Egor Mikhailov's Favorite Books: Insights from the Literary Critic and Editor of Afisha Daily

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Egor Mikhailov

A literary critic, editor of the “Brain” section at Afisha Daily, and author of the Telegram channel “Literature and Life.”

1. Do you have a favorite author? Which of their books would you recommend?

The more you read, the harder it becomes to choose a favorite author—sometimes it feels impossible.

Here's a spontaneous list:

• Michael Chabon – his "The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" has recently been released in an excellent new translation;
• Celeste Ng – read either of her two novels ("Everything I Never Told You," "Little Fires Everywhere");
• Alexey Salnikov – "The Petrovs in and Around the Flu," followed by "The Department," with a new novel soon to be published (already featured in the "Volga" magazine);
• Linor Goralik – read everything, but especially her poetry;
• Neil Gaiman – "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" and "American Gods";
• Leonid Yuzefovich – "Winter Road" is the most poetic historical book I know;
• Ilf and Petrov – their status as comedians often overshadows their deserving place alongside Bulgakov;
• Jeff Lemire – "Trillium," an inventive romantic science fiction novel;
• Philip K. Dick – any novel or short story collection, you can't go wrong.

Ask me again in a month, and this list will likely be completely different.

2. Which childhood book holds your warmest memories?

My favorite childhood book was "Winnie-the-Pooh." I don't know why, but I reread that worn green book at least once every couple of years up through high school. Also, I had an academic edition of Carroll's "Alice" borrowed from an "adult" library, filled with more footnotes and annotations than the text itself, which probably sparked my irrational love for footnotes.

Additionally, I loved the thick volume of Lindgren's works (especially "The Adventures of Emil of Lönneberga") and "The Little Ghost" by Proysler, which brightened many sick days spent in bed. I could go on listing if not stopped.

3. Which book do you often reread with pleasure?

Given my work, rereading is a luxury since time is limited. I always joyfully reread "Alice," and this year was a perfect occasion thanks to a new translation by Evgeny Klyuev.

I used to reread (and listen to, thanks to an excellent audiobook narrated by Yarmolnik) "Hard to Be a God" multiple times. With the release of Murakami's new novel, I hope to revisit several of his works—he never disappoints.

4. Have you ever been so captivated by a book that you couldn't put it down until finishing it?

My binge reading sessions usually happen during long trips or flights: lots of time, nowhere to go, no internet—ideal conditions for reading. This summer, on a flight, I devoured "Kalechina-Malechina" by Evgenia Nekrasova (a pure Russian "Carrie"—don't miss it), and last spring on a train, I read "Look at Him" by Anna Starobinets.

It was a night train from Novosibirsk to Krasnoyarsk, and I honestly wanted to sleep through the journey but after dozing off for about an hour, I kept waking up to continue reading. This is an important, deeply personal book, crafted with journalistic precision and written in a wonderfully literary style—such a combination is rare.

5. Is there a book everyone must read?

There is no such book. Moreover, I believe one can be a remarkable person without reading any books, and conversely, one can read the entire school curriculum and grow up to be a gloomy villain.

This might sound odd coming from someone in my profession, but I don't see it as a paradox: reading is not a tedious obligation but a wonderful opportunity. It shouldn't be turned into a chore.

6. Which book has been most helpful professionally?

Books that are well and simply written help me the most: they don’t teach directly but can teach a lot if your livelihood depends on crafting words into sentences. These include Vladimir Guriev's "A Very Simple Discovery," Alexander Garros's "The Untranslatable Wordplay," essays by Andrey Astvatsaturov, and Leonid Yuzefovich's documentary prose.

Among more "professional" books, I’d pick "Author, Scissors, Paper." It’s a rather chaotic work, more a disorganized and slightly dusty warehouse of techniques than a textbook, but it’s full of treasures if you dig deep.

7. Which recent fiction book left a lasting impression on you? Why?

I recommend "Opens Inward" by Ksenia Buksha to everyone—a novel in stories about dozens of people facing difficult lives. Even if you’ve read Buksha’s earlier works and didn’t like them, give this new book a chance: it’s truly a significant event that somehow went relatively unnoticed.

8. Which great book did you read on someone else's recommendation?

Fortunately, I’m surrounded by many well-read people with excellent taste, so I discover a significant number of books through recommendations from critics, publishers, and friends.

Probably the best example is "The Petrovs in and Around the Flu." It’s the best Russian novel of recent years, first recommended by Lena Makeenko, then Galina Yuzefovich, and now I recommend it to everyone (though by now, it seems everyone has heard of it).

9. What format do you prefer: paper, electronic, or audiobooks?

I love paper books not only for sentimental reasons but also because certain books are especially beautiful in print; book publishing is an art form in itself.

I also appreciate audiobooks, especially autobiographies read by the authors. Among my all-time favorites are Amy Poehler's "Yes, Please" and Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime," recently translated into Russian. But most often, I read on a tablet or laptop—partly because it’s the professional standard, partly because it allows carrying a substantial library, and partly because it’s much easier to work with notes this way.

10. Do you use special apps for reading?

I mostly work with PDFs, and for that, Adobe Acrobat Reader is the best free option I’ve found. For other formats, I use PocketBook Reader on my tablet.

11. How do you manage large volumes of literature? Do you use speed reading techniques?

Speed reading does more harm than good in my work: rushing through fiction at supersonic speed means you might only grasp the plot at best, or miss important details at worst. Details, language, rhythm, and the translator’s work all get lost. It’s like watching a movie or listening to music on fast-forward—you can, but why?

For those who want to read a lot, I offer three tips:

• Accept that it takes time; you may have to choose between a lengthy novel and a TV series season.
• Learn to manage your attention—the biggest enemy of reading isn’t slow reading but Facebook notifications.
• Don’t hesitate to abandon books that don’t engage you. Forced reading is what turns many students away from literature.

Read with enjoyment, and you won’t have to struggle to find time for this pleasure.

12. How do you retain what you’ve read? Do you take notes, jot down quotes, or rely on memory?

My memory isn’t great; I’m no walking encyclopedia. Fortunately, my job helps. Writing a review requires more than summarizing the plot—you need to discuss the author, analyze the text, and place it in the literary landscape. While reading, I highlight important quotes and make notes—these excerpts end up scattered in Evernote and TheBrain and occasionally catch my eye.

I also read what my colleagues write (both in Russia and abroad), which feels like rereading the book through others’ eyes. This builds a network of associations and complex neural connections in my mind, forming memory. With each new book, this network grows, deepening my reading experience.

*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are banned in the Russian Federation.

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