Reviews

A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare

Only show reviews with written explanations

hopehelena's review

Go to review page

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

the_moody_marshmallow's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

2.5

thebobsphere's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Ismail Kadare is one of those writers who I just don’t like. I’ve always thought his plots were interesting but his writing style does not gel with me. I find it laborious.

While researching, Kadare discovers that in 1934 Josef Stalin called Boris Pasternak for three minutes in order to enquire about an arrested poet. Kadare then takes this call and views it from 11 different perspectives, with a 12th being an epilogue. In the process Kadare discovers the link between politics and literature or how literature is a form of protest.

I didn’t like the book. I found it dull and a slog for such a short novel. Even the message didn’t impress. I know one can’t like every book on a longlist and this is the one.

srcanedo's review

Go to review page

reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I think you have to have a good understanding of the USSR to really 'get' this book.

ohlhauc's review

Go to review page

mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

serendipitysbooks's review

Go to review page

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A Dictator Calls explores a 1934 phone call from Joseph Stalin to Boris Pasternak following the arrest of the poet Osip Mandelstam. It looks at what was said during the call and more importantly what other people believed was said, and what they said about it. It reads very much like a piece of non-fiction. Sadly I found this slim little book to be perplexing, even while recognising the importance and relevance of some of the themes it explored such as the complex relationship between politics and the arts, the power of authoritarian dictators, notions of artistic freedom and of censorship, and the impact of fear. I felt like I was eavesdropping on some erudite philosophical musings without having much background knowledge and where the philosopher never reaches any discernible conclusions.