The process of choosing gifts in our team goes as follows: a month before the event, each employee draws the name of a colleague and, ultimately, on February 14, gives them a book based on their own preferences or the interests of the recipient.
Natalya Timirbaeva, Editor-in-Chief
- I consider myself a true literature lover and try to select books that my recipient might enjoy. When I found out that I was giving a book to Tancholpon, I immediately decided on my choice — it would be a novel by Jonathan Coe.His work is characterized by irony and humor, and he always surprises the reader with new facets. I chose for Tancholpon the novel "The Test of My Innocence," which I haven't read yet, but I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to do so.
In the novel's annotation, it is stated that "Coe creates vibrant social prose with elements of autofiction and detective plots, combining them with themes of dark academia. For lovers of light reading, this will be an engaging investigation with an English castle and a billionaire's yacht."
Beremet Ulanova, Journalist
- This year, I chose Temir, our operator, as my mentee. He is talented, detail-oriented, and reads a lot. Therefore, I was a bit worried about how he would perceive my choice.The first book I selected is a collection by Somerset Maugham, containing "Pies and Beer, or A Skeleton in the Closet" and "A Small Corner." Maugham's works are marked by irony and a deep understanding of human nature.
The second book is "Paradise" by Abdulrazak Gurnah, recently translated into Russian. The author received the Nobel Prize, including for this novel. It tells the story of the colonization of East Africa through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy. Paradise here serves as a metaphor for lost hope and the dream of a just life that the main character faces.
Dilya Yusupova, Journalist
- When choosing a book, I pondered what interesting finds could be on the shelves of stores. At the same time, I often came across quotes from Faina Ranevskaya on social media. Eventually, I stumbled upon her biography in an online store and realized that this was exactly what I needed. It is the actress's own memories, revealing her inner struggles and the tragedy of never learning to appreciate her gift.This book is not just memoirs, but the voice of the real, tragic Ranevskaya, behind whose jokes lies deep sorrow.After reading it, you will undoubtedly want to rewatch her films and remember her famous phrase: "The main thing is to live a real life, not to wander through the alleys of memory."
Tatyana Kudryavtseva, Journalist
- I searched for a suitable book for my mentee for a long time, as she reads a lot and I was afraid that my choice would be familiar to her. I visited bookstores several times but found nothing. The last time, I decided that I wouldn't leave without a purchase. In the end, I was drawn to James Clear's book "Atomic Habits." I realized that this was a sign, as I am currently reading it myself.This book is considered one of the best on the topic of habit formation.It is no surprise that it became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller and was recognized as the best business book of 2018 by Fast Company. I hope Dilya will like it.
Tancholpon Bakytbek kyzy, Operator-Editor
- I chose for Ksenia Ian McEwan's book "Machines Like Me." It is an intelligent but easy-to-read work. It is more about human relationships than about technology. It shows how we can make mistakes, justify ourselves, and try to appear better than we really are. Paradoxically, it is the machine that turns out to be more honest than the human, which raises certain anxieties.
Aidana Abduvaitova, Journalist
- My mentee suggested several books to me and noted which one interested him the most. It was "Atomic Habits," which he had wanted to read for a long time. However, playing "Book Santa," I decided to surprise him a bit and chose based on my taste. In the end, I settled on "The New Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. I skimmed through it, and the book discusses how small events can lead to significant changes. I hope it will be interesting and useful for him.
Here are other books that colleagues gave each other:
