You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Omg.... So good. I've never read this before but have always hated poetic translations bc they don't work so this was great. I especially loved when Pushkin side tracked into some verses about feet and then was like "anyways! And our Onegin? What's he up to?". Feeling extra jazzed to be in this opera!!!
What a great piece of poetry I happened upon randomly... This is my first Pushkin and it was every bit of enjoyable as I thought it might. The characters were fantastic, I cared mightily for all of them. My biggest issue is perhaps with the translation, or perhaps with the misunderstanding of why some strophes were not present... were they lost? This would have been lovely to read in a class.
I think verses were never yet written until Pushkin took it upon himself to create them
This poetry makes me wish I read Russian, though the Nabokov translation is beautiful.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well... rather uneven. It's an epic poem, which means it can be rather difficult to take in, though I didn't find it difficult. I think the choice made it harder for Alexander to express certain things. He had to stay in verse and rhyme :-D
Also, the... mood, nature, style of the work varied a lot. It is a bit difficult to define, like Romeo and Juliet. It is satirical, and I laughed out loud several times, but in the end it is rather sad. Another unhappy Russian woman.
It is ridiculous when one remembers that Eugene and Tatiana aren't even 25 when the book happens. I think Eugene was 26 at the very end, and when he refused Tatiana he was just a little older than 20 :-D And she was something like 17. Yet so big and strong emotions. She reminds me so much of Natascha. :-D I don't know if I was more or less mature to my age, but at 17, emotions weren't the end of the world and life. Life hadn't even really began yet. Yet, Eugene's life is at end at 26 because Tatiana got married. Come on, she got married to a soldier! He could easily die. Soldiers' widows were plenty in that time. Let's say in 10 years they meet and get married and live happily ever after.
(Also, how quick she got married :-D So ridiculous!)
Nevertheless, Eugene was a twat.
Also, the... mood, nature, style of the work varied a lot. It is a bit difficult to define, like Romeo and Juliet. It is satirical, and I laughed out loud several times, but in the end it is rather sad. Another unhappy Russian woman.
It is ridiculous when one remembers that Eugene and Tatiana aren't even 25 when the book happens. I think Eugene was 26 at the very end, and when he refused Tatiana he was just a little older than 20 :-D And she was something like 17. Yet so big and strong emotions. She reminds me so much of Natascha. :-D I don't know if I was more or less mature to my age, but at 17, emotions weren't the end of the world and life. Life hadn't even really began yet. Yet, Eugene's life is at end at 26 because Tatiana got married. Come on, she got married to a soldier! He could easily die. Soldiers' widows were plenty in that time. Let's say in 10 years they meet and get married and live happily ever after.
(Also, how quick she got married :-D So ridiculous!)
Nevertheless, Eugene was a twat.
Was mostly just interested in seeing what kinds of commentary info were being included, since it was so extensive, and after a while I got the gist of things and wasn't especially interested in reading further--I didn't have a particularly scholarly interest.
Had already finished another translation, and ran out of interest in finishing this one, especially after I'd watched the opera (which was my main motivation for reading, as prepwork basically).
Pushkin should have titled his novel: "Tatyana Larina"—she outshines Eugene and all the others immeasurably.
"The night has many charming stars,
in Moscow there are many belles;
but brighter than all her celestial sisters
is the moon in the airy blue;"
"The night has many charming stars,
in Moscow there are many belles;
but brighter than all her celestial sisters
is the moon in the airy blue;"