Brazilian Atlético Mineiro midfielder Gustavo Scarpa told TV BRICS in an exclusive comment about his literary preferences and admitted that works by Russian writers help him better understand his own inner experiences.
According to the athlete, he most often chooses Christian literature, books dealing with social issues and works devoted to a person’s inner conflicts. Scarpa noted that he particularly values books that help him look at other people with greater love and empathy.
Scarpa has also read works by Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy. He shared that he appreciates the way Russian literature explores inner conflicts.
“I have thoughts and experiences like that myself, and for a long time it was difficult for me to put them into words. Dostoevsky’s and Tolstoy’s books helped me a great deal with that,” the footballer admitted.
At the same time, Scarpa noted that works by Russian classics are often characterised by a melancholic mood, but he feels close to the authors’ deep and honest approach to portraying human emotions.
It was previously reported that Leo Tolstoy’s novella “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” became a bestseller in Brazil. The local press attributed the surge in sales to Scarpa’s recommendation. His review of Tolstoy’s book received more than 578,000 views on social media.