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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
China Mieville is one of the most talented users of language I've ever come across. I read Perdido Street Station many years ago and always wanted to read more of his work, but now I remember why I didn't. It's hard work. He uses so many esoteric words, and when you go look them up, you find out they were perfectly chosen. But it's still hard to get through. Combine that with the Russian Revolution as subject matter and you have a book that I'm happy I got through. I learned many things about the revolution and the context in which it occurred, so in that sense I'm happy I read it. But it wasn't easy to finish.
Fascinating, but the lack of distinct protagonists (save the revolution itself) makes it a bit unwieldy. Nevertheless, a sympathetic account, well-told from a properly left perspective.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
best case scenario for a fiction writer tackling a serious historical issue
3.5
"October" gives the reader a good look at what happened in Russia between January and October in 1917. There are a lot of people and a lot of organizations (and groups within a single organization) which are every changing, so it is better to try to read this book quickly, or to take some notes. While Mieville says that he is writing for a general reader the book also is higher brow than that. I had to look up a few of the English words. I do wish a little more time had been given to the events after 1917, some of those are as interesting as the 1917 events. Nevertheless, "October" is a pretty good overview of events which remain important to history and today's world.
"October" gives the reader a good look at what happened in Russia between January and October in 1917. There are a lot of people and a lot of organizations (and groups within a single organization) which are every changing, so it is better to try to read this book quickly, or to take some notes. While Mieville says that he is writing for a general reader the book also is higher brow than that. I had to look up a few of the English words. I do wish a little more time had been given to the events after 1917, some of those are as interesting as the 1917 events. Nevertheless, "October" is a pretty good overview of events which remain important to history and today's world.
Perfect for someone who knows next to nothing about this revolution. I understand that it’s fair to expect a level of knowledge of political jargon - and therefore much of the impact of this book is probably lost on me - but I could have done with a few layman explanations at the beginning.
DRINKING GAME TO KILL YOUR LIVER: Drink every time the word "bourgeoisie"
DRINKING GAME TO KILL YOUR LIVER: Drink every time the word "bourgeoisie"
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced