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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
As the pioneering, radical framework dystopian novel, I have the utmost respect for Zamyatin’s work. It undeniably sets the precedent for all dystopias to follow. However, in all its originality, it finds itself at times quite convoluted and overly explores its avant-garde nature. I would have enjoyed the replacement of the borderline incomprehensible passages detailing D-503’s dream sequences with further glances into the happenings around him that would more effectively develop the prominent themes of individuality and conformity. D-503’s nonsensical ramblings and musings are a bit much at times and do not lend themselves to much attributable character growth or plot progression.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting story! Alas, the prose is disorienting; thus, I cannot award the fifth star.
Guess what came way before Brave New World and 1984 and is 100 times better? This book, suckers.
اینقدر حرف درموردش زیاده که نمی‌دونم چی بگم.
ما یک رمان دیستوپیکه. پادآرمانشهری. و روی اورول و هاکسلی تاثیر گذاشته. درواقع اونا با الهام از این کتاب [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532714506l/40961427._SX50_.jpg|153313] و[b:دنیای قشنگ نو|9608242|دنیای قشنگ نو|Aldous Huxley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412584257l/9608242._SX50_.jpg|3204877] رو نوشتن.
و گرچه در ژانر علمی تخیلی جا می‌گیره، تو می‌تونی جای جای کتاب طعنه‌هاش به شوروی و نداشتن آزادی و زندگی تحت بند و اینا رو ببینی.
خیلی جذاب بود. به فکر فرو می‌بردت و تیکه‌های قشنگ هم کم نداشت. پایانش هم خیلی واقعی بود. خبری از پایان خوش نبود. و من از این حالت واقعا خوشم میاد، ولی نمی‌دونم چرا تموم که شد... (واقعا نمی‌فهمم چرا) یهو علاقه‌م بهش فروکش کرد. وگرنه که قبلش 5ستاره کامل بود.
ما یک رمان دیستوپیکه. پادآرمانشهری. و روی اورول و هاکسلی تاثیر گذاشته. درواقع اونا با الهام از این کتاب [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532714506l/40961427._SX50_.jpg|153313] و[b:دنیای قشنگ نو|9608242|دنیای قشنگ نو|Aldous Huxley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412584257l/9608242._SX50_.jpg|3204877] رو نوشتن.
و گرچه در ژانر علمی تخیلی جا می‌گیره، تو می‌تونی جای جای کتاب طعنه‌هاش به شوروی و نداشتن آزادی و زندگی تحت بند و اینا رو ببینی.
خیلی جذاب بود. به فکر فرو می‌بردت و تیکه‌های قشنگ هم کم نداشت. پایانش هم خیلی واقعی بود. خبری از پایان خوش نبود. و من از این حالت واقعا خوشم میاد، ولی نمی‌دونم چرا تموم که شد... (واقعا نمی‌فهمم چرا) یهو علاقه‌م بهش فروکش کرد. وگرنه که قبلش 5ستاره کامل بود.
"We" takes place in a communist everyone-serves-the-state-and-is-overjoyed-about-it utopia/dystopia. They live in glass houses and do everything according to a schedule that everyone follows. The schedule is the result of some kind of scientific study about the proportions of activities that are most likely to result in happiness. So almost everyone is pretty happy with the situation.
Of course, then the character decides to go ahead and fall in love/procure a soul/whatever. This would be a cliché if this book were written now. But the book was written a century ago, so it was pretty groundbreaking, actually.
This book was savagely creative and ahead of its time. It reads like a book that might have been written now. I spent the first half of the book impressed with its prescience. However, after a while, I was a bit bored of it. The main character goes from being all happy-go-lucky about his situation to getting very whiny and clingy to the manic pixie dream girl he's in love with.
His personality becomes so overbearing that I wound up DNFing the book. I got the point.
Of course, then the character decides to go ahead and fall in love/procure a soul/whatever. This would be a cliché if this book were written now. But the book was written a century ago, so it was pretty groundbreaking, actually.
This book was savagely creative and ahead of its time. It reads like a book that might have been written now. I spent the first half of the book impressed with its prescience. However, after a while, I was a bit bored of it. The main character goes from being all happy-go-lucky about his situation to getting very whiny and clingy to the manic pixie dream girl he's in love with.
His personality becomes so overbearing that I wound up DNFing the book. I got the point.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a work of literature dealing with oppression and subjugation, this book was fantastic. Due to the way it was written, I feel like the metaphor falls a bit in the end and the narrative gets a bit confusing. I can see why Anthem and 1984 became more prominent, however, this is worth a read for a new perspective. Also, I loved the aesthetic, all-glass themes of this. It was quite easy to picture as a world and the worldbuilding built on the themes in the book.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was great! I read the Clarence Brown translation. I noticed that people often ask which translation they should read. I have 4 versions for comparison. The Zilboorg, Ginsburg, Randall, and Brown translations. It seems to me that they are all beautifully translated.
This was my favourite passage. All four translations were great. Perhaps you have a preference amongst the four. If so, try reading that translation.
Gregory Zilboorg (1925):
"A branch of the bush touched the old woman, she caressed that branch; upon her knees lay stripes of sunshine. For a second, I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, those yellow eyes, all seemed to be one; we were firmly united by common veins, and one common blood - boisterous, magnificent blood - was running through those veins."
Mirra Ginsburg (1972):
"A branch of the wormwood lay along the old woman’s hand and she stroked it; a yellow strip of sunlight fell across her knees. And for an instant, I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, and the yellow eyes were one, bound firmly together by some invisible veins, and, pulsing through the veins, the same tumultuous, glorious blood…"
Clarence Brown (1993):
"The wormwood had stuck out a twig to the old woman’s hand and she was caressing the twig, and a yellow stripe of sunlight lay across her knees. And for one second: I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, the yellow eyes - we all blended into one, were all bound forever by veins through which flowed one common, stormy, magnificent blood.
Natasha Randall (2006):
"The wormwood had extended a branch toward the hand of the old woman and the old woman was stroking the branch on her lap. There were yellow streaks of sun. And in a blink: I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, the yellow eyes - we were all one, we were firmly connected by veins of some sort, and through these veins runs one communal, tempestuous, majestic blood…"
This was my favourite passage. All four translations were great. Perhaps you have a preference amongst the four. If so, try reading that translation.
Gregory Zilboorg (1925):
"A branch of the bush touched the old woman, she caressed that branch; upon her knees lay stripes of sunshine. For a second, I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, those yellow eyes, all seemed to be one; we were firmly united by common veins, and one common blood - boisterous, magnificent blood - was running through those veins."
Mirra Ginsburg (1972):
"A branch of the wormwood lay along the old woman’s hand and she stroked it; a yellow strip of sunlight fell across her knees. And for an instant, I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, and the yellow eyes were one, bound firmly together by some invisible veins, and, pulsing through the veins, the same tumultuous, glorious blood…"
Clarence Brown (1993):
"The wormwood had stuck out a twig to the old woman’s hand and she was caressing the twig, and a yellow stripe of sunlight lay across her knees. And for one second: I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, the yellow eyes - we all blended into one, were all bound forever by veins through which flowed one common, stormy, magnificent blood.
Natasha Randall (2006):
"The wormwood had extended a branch toward the hand of the old woman and the old woman was stroking the branch on her lap. There were yellow streaks of sun. And in a blink: I, the sun, the old woman, the wormwood, the yellow eyes - we were all one, we were firmly connected by veins of some sort, and through these veins runs one communal, tempestuous, majestic blood…"