<p>I was curious what the incoming freshmen think of this year's summer reading, Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich. </p>
<p>Some feedback on it would be interesting.</p>
<p>I enjoyed it and found it a really interesting read, especially for someone interested in Russian history (which I am). I really got a feel for what it was like for artists, intellectuals, musicians, and other "educated" people during Stalin's reign over Soviet Russia. I know many people aren't reading it, though, because of the heavy influence on classical music.</p>
<p>I'm not a Dartmouth student, but I have read the book before. It's very interesting, but I think a novel might be a better book to read for incoming freshman. I know Cornell's book this summer was The Great Gatsby.</p>
<p>haha, well, it seems like both Cornell and Dartmouth have come up with a great way to guarantee that nobody reads this summer - either because 99% of incoming freshmen will have read The Great Gatsby in high school English, or because 99% of incoming freshmen have zero interest in the relationship between Russian history and classical music.</p>
<p>... that said, I've started the first couple of pages and it seems interesting, because I like Shostakovich actually quite a lot, and it's neat that the book focuses more on the history and less on the music proper.</p>
<p>LOL xine, so true.</p>
<p>Yeah I just got the book (yes I'm a little late), but I'm so excited about it! Russia, Shostakovich - my (2nd =/) favorite composer, history, music... <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>It's interesting to read about Stalin from an insider's point of view. It's amazing how the perverse nature of a man can ruin what could possibly have been another successful socio-political system. Yes, communism does have meritable qualities; however, if implemented with malicious and perverse intentions it all goes down the drain. Then again, any system, even democracy, would crumble under said conditions.</p>
<p>I haven't read the book at all yet, but I do intend to get around to it before coming to campus. The period discussed in the book really fascinates me.</p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>