Saiana Ochirova Shares Her Favorite Artist

The Chonnam Tribune features this section to share the voices of foreign students at Chonnam National University. For this issue, we interviewed three students about artists in their countries. This gives us the opportunity to share the voices of and learn from those who have experienced things that many of us have not. – Ed

Can you tell me which novelist is gaining attention in Russian literature?
Classical writers remain popular in Russia, no matter how much times change. My favorite author is Leo Tolstoy, best known for his novel “War and Peace” and “Resurrection.” The reason is because when I first read this author Leo Tolstoy’s work, I found it was interesting and difficult at the time. Another author is Lyudmila Ulitskaya, who described family life and social issues insightfully.

What did you find most impressive about her works?
Lyudmila Ulitskaya explores Russian family dynamics, social issues, and the experiences of ordinary people in her novels, including “The Funeral Party: A Novel” and “Medea and Her Children.” I was impressed by her ability to examine moral and social themes, such as love and death, good and evil. Her characters feel real, and their struggles make the stories deeply relatable.

How has the general public reacted to these novelists’ works?
A lot of people in Russia really like these novelists. As I mentioned earlier, their works have received positive responses because they help readers reflect on and improve their lives and experiences. That’ s why I think they receive attention. Their books are studied in schools, which shows how respected they are in Russia.

By Kang Min-ji, Reporter