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emmashutup's review against another edition
2.5
This was weird and wacky and honestly, not very Christmasy. Gogol's retelling of this classic Ukrainian story couldn't be further from the Clement C. Moore poem, even though they share the same name. If you're down for a Christmas story that includes a dalliance between a witch and the devil, plus some Shakespearean-level misunderstanding comedy, you might enjoy this.
So why didn't I enjoy it more? Well, I know this is a short story, but there wasn't much to it as far as meaning, characters, or even plausible plot. There's no twist on the expected that would make it interesting. It's just a silly story that's written fairly well (Anna Summers does a great job of capturing the wit of the story in English). If that's enough for you, give this a go! I just don't think I'll be revisiting it any time soon.
So why didn't I enjoy it more? Well, I know this is a short story, but there wasn't much to it as far as meaning, characters, or even plausible plot. There's no twist on the expected that would make it interesting. It's just a silly story that's written fairly well (Anna Summers does a great job of capturing the wit of the story in English). If that's enough for you, give this a go! I just don't think I'll be revisiting it any time soon.
carolduvallon's review against another edition
3.0
Eu não sei o que dizer além de "que loucura, bicho". Caos puro. Eu adorei.
chibihao's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
anansi_girrl's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
rachael_perry's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
linw21's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Night Before Christmas (also known as The Night of Christmas Eve) is not the well-known poem by Clement C. Moore. Rather it was written in 1831 and is inspired by Ukrainian folktales. It centres on a battle between the devil and the village blacksmith, who is trying to win the hand of the most beautiful girl in the village. It certainly has a very different feel from Christmas stories in the western tradition, what with a witch, a devil, flying pierogies, and the Tsarina’s slippers, although the triumph of good over evil is definitely a commonality. This was an entertaining story, but also a good reminder that those who do celebrate Christmas all do so very differently, that Christmas encompasses a wide variety of traditions, beliefs and practices.
therazzmatazz13's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
lestowskij's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0