12 Comments

I'm an absolute legend ! I didn't know. Thanks so much, but it's always such a pleasure to read your insightful essays. They're among the most intellectually nurturing, really.

Expand full comment

you ARE! and thank you so much for reading x

Expand full comment

clara!!! i love your big brain omg this was the best post to read. i immediately put this on my tbr, so excited

Expand full comment

ahh thank you so so much elle!!! i hope you enjoy reading it as much as i did!

Expand full comment

Ooh this got my wheels turning in a really fun way - has 'nature as a democratizing force' shown up in other literature/places/times? How does the idea that the poor are inherently generous but passive continue to show up in wealthy imaginings of poverty? What connections can be made between Turgenev “observing” and our definitions of activism today? What does it mean to observe an oppressed community from the outside without substantial engagement - is that activism? Is that helpful? Is bearing witness enough?

Anyway, I enjoyed this change in your regularly scheduled programming :) Thanks for reminding me that I am still capable of semi-intellectual analytical thought and not just internet brain rot <3

Expand full comment

I’m so happy you said this because these were exactly the thoughts/questions I was grappling with while reading the stories and then writing this piece! It felt very relevant to today’s issues.

Expand full comment

What a delight to find an analysis of Russian lit on my feed. Wonderful essay—thank you for writing it!

Expand full comment

I want to be a Russian lit girl so bad 😭 maybe this will be what does it because you have intrigued me!!!

Expand full comment

it’s honestly a very rewarding genre i feel like they took themselves so seriously that it’s a delight to [over]analyze their writing

Expand full comment

That is actually such a good sell thank u

Expand full comment

I really enjoyed this Clara! And I’m adding this book to my tbr I’m so intrigued, and I wouldn’t have been if it wasn’t for your review!

Expand full comment

You’re a genius and I love you so much ❤️

Expand full comment