A Master's student's Top 5 Books in Psychological Counseling: From Classics to Manga

Ksenia Mazurskaya, a librarian at RUDN University and a literature enthusiast, presents her top 5 books, where classic works sit alongside contemporary manga, exploring themes of strength, loneliness, and human psychology

Hello, friends! My name is Ksenia Mazurskaya. I'm a Master's student in Psychological Counseling and work as a librarian at the RUDN University Research Library. Here are my top 5 books:

1. The coziest book for autumn evenings: Thomas Hardy's "Far from the Madding Crowd"

A book about a strong woman who takes over a farm and now must compete with men in this difficult task, and also choose "the one" among her admirers

2. Without departing from the English classics, we move on to "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte

Gothic fiction and abusive relationships before it became mainstream. I discovered this book through a meeting at the Green Lamp and Southwest Sofa book club. And it was awesome!

3. It would be strange for me not to add Homer's Odyssey to this top list - the greatest work of ancient literature

I love it for its strong male characters, family values (hehe 😉) and that amazing bow scene at the end!

4. Kazuo Ishiguro "The Buried Giant"

Japan... Doesn't sound like me. An elderly couple searches for their son in medieval England. Oh, that sounds like me. Deep themes of the meaning of life, time, and loneliness—that's what we (I) look for in Japanese literature, and the works of Kazuo Ishiguro in particular.

5. Since I am the curator of our library's manga and comics workshop, let it be the manga: "Master of Mushi" by Urashibara Yuki

Mushi are creatures that exist in the space between spirits and animals. Sometimes they encounter people and can harm them. Together with the master, Ginko, we explore the facets of human psychology and destinies. And the visuals are simply stunning.

To participate in the TOP-5 BOOKS section, send applications to ayibova-ev@rudn.ru — Your Academic Cat