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The Neva

When we were moored in St Petersburg we were , of course, on the Neva.  This the the river where they finally managed to drown Rasputin.  I have downloaded a recent book about Rasputin, written since the end of communism by a man who then gained access to papers not seen before. I wonder if Rasputin was all bad.  When someone's character is ripped to sheds I wonder why.I shall enjoy reading that book but at the moment I am knee deep in Dostoevsky, who also writes about St Petersburg.  Somehow I seem to be reading Crime and punishment in English whilst having a recording of it in Russian which I listen to on my phone; also I am reading Poor Folk and The Idiot.  Poor Folk is short and based in St Petersburg and I want to see if it talks about the White Nights at all. All these books are full of strong emotions and angst, I think it's a Russian thing. I guess there must be a lot of depression in St Petersburg during the winter with limited light.  The summer nights must be a great relief. I am also reading a library book , nothing to do with Russia. I just take them out to keep the mobile library service going as it is not well attended and we are likely to lose it. I think I will abandon that book.  Can you do that or do you have to read a complete book once you have started it?

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