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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked Gogol's grotesque, macabre realism. The allusion to Dante was prevalent in Part I, but seemed to be completely lost in Part II. The themes and motifs also seemed to diffuse into too many possible themes and interpretations. For example, one theme in Part I is greed and gluttony. However, in Part II, the focus suddenly shifts to lethargy and the merits of working on a farm. The author intention/commentary in this work is much more nuanced, obscure, and almost completely unknown, especially when compared to Lermontov's pointed commentary to readers in "A Hero of Our Time"
So funny. Made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. Love Russian Lit!
funny
lighthearted
slow-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:
Yes
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
reflective
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To give you a short history, the author had a grand idea of the book he was attempting to write. He called it his poem, in the form of prose. And he genuinely believes in its strength and beauty. All along the first part of the book, you can find the author beaming through the pages proud of his work. So, he finished the first part and published it. Then, started writing the second part of the book. Meanwhile he became friends with a priest who advised him to burn the second book because it read like the work of the devil. So, he burned the second part. And nine days later, he starved himself and died.
So, anyone who is planning to start this book should know that there is no well-rounded closure for this novel. The first part is complete and well-written but the second part is haphazard, very rough and is incomplete. Though fans and critics might call whatever fragments of the second part recovered to form a poignant end in retrospect, it still felt incomplete to me.
All that being said, I did not care much for the plot. The plot was aimed to point out the administrative incompetencies in Russia and how easily corruptible it was, through satire and beautiful prose. And it was a good effort. The author paints a nice picture of a town with characters that can be swayed to do illegal transactions to get more money. And, honestly, that was not surprising or that big a deal to write a whole novel about it and call it a treatise on the human condition. I admire the author. I admire Gogol. But, I have to say, after having just read Crime and Punishment, this did not rock my world as much as Dostoevsky did.
So, anyone who is planning to start this book should know that there is no well-rounded closure for this novel. The first part is complete and well-written but the second part is haphazard, very rough and is incomplete. Though fans and critics might call whatever fragments of the second part recovered to form a poignant end in retrospect, it still felt incomplete to me.
All that being said, I did not care much for the plot. The plot was aimed to point out the administrative incompetencies in Russia and how easily corruptible it was, through satire and beautiful prose. And it was a good effort. The author paints a nice picture of a town with characters that can be swayed to do illegal transactions to get more money. And, honestly, that was not surprising or that big a deal to write a whole novel about it and call it a treatise on the human condition. I admire the author. I admire Gogol. But, I have to say, after having just read Crime and Punishment, this did not rock my world as much as Dostoevsky did.