Hi All!
Here is the recording of today’s Zoom Call Launch of Tolstoy’s Resurrection. For reference, we are reading this together/alone until March 27, 2026. *Our next call will be on that day at 1pm EST.
The link is always HERE.
The Summary of today’s Zoom Call:
Resurrection is not a sprint—it’s an experience. Read slowly. Exploration and questions are part of it.
This book is…
A courtroom drama
A moral awakening
A critique of the justice system, punishment, and social hypocrisy
Tolstoy’s own confrontation with guilt, responsibility, and change
Guiding questions for us all quarter:
Who is more dangerous: a cruel person or an indifferent one?
What does it actually mean to be responsible—for another person, for a system, for your past?
Can redemption happen without public consequences?”
A Very Brief Russian Literature Primer
Russian novels tend to obsess over:
Conscience and guilt
Moral self‑deception
Social roles and hypocrisy
The gap between who we think we are and what we do
Please note: Tolstoy wrote Resurrection late in life, after becoming deeply critical of the Church, the legal system, prisons, and punishment (in general)
Russian Names (So You Don’t Panic)
Most characters have three names: First name (given name), Patronymic (father’s name), and a Last name (family name)
Example:
Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhlyudov (Neck-clue-doff)
Dmitri = first name
Ivanovich = “son of Ivan”
Nekhlyudov = last name
Why this matters:
First name + patronymic = formality or respect (used in the courtroom, etc.)
First name alone = intimacy, familiarity, or power imbalance (used in flashbacks or family settings)
Keep an eye out for nicknames/diminutives! This is Tolstoy signaling a change in how we relate to the character. If Dimtri becomes Mitinka, pay attention. Oftentimes names are shared with relation to who is speaking about the character or addressing them. Like grandparents calling their grandson “my little Mitinka” instead of Dmitry.
A Final Blessing—
You don’t need to read fast. You don’t need to understand everything. Just go with it. ;)
Reading along? Reply ‘book club’ or email me to be included in future updates.
