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doodeedoda's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
emma_merkulova's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
partypete's review against another edition
2.0
Dreadful. I got this as a christmas present from my aunt and uncle. Believe it or not, the Fushigi ball they gave me the year before was more enjoyable.
trish204's review against another edition
4.0
The Devil has stolen the moon and is terrorizing the village of the blacksmith Vakula. Why? Because Vakula aggravated the Devil with a painting he made for the village church. Tragically enough, Vakula's own mother (a witch) is helping the Devil.
Soon enough, Vakula even makes a deal with the Devil in order to get the girl Oksana, whom he is madly in love with.* Amidst blizzards and ALL sins mentioned in the Bible, an epic battle (of sorts) begins.
It's a grim tale, like many from Eastern European countries or Russia, and one that is apparently still read to children every Christmas. And I can see why for it has cool worldbuilding, dark humour, high stakes and a relatable hero fighting evil - or is it just his neighbours he's fighting? In any case, this has all the hallmarks of a great story.
Accompanying the tale in this lovely little edition are nice black-and-white illustrations by different Eastern European and Russian artists that all captured the spirit of the story wonderfully.
I had never read or heard of this tale before, but immediately felt drawn into this snowy, ice-cold place that was full of ... character.
* I must admit that I don't really understand the obsession with the girl. Beautiful she might be, but she also behaved abominally, was arrogant and vain and just downright unpleasant.
Soon enough, Vakula even makes a deal with the Devil in order to get the girl Oksana, whom he is madly in love with.* Amidst blizzards and ALL sins mentioned in the Bible, an epic battle (of sorts) begins.
It's a grim tale, like many from Eastern European countries or Russia, and one that is apparently still read to children every Christmas. And I can see why for it has cool worldbuilding, dark humour, high stakes and a relatable hero fighting evil - or is it just his neighbours he's fighting? In any case, this has all the hallmarks of a great story.
Accompanying the tale in this lovely little edition are nice black-and-white illustrations by different Eastern European and Russian artists that all captured the spirit of the story wonderfully.
I had never read or heard of this tale before, but immediately felt drawn into this snowy, ice-cold place that was full of ... character.
* I must admit that I don't really understand the obsession with the girl. Beautiful she might be, but she also behaved abominally, was arrogant and vain and just downright unpleasant.
hayley_loves_books's review against another edition
1.0
That was one bizarre story. I was expecting a Christmas story. Yes the story happened at Christmas but it was about the devil and a witch. Not sure if it didn’t translate well being originally Ukrainian but this one was an epic fail for me.
ilana_pop's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
bufally47's review against another edition
4.0
This novella was a fun little romp through 19th century Russia on Christmas Eve. I was pleasantly surprised, recalling Gogol’s The Overcoat as a rather somber examination of class, materialism and bureaucracy. This reminded me more of the devil’s scenes in Bulgakov's [b:The Master and Margarita|117833|The Master and Margarita|Mikhail Bulgakov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327867963l/117833._SY75_.jpg|876183], full of both supernatural mischief and theatrical human antics. The prose did seem to step on its own toes here and there, but it’s so short and fast-paced that it’s still a breeze even if you find yourself drifting off occasionally. In classic Russian fashion, the story featured a vain and cruelly flippant young lady and a frustrated suitor determined to win her affections at any price. My favorite character, though, was the brash and bumbling Tchub, whose invective was glorious:
Such a nice little deviation from the usual Christmas fare.
"May he never have a glass of vodka to drink in the mornings, the dog!"
"May he break his teeth of a crust of buckwheat bread!"
"May he have a pimple as big as a haycock under each of his eyes, the devil’s son!"
Such a nice little deviation from the usual Christmas fare.
mrsjenniferwheeler's review against another edition
4.0
Well. That certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, lol! Very reminiscent of Hans Christian Anderson’s work. Classic fairytale style, with a touch of darkness.
literaryrevisited's review against another edition
5.0
“What the . . . Look, Panas, the moon’s gone.”
“So it is,” kum agreed phlegmatically.
“Right, and you just accept it, like that’s the way it should be?”
“Well, what else can I do about it?”
“What devil has done this to the moon, I want to know? May he never have a shot of vodka in the morning,”
It would be a much difficult, if impossible, to tell what this short novel is about. It is a piece of art, of that I have no doubt, and Nikolai Gogol does a terrific job combining folklore, supernaturality and a gothic love story.
I have never read the work of the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol before, but reading this Christmas story, I have become most assured, that when I do pick up a book by him - hopefully sometime soon - I will not be dissapointed.
“So it is,” kum agreed phlegmatically.
“Right, and you just accept it, like that’s the way it should be?”
“Well, what else can I do about it?”
“What devil has done this to the moon, I want to know? May he never have a shot of vodka in the morning,”
It would be a much difficult, if impossible, to tell what this short novel is about. It is a piece of art, of that I have no doubt, and Nikolai Gogol does a terrific job combining folklore, supernaturality and a gothic love story.
I have never read the work of the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol before, but reading this Christmas story, I have become most assured, that when I do pick up a book by him - hopefully sometime soon - I will not be dissapointed.