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fmcanelas's review
5.0
I highly recommend this book for a few reasons, but mostly two.
First, the writing of Maxim Gorky is one of the most captivating literature pieces I have encountered, describing the everyday life in a subtle but critical way, showing us not only the actions and events but shedding light on the injustice of life.
Second, it is my opinion that you can only fully appreciate the work of someone when you understand the origins of both the author and the work, and this book is part of a trilogy in which the author describes his own childhood, his first experiences in working and how he learned and "studied" the reality.
First, the writing of Maxim Gorky is one of the most captivating literature pieces I have encountered, describing the everyday life in a subtle but critical way, showing us not only the actions and events but shedding light on the injustice of life.
Second, it is my opinion that you can only fully appreciate the work of someone when you understand the origins of both the author and the work, and this book is part of a trilogy in which the author describes his own childhood, his first experiences in working and how he learned and "studied" the reality.
anniereadsnshares's review against another edition
5.0
"Thời thơ ấu" là cuốn tự truyện của nhà văn Maxim Gorki, mượn lời kể của cậu bé Alexei non nớt. Ở đó, bức tranh cuộc sống là sự pha trộn hỗn tạp của nhiều mảng màu sáng tối, lúc trần trụi, khắc nghiệt, lúc bình lặng, đơn sơ. Ở đó, xúc cảm về cuộc sống qua tâm hồn thơ trẻ là những gì thuần khiết nhất, không pha tạp, không màu mè, nó mở ra lối đi dẫn ta đi qua những quãng ngày tăm tối,... và lớn lên.
jensaperstein's review
3.0
If you're looking for a plot of any kind, don't read this book.
With that said, this book celebrates the beauty of nature and at the same time indifferently reveals the often senseless cruelty of humans. Gorky--a celebrated Russian writer--writes autobiographically of his childhood with his Grandfather, Grandmother, and Mother. His mother is an absent figure for most of Gorky's childhood, be it physically or emotionally. His Grandfather is a practical man, stubborn, and violently abusive.
Grandmother is one of the two reasons this book holds value to me. She is the classic "wise old woman" figure in literature: accepting, loving, respected, and, of course, wise. She prays to her own mystical God, and this is what brings the story its praise of nature. Grandmother's God is a pagan god of sorts; he lives in the trees' branches as they flow in the wind, or in the blooming of the flower, or in the kindness of Gorky himself as a child. Gorky's writing on this topic lends itself naturally to the reader's fuller appreciation of these things, even if you may not (as I didn't) view them as "filled with God" but rather simply as beautiful.
Another facet of this novel that I enjoyed was Gorky's message: that, though Russia's lower classes may be riddled with violence and senseless, harmful actions, they hold infinite promise and wellness of heart deep within them. That Russian culture has spawned a generation of dynamic individuals that are in the midst a huge possibility of change. Though he doesn't quite state this outright, it came through to me as I read his autobiography.
I didn't rate this higher because it bored me to no end. It simply went nowhere. Gorky goes back and forth from his Grandfather's, to his Mother's; they move from one boarding house to another; he gets in trouble in one school and two pages later he's in a childish street gang, only seven pages later to be top student; I found it all hard and somewhat useless to follow because, honestly, the plot never reached any sort of resolution for me. (Weird, too: for me it's been three books in a row that I haven't fallen into any sort of love with. Unusual!)
Overall, though, a good read, and a great insight into Gorky himself if you're a fan of his other writings.
With that said, this book celebrates the beauty of nature and at the same time indifferently reveals the often senseless cruelty of humans. Gorky--a celebrated Russian writer--writes autobiographically of his childhood with his Grandfather, Grandmother, and Mother. His mother is an absent figure for most of Gorky's childhood, be it physically or emotionally. His Grandfather is a practical man, stubborn, and violently abusive.
Grandmother is one of the two reasons this book holds value to me. She is the classic "wise old woman" figure in literature: accepting, loving, respected, and, of course, wise. She prays to her own mystical God, and this is what brings the story its praise of nature. Grandmother's God is a pagan god of sorts; he lives in the trees' branches as they flow in the wind, or in the blooming of the flower, or in the kindness of Gorky himself as a child. Gorky's writing on this topic lends itself naturally to the reader's fuller appreciation of these things, even if you may not (as I didn't) view them as "filled with God" but rather simply as beautiful.
Another facet of this novel that I enjoyed was Gorky's message: that, though Russia's lower classes may be riddled with violence and senseless, harmful actions, they hold infinite promise and wellness of heart deep within them. That Russian culture has spawned a generation of dynamic individuals that are in the midst a huge possibility of change. Though he doesn't quite state this outright, it came through to me as I read his autobiography.
I didn't rate this higher because it bored me to no end. It simply went nowhere. Gorky goes back and forth from his Grandfather's, to his Mother's; they move from one boarding house to another; he gets in trouble in one school and two pages later he's in a childish street gang, only seven pages later to be top student; I found it all hard and somewhat useless to follow because, honestly, the plot never reached any sort of resolution for me. (Weird, too: for me it's been three books in a row that I haven't fallen into any sort of love with. Unusual!)
Overall, though, a good read, and a great insight into Gorky himself if you're a fan of his other writings.
viveknshah's review
4.0
This classic transports you visually to a historical Russia right into Gorky's life as he paints a colorful kaleidoscope of his life with numerous dark tones and shades of violence, poverty and diseases that manifest through his surroundings. His ability to describe in detail without it sounding like a dictionary of adjectives is nicely done (though part credit should go to the translator as I am reading the English version) .
herdem09's review
2.0
Sanıyorum biyografi denilen şeyin tarzı bu fakat kitap sadece olayları anlatıyor. Çok ama çok nadir olaylar hakkında yorum yapılıp, tespitlerde bulunuluyor. Böyle olunca da o beklenilen özlü sözlerden hiç yok bu kitapta. Çanlar kimin için çalıyor'dan sonra yine bu tarz bir kitaba rast gelmek iyi değildi, zar zor bitirebildim.
camiarana's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
4.5
How can something so tragic be so beautiful??? Every word of this is soaked in overwhelming nostalgia.......I just couldn't help but underline every sentence