名人書單：普京最愛的5本小說
"The Wine of Wisdom: The Life, Poetry and Philosophy of Omar Khayyam"
《杯酒智慧：莪默·伽亞謨的人生、詩歌和哲學》
Khayyám's poem is as well-known for its soul-searching beauty as for the fact that a mathematician wrote it. Explorations of life's temporary nature jogs elbows with alcohol, as the author strives to make sense of the call of religion versus the immediacy of death – and the folly of trying to find Paradise on earth.
正如人人都知道這詩歌出自數學家之手，同樣，莪默·伽亞謨的詩歌因其追尋靈魂之美而廣爲人知。對於生命轉瞬即逝的本質探尋引發了杯酒之歡，作者試圖理解宗教的召喚和突如其來的死亡間的關係，探究緣何人們愚笨地在地球上尋求天堂。
“The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas
亞歷山大·仲馬《三個火槍手》
There should be More book recommendations made on Dumas' masterpiece, than just for the worn-out Musketeers' quote on the magic blend of individuality and brotherly unity. There are enough quotable insults to sink a small Shakespearian ship, just between Athos and Aramis and Porthos, besides the wrangles they have with the young hothead D'Artagnan. There is villainy most foul, with Cardinal Richelieu trying to have young King Louis XIII assassinated. A host of minor characters, including the Musketeers' manservants, keep the dialogue lively, and the sinister blend of high-level politics and love keep everyone occupied.
《三個火槍手》將個人和兄弟情義魔法般地融爲一體，以往引經據典的書評至今已覺不新鮮，我們應當有更多書評推薦大仲馬這部大作。 且不談阿託斯、阿拉米斯、波託斯還有年輕莽撞的達達尼昂之間的糾葛，單摘錄三劍客之間的脣槍舌劍就足以打沉莎士比亞時代的一艘小船。惡貫滿盈的紅衣主教黎塞留，試圖刺殺年幼的國王路易十三。還有包括火槍手的男僕在內的一羣小角色，使得對話生動風趣；此外，正邪相混的高層政治和愛情讓每一個讀者全神貫注無暇分心。
“The Brothers Karamasov” by Dostoevsky
陀思妥耶夫斯基《卡拉馬佐夫兄弟》
This is one of the best allegorical novels to explain the fractured nature of 19th century Russia. Each character is representative of one of the ruling classes. There is the father Fyodor, the landowner who is negligent about his land, but greedy in using its produce for himself. There's Dmitri, who has been passed around from house to house, and has grown up an entitled but debt-ridden soul. There's the skeptic Ivan, who wishes to live more than people. Third is gentle Alyosha, the mystic and religious peacemaker, and the illegitimate Smerdyakov. Through out are themes of love, law, and duty, which makes this one of the best Dostoyesky books to read besides Crime and Punishment.
這是最好的寓言小說之一，闡述了19世紀俄國分崩離析的本質。每個角色都是統治階級的代表之一。父親費多爾是個疏於耕種的地主，卻貪婪地一心要把作物佔爲己用。德米特里，挨家挨戶遊蕩，長大成人雖有權利在握，卻心債累累。滿腹狐疑的伊凡，整日想着要比起別人活得更長。老三阿廖沙性格溫和，信仰宗教，是個和事佬；還有私生子麥爾佳科夫。貫穿全書的主題是情愛、法律和責任，這讓其成爲陀思妥耶夫斯基《罪與罰》之外最值得一讀的書籍。
“Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky
陀思妥耶夫斯基《罪與罰》
This is Dostoyevsky's second most famous work (besides Brothers Karamasov), and also centers around a crime and a court case. Roskolnikov, a student deeply in debt and intellectual and moral issues, has a mad desire to kill the pawnbroker who owns some of his valuables, in order to pay his landlady. There are plenty of family and social issues to be explored, including the link between prostitution and arranged family marriages, the downward spiral of madness, and the nature of poverty and charity.
這是陀思妥耶夫斯基（《卡拉馬佐夫兄弟》之外）第二大名著，圍繞罪行和法院訟案展開。拉斯柯爾尼科夫是個債臺高築的學生，深陷學識和道德問題的泥沼。他想付房租，而他的財物不少在當鋪老闆那裏，瘋狂之下，拉斯柯爾尼科夫動了殺機，欲殺害當鋪老闆。書中有許多家庭和社會問題有待剖析，如嫖娼和包辦婚姻之間的聯繫，不斷惡化的精神失常問題，及貧窮與慈善的本質。
“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
列夫·托爾斯泰《安娜·卡列尼娜》
More humanly centered than his other well-known work, War and Peace, Tolstoy makes it clear that life is far too complicated for easy handouts of mercy or judgment. The novel begins with a case of family brokenness and adultery. The contrast between Anna, who runs away with her lover Vronsky, and Lenin (who marries Vronsky's former romantic interest), is especially worth reading. As one falls, the other rises, seeming to imply that following one's heart is only as worthwhile as true morality is also followed.
比起另一部廣爲人知的作品《戰爭與和平》，這部作品更加以人爲本。托爾斯泰明言生活複雜，不能輕鬆施以同情、給予判斷。小說的開場是一個家庭的破裂和婚外情。安娜（與情人渥倫斯基私奔）與列文（娶了渥倫斯基先前的愛慕者）之間的反差最值得一讀。一方興起，一方衰落，似乎想要暗示只有遵從真正的道德時才能從心所欲。
