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confirmyourpassword's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've written because I am far outside the cultural and societal context of this book. But for a modern reader, I would say to really treat it like a early 20th-century book and accept that a number of things are challenging to parse. It starts off pretty slow and gets more enjoyable about halfway through, though there are extended monologues that can drag on for a page or more. Definitely worth it for anyone looking for a detailed and historical war satire.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
star_ansible's review
3.0
In Malá Strana, there is a good cafe, the Kavárna V Sedmém Nebi. Where I, the chaplain, and his batboy enjoyed a minor weekly dalliance. The barman served grog, but it was an inferior specimen, so we kept to the pils. It was here on a sticky summer evening that we encountered the pleasant and noble Jakub. Jakub was a wallet maker, he created careful and cunning leather instruments comprised mostly of horsehide, with linings of silk. His care and precision did not translate to his progressive but violent views on the excesses of consumption. He was an ardent supporter of the Extinction Rebellion, a virtuous to some, villainous to others, cadre of rascals and rapscallions who have done much to oppose the global machine.
Yes, thank you, another round is in order, yes, and four Borovička, one extra for my friend here, who does good business with his dogs, or, when legally obligated to discuss and disclose their breed, mutts. He surely would appreciate the juniper berry. As I was saying, the noble wallet artisan incited with some, according to manyfold layers of Austrian bureaucracy, unsavory fellows and nearly ended in the gaols. He was fortuitously spared from this degradation by the ineptitude of two winged transit couriers, who instead of delivering the news of his crimes and pending incarceration to the Czech authorities, succumbed to their earthly desires, falling into a honeypot.
These courier pigeons were considered by the seductress's breeder to be in excellent form, and entered into three races. The pair of birds finished fourth in their first race, homing to Tunis in a mere three days. They eventually ended up facing down the Belgian fancier Janssen's dreadful bird, La Belle Janis, in a heat that nearly cost the lives of all three birds but eventually ended in both triumph and tragedy on Cyril Viktor Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel's fourth-story balcony in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
Unfortunately, or fortunately if you are Kees Janssen, Cyril's faithful purebred - not a word I use lightly - St Bernard consumed the two exhausted birds in a celebratory and slobbery manner as Mr. Emmanuel searched for his bottle opener. We can consider the passing of such elegant creatures for the greater good, as this was the day Mr. Emmanuel decided, with much alignment from Ms. Emmanuel, to cease his excess in alcohol that had been plaguing their household. This sobriety is why Jakub has now created a wallet of such ingenuity that no one will ever forget their bottle opener again, as he has fashioned one directly into one of his exquisite portefeuilles!
Yes, thank you, another round is in order, yes, and four Borovička, one extra for my friend here, who does good business with his dogs, or, when legally obligated to discuss and disclose their breed, mutts. He surely would appreciate the juniper berry. As I was saying, the noble wallet artisan incited with some, according to manyfold layers of Austrian bureaucracy, unsavory fellows and nearly ended in the gaols. He was fortuitously spared from this degradation by the ineptitude of two winged transit couriers, who instead of delivering the news of his crimes and pending incarceration to the Czech authorities, succumbed to their earthly desires, falling into a honeypot.
These courier pigeons were considered by the seductress's breeder to be in excellent form, and entered into three races. The pair of birds finished fourth in their first race, homing to Tunis in a mere three days. They eventually ended up facing down the Belgian fancier Janssen's dreadful bird, La Belle Janis, in a heat that nearly cost the lives of all three birds but eventually ended in both triumph and tragedy on Cyril Viktor Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel's fourth-story balcony in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
Unfortunately, or fortunately if you are Kees Janssen, Cyril's faithful purebred - not a word I use lightly - St Bernard consumed the two exhausted birds in a celebratory and slobbery manner as Mr. Emmanuel searched for his bottle opener. We can consider the passing of such elegant creatures for the greater good, as this was the day Mr. Emmanuel decided, with much alignment from Ms. Emmanuel, to cease his excess in alcohol that had been plaguing their household. This sobriety is why Jakub has now created a wallet of such ingenuity that no one will ever forget their bottle opener again, as he has fashioned one directly into one of his exquisite portefeuilles!
