lingvisty_gedonisty

You know what is totally unfair? In the book, the feisty, fun, fierce Madeleine - portrayed by the oh-so-lovely Reese Witherspoon on the show - never cheats on her second husband, Ed. Yes, she is a lot, yes, she is loud, but fuck, she is loyal to her own to a T: her kids, her friends, her partner💔

Haven't seen it yet, but have read it, and it is just awesome💔

Can't wait!✨️

In awe of his writing as usual, and what a joy to compare the original version (Eng) with its translation🥰

P.S. The book feels like a dialogue with Nabokov about Gogol - and what better person to speak about literature with?)

Ok, this is not a drill, it is out! #biglittletruths

Loved my holiday, loved this book. We are now reading it at the club, will share it with you here🥰

Just a kind reminder💫

That's how we should choose books at my club!

Back to Japan and despite the heat it's awesome🥰

P.S. Love the existential question "I am donut?"🤣

It is one of those cities I still can't figure out. Ever growing, haphazard, stifling, fun, modern and old-school all at once. And what a role it played on a personal level – I could write a book🙈

Just came back from a ... therapeutic trip to Tashkent - my almost home a lifetime ago - and came up with this acrostic:

T - thinking
A - adventure
S - scared
H - heartbreak
K - knowledge
E - empty promises
N - new beginnings
T - truth

💙

P. S. And what a joy it was to finally go to Samarkand: more on that later)

When I grow up, I want to be "an enlightened amateur." 🤣 I am utterly engrossed in Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

In essence, Taleb argues that systems – whether bodies, economies, or societies – can be more than just robust; they can actually gain strength from disorder, volatility, and mistakes. He distinguishes between the fragile (what breaks under stress), the robust (what endures), and the antifragile (what improves from shocks). His core advice is to reduce exposure to predictable "noise" while building redundancy, optionality, and small-scale trial-and-error into your life. Some of the quotes:

"Noise is what you are supposed to ignore, signal what you need to heed."

"Daily news and sugar confuse our system in the same manner."

"What matters is the route taken, the order of events, not just the destination—what scientists call a path-dependent property."
"Provide for the worst; the best can take care of itself."

"If you dislike someone, leave him alone or eliminate him; don’t attack him verbally."

"Pure action, pure reflection."

P.S. Have put together a list of books for turbulent times, Antifragile being one of them, of course⬇️

https://i-gency.ru/kultura/5-knig-dlya-chteniya-v-turbulentnye-vremena/

It's been one of my favourite buildings in Moscow for quite a while, but for the past four years it has carried a very intimate, personal significance. It was at the doorstep of St. Andrew's Cathedral that I realised ever so clearly that I needed therapy. Me being me, I was spiralling down quietly (mostly), internally and yet had enough strength/common sense — whatever — to realise that it was rock bottom and that I, the ever-so-mighty, needed help. I look back on that day, remember the call that I made to a friend who knew better than most that 'just do it' wasn't enough. And I am so happy I went on this journey.

Facing yourself isn't pretty; forgiving yourself and taking responsibility isn't easy. It's more convenient to blame others for your misfortunes and pain (although I did have my share of betrayal and bullshit, thank you very much, fucking assholes 🤣).

But the best, most important lesson I took from therapy, meditation and other practices is that everything happens for a reason. And the unpleasant, ugly truth is that the reason is more often than not YOU. And it's ok, but after seeing the pattern(s) it's a choice — your choice — what to do next. My choice was to step up and do better, even when it hurt or scared me shitless.

What an incredible gift it's been, and it keeps on giving❤️

#icantdothisallonmyown #imnosuperman

"If you want to, you can." Amen😎

May in Moscow be like)

"She would be helpless and sheltered, as a lady should be, and then everyone would approve of her"

Rhett begged to differ🤣

"I’m going to be the greatest lady you ever saw!”
“I shall wait with interest,” he said.

Rereading 'Gone with the Wind' and it hits differently now. Three years ago I was scrambling to keep my own "Tara" standing, trying to provide for everyone who depended on me (the regal creatures in the pics among those).

Scarlett's ego and questionable choices? Not me. But her stamina under fire (literally sometimes), her raw determination - that I know and admire.

Back to basics) what a joy to work with my incredible colleague🥰 exam mode on😎

This is us😂😎

Happy Women's Day💞

Defender is not just a car model🤣 today we celebrate the brave, the confident, the resilient – those who don't shy away from a challenge, regardless of their gender. Our character is formed by a chisel, they say. Well, I'm grateful for those unbreakable, caring and thoughtful masterpieces that I'm lucky to call my friends. The true defenders, my superheroes❤️

P. S. Just love the moment in David’s heroic life Michelangelo chose to capture in his iconic statue: it was the moment David decided to step up.

This one was selected by Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss as a Belletrist book club pick. It was featured as their final book pick of 2025, and now it's our turn. Let's get cracking!