Reviews - We | The StoryGraph

2.67k reviews for:

We

Yevgeny Zamyatin

3.73 AVERAGE

academicaries's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was introduced to this work as the precursor of George Orwell's 1984, an author whose literary voice has been criticized for its pamphleteering, and for the way in which it describes its female characters. Though more popular, I thought it best to read the precursor of one of today's most popular dystopias. I was also pulled in by the story's history; according to my copy:

Yevgeny was exiled under Stalin and died in Paris in 1937. His masterpiece remains unpublished in his native Russia.

It was only published in Russia in 1998.

My only grievance of this novel lies with the author's description of R-13, a character of African descent who is described with adjectives that are unsightly. I am not sure if Mirra Ginsburg's translation may have shifted or enunciated the author's intent further.

In spite of this, the book was marvelous in its critique and style. The author weaves Christianity and mathematics as allegories that shape his critiques and justifications of the One State. Written as diary entries in first-person perspective, we trace the protagonist's slow descent into madness, his love interest's rebellious journey towards individuality and freedom, and the desires — frivolous and practical— of tertiary characters. It's a sharp critique of authoritarianism and totalitarianism, and surprisingly modern to me now, as a next-century reader. It was a pleasure to read the inspiration of subsequent dystopian works, such as the aforementioned 1984 and Brave New World, among others. This is a work which I'd greatly enjoy to have several translations of, and I've got my eye on Bela Shayevich's as the next copy to add to my library.

Content Warnings

lunderwhatsen's review against another edition

5.0

I loved 1984, and after reading this, I realize that it is a fanfiction lol! Mr. Orwell! You should be chastised for making Julia such a pale, useless sex object version of this lovely I-330. Regardless of the clear inspiration that might have violated modern laws, I enjoyed both works.

The prose with this landed with me, but I can see how other people were a little iffy on it. I liked how it made D-503 an unreliable narrator and it showed that other characters weren’t quite as… diligent? As he was. I think that’s a good word for it. It was so clear that O and R both were thinking outside the box well before him, but he was so wrapped up in his own arrogance and hive mind that it made him extremely susceptible to I-330.

Watching D just spiral into this weird state of madness over this woman was very enjoyable. <3

led's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

soph_reading_journal's review against another edition

3.0

Really interesting!

I feel like it’s kind of book you need to dissect to properly understand it

moonyg's review against another edition

3.0

medium-paced

camscampbell's review against another edition

3.0

challenging fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

wetherspoonsgf's review against another edition

4.0

george orwell is a hack and a fraud. read the very prescient ai art bit at the start while listening to old mountain goats and teared up on the train.