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madmadder's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
kzs's review
Captivating. I had to really pace myself with these; I only read one story a day. I'm trying to understand Russia more as a country, a mindset, an attitude, and these stories gave me a small window into it. A lot of them are sad, but almost seem to repel pity. Proud, but cynical... I might reread these after I've read more Pushkin, it just feels like there are things I missed.
bagoody's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hemingshea's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations for this book (especially with a preface by Svetlana Alexievich) and it just didn't live up to them. I love short story collections and Russian lit but I the book didn't totally deliver. Polish Friend, On the Banks of the Spree, and The Gypsy were my favorites
sistermagpie's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to describe this collection of short stories except to say maybe that it's very Russian. That is, it's about Russian people in Russia now, with all the idiosyncrasies and flaws of character and society that one can imagine from that. It made me laugh plenty of times, and usually ended without a real note of finality--like Chekhov. The author (also like Chekhov) is a doctor as well as an author so a lot of the stories are drawn from his own work.
hanswan's review against another edition
4.0
There was only one story that felt like it was going on a bit...
The ones translated by Boris Dralyuk were funnier/ better.
I loved Good People, The Waves of the Sea, Polish Friend, Rennaisance Man... really good set.
luv u nyrb classics xx
The ones translated by Boris Dralyuk were funnier/ better.
I loved Good People, The Waves of the Sea, Polish Friend, Rennaisance Man... really good set.
luv u nyrb classics xx
michaelnlibrarian's review
3.0
The New Yorker had a long piece about the author, but said little about this first collection of stories published in English. Oddly I can find no listing for any collection of stories or any other published book by this author in Russian. I put in for it at my public library and soon often had a copy to read.
The New Yorker compared the author to Chekhov - I suppose in certain ways this is accurate, since both are medical doctors and wrote mostly about life outside of Moscow or St. Petersburg. I can't say if there is more than that, since I last read Chekhov decades ago.
These short stories are the type that end and it isn't obvious what will happen next with the main character or characters.
The New Yorker compared the author to Chekhov - I suppose in certain ways this is accurate, since both are medical doctors and wrote mostly about life outside of Moscow or St. Petersburg. I can't say if there is more than that, since I last read Chekhov decades ago.
These short stories are the type that end and it isn't obvious what will happen next with the main character or characters.