Tag Archives: Stalin

Today In History: November 7, 1917

Posted on November 7, 2008 by sheila

One of the most seismic events of the 20th century: The Russian Revolution. Look at that gathering of rogues. I love the grainy old photographs of all of them – they always look so twinkly and jolly, don’t they? It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in On This Day | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

R.I.P. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Posted on August 4, 2008 by sheila

It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between … Continue reading →

Posted in RIP | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Master and Margarita As Graphic Novel

Posted on July 16, 2008 by sheila

Fantastic idea – and take a glimpse at the artwork by Andrzej Klimowski. WOW. Beautiful! Here’s my favorite image from that slideshow. Just looking at it gives me the creeps, remembering that awful cat in the book and how much … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Books: “Children of the Arbat” (Anatoli Rybakov)

Posted on June 10, 2008 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: The Children of the Arbat, by Anatoli Rybakov To a Stalin addict like myself, this book was a pile of crack. A PILE!! Written over the course of almost 20 years, and repressed in Russia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

The Books: “1984″ (George Orwell)

Posted on April 27, 2008 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: 1984, by George Orwell. I covered much of my thoughts about this book in my post yesterday about Animal Farm. A bit more about Orwell the man (there’s so much there): Orwell himself wrote about … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Books: “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story” (George Orwell)

Posted on April 26, 2008 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: Animal Farm: Anniversary Edition, by George Orwell. Nothing like starting off the weekend with a little Orwell. And I am of the mind that we should never forget Why Orwell Matters … to borrow a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

“I Told You So, You Fucking Fools”

Posted on February 26, 2008 by sheila

or … that’s what Kingsley Amis reportedly told Robert Conquest should be the title of the new edition of The Great Terror: A Reassessment when it came out with updated information – information which basically not only vindicated Conquest (who … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Books: “Darkness at Noon” (Arthur Koestler)

Posted on February 3, 2008 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler Darkness at Noon is one of the most important books of the 20th century. The book is, as the New Statesman aptly described it: “One of the few books … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Special Ops Is Glad …

Posted on January 11, 2008 by sheila

… that it is raining. … that this week is almost over. Enough, already. (Except for Avenue Q. Special Ops is tremendously grateful for having escaped a bit into the wonderful Avenue Q) Special Ops feels that the week she … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Theatre | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Special Ops Goes To Bed With Stalin

Posted on January 9, 2008 by sheila

Last night Special Ops fell asleep holding her biography of Stalin open in her hand, with her pen poised over the page. Special Ops woke up at 3 a.m. and found herself in this odd statue-esque pose, as though at … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Personal | Tagged , | 8 Comments