10 Amazing, Easy-to-Read Russian Books (For Foreigners)

10 Russian Books for Learners You Need to be Reading

All of you are most probably familiar with Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina”, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” and “Brothers Karamazov”.

But have you actually read them?

I assume – no.

These books are undoubtable treasures that contribute not only to Russia and the language, but global cultural legacy.

But let’s be honest though – these are lengthy and difficult to read novels that are no good for novice Russian learners.

So how about we provide you with some interesting but easier to comprehend Russian books?

Skip to whichever you wish using this quick-fire list…

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Lolita

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Tomato Juice

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Geographer Drank His Globe Away

Russian Books (For Beginners) || iPhuck 10

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Bad Weather

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Winter Road

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Kys

Russian Books (For Beginners) || June

Russian Books (For Beginners) || Jacob’s Ladder

Russian Books (For Beginners) || FAQs

Russian Books (for Beginners) | Lolita

A controversial literary work by Vladimir Nabokov (an American-Russian novelist) that won millions of fans and even more haters all over the world since it was first published in 1955.

Lolita tells a story of Humber Humbert, a middle-aged professor, who seduces a 12-year-old girl Dolores Haze, or “Lolita”. 

OK, perhaps not selling it but hear us out!

It would be a grand mistake to disregard this book because it tackles important topics such as obsession, manipulation, and abusive relationships.

Moreover, it is pretty easy to read and novice learners of Russian will find it comprehensible.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | Tomato Juice

Short but absolutely worth reading.

Tomato Juice is written by a modern writer named Alexander Tsypkin.

Tomato Juice, as well as most of his stories, has a form of a sketch narrated in the first person.

It gives the impression that Tsypkin’s daily life and personal anecdotes are narrated in the story.

Tomato Juice provides us with a short overview of narrator’s memories about his friend Senya’s grandmother Lidiya Lvovna – an 80-year-old wise, elegant, and cynic lady that greatly influenced both the narrator and his friend.

Tomato Juice is funny, but at the same time a sad story. It teaches us to value the moments spent with our family and close people.

Russian Books (for Beginners) | Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes

Book Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes is a captivating novel written by Guzel Yakhina.

It is set in the 1930s Soviet Union, and tells the story of a young Tatar woman named Zuleikha who was tragically dispossessed, as her husband was killed and she was sent to Siberia.

Along with hundreds of others, she went on a convict route with a group consisting of illiterate peasants, intellectuals from Leningrad, professors, traitors, and criminals.

In the remote taiga, people of different backgrounds were all thrown together without food or shelter.

Despite the difficult conditions, they managed to stay alive, build the village from scratch, and gain a new perspective on the world.

Zuleikha not only remained humane, but also found the courage to fight and even love.

This story gives its audience motivation and power to live and fight even when there is no tiny hint of hope left.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | Geographer Drank His Globe Away

This is a sophisticated but impossible to put down Russian book by Aleksey Pelevin about resilience in times when moral values are not in a great demand.

A masterpiece about complicated love, true friendship, and wandering of a soul, it tells us a story of Viktor Sluzhkin who works as a geography teacher in high school in Perm, Russian city on the banks of Kama River.

His students are troubled teenagers who constantly try to sabotage him.

On top of this his wife cheats on him with his old friend, and furthermore, he finds himself thinking about one of his students – Masha, a young and beautiful girl.

This difficulties bring Sluzhkin on life changing journey with his students that finally makes him understand his true self.

This novel is imbued with the smell of cigarette smoke, feeling of loneliness, love, hangover headachea, and many other familiar things that bring the audience closer to the author.

A great read and one we highly recommend.

Russian Books (for Beginners) | iPhuck 10

Viktor Pelevin’s novel “iPhuck 10” has been the source of much attention and debate.

It won the Andrei Bely Prize in the category of Prose for its aesthetic innovation in the literary world.

Set in the second half of the XXI century, the main character of the story is Porfiry Petrovich, an artificial intelligence designed to investigate and write about crimes.

When Mara, an art critic, hires Porfiry for her own research, a strange romance unfolds within a dystopian setting.

As is the case with much of Pelevin’s work, the philosophical reflections on topics such as AI, gender, and art are far more prominent than the actual events of the novel.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | Bad Weather

A novel by Aleksey Ivanov that was awarded the honour of being “Book of the Year 2016” and served as the source material for the eponymous movie series by MosKino.

This crime novel is set in the 1990s and is not like the typical detective stories, but rather an evocative, lifelike book.

It tells the story of former Afghan soldiers who have experienced gang violence and the emotional turmoil.

The story is both sad and frightening, yet it carries a pleasant nostalgia. Well worth a read.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | Winter Road

Leonid Yuzefovich is an illustrious Russian writer who composed a multitude of detective and historical novels that have been translated into different languages, such as German, Italian, Spanish, French and Polish.

His most recent piece of work, the documentary prose “Winter Road“, was met with two literary awards in 2016 – “Big Book” and “National Bestseller“.

This work is based on an obscure occurrence of the Civil War, namely the Yakut mutiny, a significant confrontation between the red anarchist Strod and the white general Pepelyaev.

Drawing on his credentials as a historical sciences candidate, Yuzefovich managed to recreate this momentous tragic episode of his country’s past with a great deal of accuracy.

Having utilized archival information, he was able to assemble a vivid and dramatic narrative that highlighted the characters and destinies of people of that era.

Russian Books (for Beginners) | Kys

In 2000 Tatiana Tolstaya wrote her only novel “Kys” which has become a huge success.

DID YOU KNOW || This book was the recipient of the “Triumph” award in 2011 and served as the basis for several stage plays and series.

It is an open-ended dystopian story that was inspired by the Chernobyl disaster.

Over the course of 14 years, Tolstaya created a vivid, detailed post-apocalyptic world in which 200 years after the explosion, the people of Moscow have yet to learn how to make fire but have already invented the wheel and have the ability to read and write.

They cling to the remnants of the former culture, not understanding its full meaning and interpreting it in their own way.

This book will be a great choice for fans of intellectual prose, but be prepared for the feeling of being left with unanswered questions.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | June

Dmitry Bykov’s book, released in 2018, earned him third place in the Big Book Award as well as a victory in the reader’s vote.

It focuses on the two years leading up to the Great Patriotic War, divided into three separate stories.

• The first tells of a clever student who was expelled from school after being denounced.
• The second is about a successful journalist who works with the security services.
• The third follows a writer who has some very peculiar ideas.

Despite the different tones of the stories, they all conclude on the day of the war’s outbreak.

The novel has mixed reviews, but the author’s use of language is sure to provide a pleasing aesthetic experience.

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Russian Books (for Beginners) | Jacob’s Ladder

Ulitskaya’s “Jacob’s Ladder” is an awe-inspiring, vast historical novel with elements of autobiography.

It was crafted with the help of her grandfather’s family archives, containing things like documents, letters, and journals.

The narrative focuses on two separate generations, Yakov Osetsky, born at the turn of the 19th century, and his granddaughter Nora, who only met him once.

By juxtaposing the stories of both characters, Ulitskaya paints a rich and multifaceted family saga that is sure to bring a sense of comfort and nostalgia to readers.

It also encourages to reflect on the history of own family, the characters in it, and the hopes of their forebears.

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So as you can see – there are plenty of other Russian books to get stuck into aside from the obvious!

Did we miss out any of your favourites? Are there some Russian books you want to see included in the list?

Drop us a comment below and we’ll keep this article updated with the most requested.

Happy reading… 📖

Russian Books (for Beginners) | FAQs

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