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michinio's review
5.0
Даже нравится чуть больше, чем 12 Стулев, потому что тут меня не так грузит безисходность... как ни странно.
ostap_emre's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
estelessa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
hbelle01's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
spyralnode's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
'The Golden Calf' was even worse than 'The Twelve Chairs'. At least the latter had an intrigue I could get behind, a bit of a mystery as to what happened with the chairs, and Ippolit served to give us an 'in' into the satiric outlook on Soviet Russia. This book, however, feels truly only written to give Ostap Bender a second lease at life. So even though he died at the end of 'The Twelve Chairs', he is fully alive here. So much so that he wishes to move to Rio de Janeiro, which motivates his plotting and scheming.
From there on out, it is very similar to the previous book. It is about the characters you meet along the way, how they carve their place within Soviet Russia, how they attempt to make a life for themselves more or less legally. We lose the focus on Ostap's ambition, it only becoming about how will he obtain money right now, from the person in front of him.
Again, the humour is dated, akin to slipping on a banana peel, a Benny Hill or a Laurel and Hardy. It's a product of its time, there is no real tension or controversy, it's just silly jokes.
There was nothing I could root for here, nothing keeping my attention. The humour wasn't to my taste (this time I never laughed, though I was mildly amused by the man doing a hunger strike to convince his wife not to leave him), the characters' only trait was a lack of scruples, making them utterly uninteresting and a joke within themselves, and there was no meaningful outcome to be hoping for. Even in all these adventures, it didn't feel like there were any stakes - the government was never taken seriously to the point that we would fear anything, sense a conflict, nothing.
From there on out, it is very similar to the previous book. It is about the characters you meet along the way, how they carve their place within Soviet Russia, how they attempt to make a life for themselves more or less legally. We lose the focus on Ostap's ambition, it only becoming about how will he obtain money right now, from the person in front of him.
Again, the humour is dated, akin to slipping on a banana peel, a Benny Hill or a Laurel and Hardy. It's a product of its time, there is no real tension or controversy, it's just silly jokes.
There was nothing I could root for here, nothing keeping my attention. The humour wasn't to my taste (this time I never laughed, though I was mildly amused by the man doing a hunger strike to convince his wife not to leave him), the characters' only trait was a lack of scruples, making them utterly uninteresting and a joke within themselves, and there was no meaningful outcome to be hoping for. Even in all these adventures, it didn't feel like there were any stakes - the government was never taken seriously to the point that we would fear anything, sense a conflict, nothing.
girl_vampirka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Ostap's fate is actually pretty sad. His disappointment in his dream... Failed attempted to reach Rio De Janeiro. Like a symbol no one can escape
wshier's review against another edition
4.0
About as funny as a book can be. This sequel to The Twelve Chairs follows Ostap Bender, a likable con man, and his inferior partners across the southern Soviet Union and back by car, train, air, and camel. Their mark is a wealthy grifter who is so afraid of being caught by the authorities himself that he refuses to spend any money at all to avoid notice. Once the loot is in hand, however, there is nothing for a private citizen to buy.
emma_merkulova's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0