'Dr. Zhivago'

Russian literature is always something I've loved to read.

I first thought about taking on this book after seeing it featured rather prominently in the excellent film "Into the Wild." In it, the main character (character ... it was a real person), Chris, reads and re-reads "Dr. Zhivago" as it contains a certain element of loneliness, self-reliance, embracing the wild, primitive world and -- either by choice or not.

Dr. Zhivago's choice was due to survival. Chris' was due to heartbreak and what he saw as a cruel, mindless world. Dr. Zhivago probably felt the same way.