Reviews

Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol

aimitv's review against another edition

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challenging funny informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

katermannx's review against another edition

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2.0

The book "Diary of a Madman" by Nikolai Gogol is a fascinating novel that tells the story of a government official whose mental state gradually deteriorates. Although the idea behind the story is interesting and partly humorous, I unfortunately did not enjoy it as much.

When I started the book, I found the author's narrative style and writing somewhat difficult to access. Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that Gogol is able to provide a profound study of the human mental state and a nuanced portrayal of his protagonist's psychological changes.

I found it challenging to read the book and had difficulty immersing myself in the story. Nonetheless, I couldn't stop reading because I was curious about how the story would unfold.

The story definitely has its ups and downs, and the character development of the protagonist was fascinating.

Although the book is not my favorite, it can be recommended if one is interested in psychological novels and the human psyche. Overall, it was an interesting reading experience, but I probably would not read it again.

sleepy_head's review against another edition

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adventurous funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

wunderkindl's review against another edition

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5.0

Beyond the story "Diary of a Madman" all the stories in this book are equally wonderful and absurd. I always feel like I just watched a Luis Benuel movie when I read Gogol.

bexjo's review against another edition

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3.0

I always like short stories when I don't have time for a whole book. My favorites in this book were the Diary of A Madman and The Nose.

elionthesun's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

guas11's review against another edition

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4.0

Fantastic….very much enjoyed Gogol’s wit and humor. Some are more enjoyable than others but excellent overall.

lwke's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nicozinos's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the nose is my favorite 

talkingscribe's review against another edition

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5.0

Very intriguing, and one of the more original things I've read in the past year.