Russian names

May 18, 17.51pm

So it's now been a few weeks since I started Boris Akunin's Pelagia and the White Bulldog, and it's somewhat unusual for me that after such a long period I'm still less than half way through.

It's even more odd because it's a book I am actually really enjoying - it's a terrific many-textured story weaving in and out of politics, religion and the dynamics of society with a promising mystery plot brewing in the midst of all that.

It's not the paciest book I've ever read, but actually it's interesting because of that, as the diversions are fascinating. But it's not that that's holding me up and it wasn't until this morning that I realised what was taking me so long.

It's the names. First off, there's a pretty wide cast of characters, operating in a couple of locations, with some flitting back between one and the other. And each seems to have a full formal name, a shorter informal name and a nickname which are used interchangeably. And I find myself, every other page or so, flicking back to check I know who is saying/doing what.

This is a deficiency on my part, I know. I should be able to keep up. Perhaps now I'm over the first hump, I'll get there quicker.