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hannagg's review
5.0
For a reader, there is nothing better than discovering a new, great writer. I hadn't heard about Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky (1887-1950) until I got a short book, "Stravanging Strange," which consists of three stories, his notes, and excerpts from his wife, Anna Bovshek's memoir. It was the perfect material to ignite my interest in this unique writer. Reading his stories reminded me of a great movie, "The Saragossa Manuscript," which, according to Kristin Jones of Wall Street Journal, "interweaves the rational with the supernatural."
Krzhizhanovsky thought in images. The first two stories are a magical yet logical description of travels similar to Gulliver's journey but on a smaller scale. In the first story, after drinking a potion, the protagonist is reduced to the size of a "dust mote." As such, he watches his beloved in her apartment, where even the shortest distance transforms into a week-long journey. The second transformation is even more radical – this time, our hero enters the bloodstream of his rival, and there with help from his new friend Null and other equally small cells, becomes a mini David who defeats Goliath. The third story is perhaps the most realistic but also the most philosophical: it talks about Katafalaki, a man living in London, a careful observer with the eyes of a wondering child, whose project is to walk every one of London street according to the carefully hatched up plan.
The language of the stories is beautiful and unique. Apart from the already mentioned "The Saragossa Manuscript," it reminded me of some great English stories with a Kafkaesque twist and the addition of haunting longing. I read that Krzhizhanovsky spent most of his life in Moscow, giving lectures about literature and theater, and writing. He did most of his traveling through his imagination - which is the best way to travel.
Krzhizhanovsky thought in images. The first two stories are a magical yet logical description of travels similar to Gulliver's journey but on a smaller scale. In the first story, after drinking a potion, the protagonist is reduced to the size of a "dust mote." As such, he watches his beloved in her apartment, where even the shortest distance transforms into a week-long journey. The second transformation is even more radical – this time, our hero enters the bloodstream of his rival, and there with help from his new friend Null and other equally small cells, becomes a mini David who defeats Goliath. The third story is perhaps the most realistic but also the most philosophical: it talks about Katafalaki, a man living in London, a careful observer with the eyes of a wondering child, whose project is to walk every one of London street according to the carefully hatched up plan.
The language of the stories is beautiful and unique. Apart from the already mentioned "The Saragossa Manuscript," it reminded me of some great English stories with a Kafkaesque twist and the addition of haunting longing. I read that Krzhizhanovsky spent most of his life in Moscow, giving lectures about literature and theater, and writing. He did most of his traveling through his imagination - which is the best way to travel.
fallona's review
5.0
I received an electronic ARC via NetGalley.
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky has been one of my favorite writers since I first encountered one of his stories as an undergraduate. I've been delighted by the chance to read more of his work in English translation thanks to this collection (and, from the same publisher, [b:Countries That Don't Exist: Selected Nonfiction|56198978|Countries That Don't Exist Selected Nonfiction|Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608624490l/56198978._SY75_.jpg|87538959]). Being already familiar with and fond of the author, I was well-disposed toward this book from the beginning. It did not disappoint.
The stories in this collection are, as I suppose the title suggests, often strange. They're also surprisingly moving, and while it helps to have some understanding of Krzhizhanovsky's context before enjoying his stories (as with every book in the Columbia University Press Russian Library I've read thus far, the introduction does an admirable job of providing a lot of this context, and the endnotes are also there to help) I think they're enjoyable even if you don't catch all of his references. I can't pretend to catch them all, despite a decent familiarity with Russian literature and some Polish--Krzhizhanovsky's references are wide-ranging, but they don't feel pedantic.
Personally, I particularly enjoyed the last two segments of the book: excerpts from some of his notebooks and looseleaf notes, and the afterword of excerpts of Anna Bovshek's "Through the Eyes of a Friend (Material for a Life of Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky). Together, they provide a glimpse of Krzhizhanovsky the man as well as Krzhizhanovsky the author.
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky has been one of my favorite writers since I first encountered one of his stories as an undergraduate. I've been delighted by the chance to read more of his work in English translation thanks to this collection (and, from the same publisher, [b:Countries That Don't Exist: Selected Nonfiction|56198978|Countries That Don't Exist Selected Nonfiction|Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608624490l/56198978._SY75_.jpg|87538959]). Being already familiar with and fond of the author, I was well-disposed toward this book from the beginning. It did not disappoint.
The stories in this collection are, as I suppose the title suggests, often strange. They're also surprisingly moving, and while it helps to have some understanding of Krzhizhanovsky's context before enjoying his stories (as with every book in the Columbia University Press Russian Library I've read thus far, the introduction does an admirable job of providing a lot of this context, and the endnotes are also there to help) I think they're enjoyable even if you don't catch all of his references. I can't pretend to catch them all, despite a decent familiarity with Russian literature and some Polish--Krzhizhanovsky's references are wide-ranging, but they don't feel pedantic.
Personally, I particularly enjoyed the last two segments of the book: excerpts from some of his notebooks and looseleaf notes, and the afterword of excerpts of Anna Bovshek's "Through the Eyes of a Friend (Material for a Life of Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky). Together, they provide a glimpse of Krzhizhanovsky the man as well as Krzhizhanovsky the author.
bookselected's review
4.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for giving me an e-book of this version
This book consists all in all of three fictional and absurd stories of the Russian author Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky, who was unfortunately unknown during his time.
I will admit that this is not my normal cup of tea and that it took some time for me to get immersed into the book but after a while I really enjoyed the beautiful absurdity of it all and got into the writing style! All three stories were interesting in a new way for me and I was able to enjoy them all (even tough Stravaging Strange was my favourite). However, at the beginning of each story I was often confused and did not fully understand what was going on but decided to go with the flow, which payed off in the end.
I’ve seen this book describes as “Alice in wonderland for adults” before and I think this fits my feelings (especially while reading the first story).
This book consists all in all of three fictional and absurd stories of the Russian author Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky, who was unfortunately unknown during his time.
I will admit that this is not my normal cup of tea and that it took some time for me to get immersed into the book but after a while I really enjoyed the beautiful absurdity of it all and got into the writing style! All three stories were interesting in a new way for me and I was able to enjoy them all (even tough Stravaging Strange was my favourite). However, at the beginning of each story I was often confused and did not fully understand what was going on but decided to go with the flow, which payed off in the end.
I’ve seen this book describes as “Alice in wonderland for adults” before and I think this fits my feelings (especially while reading the first story).
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