Reviews

Ottobre by China Miéville

matthewptaylor's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

chandler_daversa's review against another edition

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3.0

October is a literary month-by-month telling of the exciting and sometimes dizzying history of that fateful year in Russia. Useful to help wrap one’s head around the complex cast of characters, events, and political groups involved in the events of 1917, though his Trotskyist biases seep through in an all too tired way for my taste.

reneoro's review against another edition

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5.0

Octubre todavía es el centro de todos los argumentos sobre el cambio social radial. Su degradación no estaba dada: no estaba escrita en las estrellas... Octubre, por un instante, trajo un nuevo tipo de poder. Fugazmente, hubo un cambio hacia el control obrero de la producción y los derechos del campesino sobre la tierra. Derecho iguales para mujeres y hombres en el trabajo y en el matrimonio, el derecho al divorcio, el apoyo a la maternidad. La despenalización de la homosexualidad: hace cien años. Una aproximación hacia la autodeterminación de las naciones. Educación libre y universal, alfabetización; y con ella, una explosión cultural, una sed de aprendizaje, la multiplicación de universidades y conferencias y escuelas para adultos. Un cambio en el alma, como dijo Lunacharski, así como en la fábrica. Y aunque esos momentos fueran desechados, anulados, o se convirtieran en recuerdos o malos chistes, podría haber sido de otro modo.
Podría haber sido diferente, pues estos sólo fueron los primeros y titubeantes pasos.

zluke's review against another edition

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challenging fast-paced

4.5

hahildebrand's review against another edition

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4.0

An excellent overview.

nnylfgaard's review against another edition

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4.0

A good narrative history of the fallout after October '17. Meanders through the complexity of the soviet structure in an easy to follow and entertaining way, explaining the difficulties that faced the party from left to right. Despite China Mieville's own political leanings (they are an active socialist), they do not gloss over the misery that was a result of the revolution, it does not relish in it either (in so far as to boost the image of capitalism), Mieville simply states realities. I can recommend this as a good intro to the history of this landmark event, especially as most recounts often lean one way or the other.

adambecket's review against another edition

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5.0

Magisterial

themorbidcorvid's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

susani_'s review against another edition

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4.0

[b: October: The Story of the Russian Revolution|31578250|October The Story of the Russian Revolution|China Miéville|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471889774s/31578250.jpg|52268284] is narrative history of the Russian Revolution in 1917. This book wasn't designed to be an academic book but an accessible one for those curious one of the most intriguing revolutions.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves history or wants to learn about the Russian Revolution and the key players.

4.25 stars

jpark414's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5: revolution is mostly luck, charisma and seizing the right moment. China gets A+ for vocab/style/narrative elements. Hard to get into without dece previous knowledge

Fave Russian name to mumble to myself: Shlyapnikov