeared on Russian libraries shelfs only in 1987, being banned for twenty years by Russian authorities.

“Doctor Zhivago” is a plain emotionally demanding reading. Anxieties and worries for now and future, regrets of lost identity or fortune dominate the story. Moments of light and love are rare in that period of Russian turmoil at the beginning of 20th century. Even apparently characters appear corrupted by this dominant pain. It’s an insight into Russian spirit of a great nation, which akin to an eternally rebelling teenager makes the wrong choices times and times again.

You’ll require patience to read it. And a great deal of zen. I have none at this time. Will put it back on shelf for now and give it later another try.