zoe_94's review against another edition
1.0
Humpf, this book is so thick! One positive though: it was great to learn about the character of the soldier as he has become such an icon in czech culture. + there are a few funny bits in it (ie. the illustrations)
kilgoretroutsky's review
4.0
Humbly report, sir, this book took me forever to finish. Not that it isn't worth the slog, but I could see reading this in weekly installments (as it was originally published) being a lot more enjoyable then going straight through.
clare_tan_wenhui's review against another edition
3.0
"Not every man can have wisdom, sir. Stupid people have to exist too, because if everyone were wise then there would be so much good sense in this world that every other person would be driven crazy by it."
pg 776
Unfortunately the author's death derailed his plans from finishing this 6-part WWI satire, prematurely stopping somewhere in Chapter 3 of Part 4, before any story of the war proper begins. Despite being incomplete, his mission of depicting the absurdity and bureaucracy of armed forces especially during wartime, has definitely been accomplished, though hampered by the bumbling inconsistencies in plot pacing. This frolicking yet greatly tedious reading experience, is very much akin to how Lt Lukas has to do damage control for Svejk yet again, listening to him go and on about things relevant and irrelevant likewise.
"Don't you want to know how the story ended?"
pg 784
Yes, but not necessary. This is good enough.
pg 776
Unfortunately the author's death derailed his plans from finishing this 6-part WWI satire, prematurely stopping somewhere in Chapter 3 of Part 4, before any story of the war proper begins. Despite being incomplete, his mission of depicting the absurdity and bureaucracy of armed forces especially during wartime, has definitely been accomplished, though hampered by the bumbling inconsistencies in plot pacing. This frolicking yet greatly tedious reading experience, is very much akin to how Lt Lukas has to do damage control for Svejk yet again, listening to him go and on about things relevant and irrelevant likewise.
"Don't you want to know how the story ended?"
pg 784
Yes, but not necessary. This is good enough.
thebookeer's review against another edition
5.0
Vaat, kus lops! Ja mina olen veel terve elu vältel arvanud, et tegemist on muheda lasteraamatuga, mida on kerge lugeda ja milles on lihtsad jutud ning naljad, mis on veidi ka õpetlikud. Oh ei, tegemist on siiski tõsise raamatuga, mis on täis musta sõjahuumorit. Tumedate naljade austajana pean tunnistama (või ehk alandlikult teatama), et see raamat pani mind tundma nii ahastust kui ka kõhukrampides naerma. Oma suurepärase panuse selle raamatu edusse andis kindlasti ka näitleja Tõnu Aav, kes teksti nii ilmekalt ja muhedalt peale luges - nii suurepärast esitust ei ole ma audioraamatutes veel seni kuulnud. See raamat tegi mu tööle- ja kojusõidud väga värvikaks.
bianca89279's review
4.0
I remember reading this (probably an unbridged version) when I was a pre-teen and laughing with tears. I was happy years later to find the paperback in English this time. I have the bad habit of neglecting the books I own in favour of the many library books I borrow.
Upon noticing the audiobook on a library app, I thought I should try it again.
I can't say I paid close attention throughout, the narrator didn't exactly appeal to me that much not to mention there were glitches and paragraphs were repeated occasionally, a first for this audiobook consumer.
While I didn't laugh with tears, this was nevertheless amusing and quite the feat for its time.
Satire and war can be good battle companions.
Upon noticing the audiobook on a library app, I thought I should try it again.
I can't say I paid close attention throughout, the narrator didn't exactly appeal to me that much not to mention there were glitches and paragraphs were repeated occasionally, a first for this audiobook consumer.
While I didn't laugh with tears, this was nevertheless amusing and quite the feat for its time.
Satire and war can be good battle companions.
kathrun006's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is extremely funny.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, and Ableism
This book is neither very serious nor very graphic.rjstreet's review
2.0
Amusing and dark for the most part, though to be honest, it becomes redundant at points as Svejk encounters the same situation rather repeatedly. Also, I can't help but feel that the titular character is woefully inconsistent - is he an idiot? That certainly seems to be the thrust of the narration and intent, but Svejk is often far more clever than one would expect. Regardless, an amusing work that, at a minimum, is insightful into how humor is viewed outside of my own culture.