Books like Dr Zhivago

I can see why this is a classic of Russian Literature. It is beautifully written. It is also a great picture of what Russia was like during the revolution. It is pretty accurate which is why I think it was banned in Russia in the fifties. There is some beautiful symbolism: Zhivago represents the Russian people and the women in his life are representative of the new and old Russia. The weather reflects Zhivago's inner emotional state. If you can stomach the grand sweeping generalizations about human nature, politics and art, you will probably enjoy this book. I am not saying it will keep you up nights, but it is a good read, and an interesting historical phenomenon.