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andgineer's review against another edition
2.0
Занятная идея - не научная фантастика, некое фэнтези в стиле Пелевина.
Но жутко утомительный слог. Вначале была полная уверенность, что это просто стилизация такая под официальные документы, вводная часть. Но эта вводная часть так и не закончилась, вся книга написана очень пресным, не вкусным языком.
И хотя в книге море действий, развесистый сюжет, но после первоначального интереса к самой идее книги, становилось все скучнее и скучнее, и после половины книгу пришлось выбросить (пролистав по диагонали, чтобы понять, что и вторая половина примерно в том же духе).
Дело именно в том, как книга написана - действий в сюжете книги много, но читать жутко скучно.
За что ей дали литературную премию - в недоумении.
Но жутко утомительный слог. Вначале была полная уверенность, что это просто стилизация такая под официальные документы, вводная часть. Но эта вводная часть так и не закончилась, вся книга написана очень пресным, не вкусным языком.
И хотя в книге море действий, развесистый сюжет, но после первоначального интереса к самой идее книги, становилось все скучнее и скучнее, и после половины книгу пришлось выбросить (пролистав по диагонали, чтобы понять, что и вторая половина примерно в том же духе).
Дело именно в том, как книга написана - действий в сюжете книги много, но читать жутко скучно.
За что ей дали литературную премию - в недоумении.
saeki94's review against another edition
3.0
4 ★ per l'idea, 2 per la realizzazione. Non è riuscito a coinvolgermi
sophieannesussex's review against another edition
4.0
Brutal clan/kin (“reading rooms”) fantasy but set in back country Russia at the turn of the millenium and saturated with Soviet imagery. Wasn’t sure what to expect when starting this - v bloody and jumps around at times but overall, thought it was a good novel. Some interesting philosophising of memory, nationhood and the nuances of power. Not for everyone…
hauau's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.75
sarapalooza's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed much of the first half. It felt like a book MEANT to be adapted into a film. Could see it as Nightwatch meets Harry Potter for adults. After a great start, the plot seemed to drift and the intense nationalistic overtones lost me.
traveltipster's review against another edition
5.0
Complex, difficult to read, beautiful and perfect. Everything about this book from the first word to the bitter, horrifying end is as it should be. This may be one of the most perfect books I've ever read.
alv1nn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
juliwi's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes a blurb is so fascinating that you simply have to pick up the book and devour it. Every reader has felt inspired and empowered by a book at some point, but what if books genuinely gave you superpowers? I guess you'll have to read The Librarian to figure out what would happen next.
Usually you have a pretty good idea what a book holds in store for you when you begin it. You have read the blurb, you have assessed the cover and maybe you already know the author as well. Starting The Librarian I thought I knew what I was up for but Elizarov proved me completely wrong. Starting off by introducing Gromov and some of Russia's librarians the reader feels as if they have been dropped into a completely unknown world which is shocking and fascinating. On the one hand this introduction is really interesting, on the other hand it requires some determination to stick with what sounds, at times, like a textbook. Not until the main narrator, Alexei, comes in does the reader find some solid footing in the narrative. In an interesting twist, the reader already knows more about this world of librarians and special books than Alexei himself, meaning that the relationship between Alexei and the reader is continuously interesting. When the relationship between a reader and his protagonist is developed in this way it means the reader can be independent of him or her, making up their own mind about what's happening in the narrative. This also means that the reader can choose to despise the protagonist, which is a big risk to take for the author.
I really enjoyed Elizarov's The Librarian. It is unlike most of today's novels, sparing the readers none of the details while showering them with stunning image after stunning image. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Russian literature and those looking for a challenging and rewarding read.
Usually you have a pretty good idea what a book holds in store for you when you begin it. You have read the blurb, you have assessed the cover and maybe you already know the author as well. Starting The Librarian I thought I knew what I was up for but Elizarov proved me completely wrong. Starting off by introducing Gromov and some of Russia's librarians the reader feels as if they have been dropped into a completely unknown world which is shocking and fascinating. On the one hand this introduction is really interesting, on the other hand it requires some determination to stick with what sounds, at times, like a textbook. Not until the main narrator, Alexei, comes in does the reader find some solid footing in the narrative. In an interesting twist, the reader already knows more about this world of librarians and special books than Alexei himself, meaning that the relationship between Alexei and the reader is continuously interesting. When the relationship between a reader and his protagonist is developed in this way it means the reader can be independent of him or her, making up their own mind about what's happening in the narrative. This also means that the reader can choose to despise the protagonist, which is a big risk to take for the author.
I really enjoyed Elizarov's The Librarian. It is unlike most of today's novels, sparing the readers none of the details while showering them with stunning image after stunning image. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Russian literature and those looking for a challenging and rewarding read.
abookolive's review against another edition
2.0
I love the concept of this book and I really enjoyed the first parts. But this book is gratuitously violent and that is NOT my thing.
sistercoyote's review against another edition
Review available at: https://cannonballread.com/2018/01/reading-is-fundamental-reading-the-right-words-is-power-full/