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The Weight of the Soul
Choices and dilemmas in Russian literature
Introduction
Russian literature often comes up when members recommend books. Following our earlier discussion, A Fire on a Snowy Night, this week we might take the subject further.
From Dostoevsky’s self-questioning characters to Tolstoy’s figures caught between desire and morality, Russian literature repeatedly asks: when faced with a choice, what can the soul bear, and what is actually being weighed?
Faith and doubt in The Brothers Karamazov, and guilt and redemption in Crime and Punishment, make choice more than a plot device: it becomes an inward dilemma.
Bring a passage, question, or response on Friday. We can discuss difficult moments of choice in books and in our own lives.
Literature & Reading
Read the original article (Chinese) Original Event Information
Date and time: May 8, 2026 (Fri) 7:30 PM
Location: Sun County, 13407 NE 20th St suite 2, Bellevue
Topic: The Weight of the Soul—Choices and Dilemmas in Russian Literature
Format: seated group discussion
Capacity: 30 people, including ten speakers and twenty observers
— Schedule —
Arrival and seating
Opening and introductions for new participants: briefly share a recent book, film, program, or piece of music you enjoyed (3 minutes each).
Discussion: The Weight of the Soul—Choices and Dilemmas in Russian Literature
Each registered speaker recommends a related book or reflects on a question it raises (5–10 minutes each).
Group photo
— Registration —
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Please use the registration link above.
Registration order is determined by the link above.
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