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ameve2's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
travelling_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
“One could see everything that was happening in the sky: a wizard racing in his cauldron, stars playing hide-and-seek, a group of ghosts hanging together like a cloud, a devil dancing in the moonlight, a broomstick returning home after transporting a witch . . . All kinds of riffraff flew past them. Every creature slowed down to take a look at the blacksmith riding a devil, then continued on its way.”
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Have you ever been so angry that you stole the moon?
Imagine pocketing a whole astronomical body out of the sky, just because someone painted an unflattering photo of you. Not only does it inspire new levels of pettiness, it is also somehow relatable. And that’s just the beginning when it comes to Gogol’s short story about a devil taking revenge on a blacksmith in a charmingly strange village in Ukraine.
This past year, I have steadily become a solid fan of Gogol’s stories, and The Night Before Christmas is no exception to this list. As with his other stories, this one is unexpectedly humorous and chaotic as well as nigh-impossible to explain to other people. Just suffice it to say this one is an absolute hoot (with passing references to Chrtistmas, don’t expect anything jolly and seasonal per say).
To finish this review, I will now allow some of the timeless gems this story has birthed:
“What devil has done this to the moon, I want to know? May he never have a shot of vodka in the morning!”
“Vakula’s mother was no more than forty years old and was neither good nor bad looking (though, of course, it’s difficult to look good at forty).”
“Can you believe it—the devil flirting?”
---------------------------------
Have you ever been so angry that you stole the moon?
Imagine pocketing a whole astronomical body out of the sky, just because someone painted an unflattering photo of you. Not only does it inspire new levels of pettiness, it is also somehow relatable. And that’s just the beginning when it comes to Gogol’s short story about a devil taking revenge on a blacksmith in a charmingly strange village in Ukraine.
This past year, I have steadily become a solid fan of Gogol’s stories, and The Night Before Christmas is no exception to this list. As with his other stories, this one is unexpectedly humorous and chaotic as well as nigh-impossible to explain to other people. Just suffice it to say this one is an absolute hoot (with passing references to Chrtistmas, don’t expect anything jolly and seasonal per say).
To finish this review, I will now allow some of the timeless gems this story has birthed:
“What devil has done this to the moon, I want to know? May he never have a shot of vodka in the morning!”
“Vakula’s mother was no more than forty years old and was neither good nor bad looking (though, of course, it’s difficult to look good at forty).”
“Can you believe it—the devil flirting?”
amberlea_s's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aweol's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annaelvira's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
rox74's review against another edition
4.5
This was a quirky little Christmas read that included the devil, a witch and a whole cast of colourful village characters. Totally not what I was expecting, but still delighted by the story. The Russians write great stories! Definitely not for younger readers, but perfectly fine for teens, although there are two or three instances of foul language. Great little read!
tonki's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75