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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A con man with a plan is held back by the sheer stubbornness and irrationality of the local landowners from carrying out a plan to their mutual benefit.
I thought I had read this years ago, but it must have been something else. At any rate, a picaresque novel that's more about the landowners than the con man, and more about how showing how broken Russia was than about the con. The first half is readable and funny; the latter half is unfinshed and unedited, and a REALLY rough read. If you decide to stop at the end of the first book, I can't blame you.
Think of a satire of Melmoth the Wanderer, the eternal con man, and you won't be too far off.
Recommended if you like picaresque satires. Don't expect a Don Quixote, but an antecedent of A Confederacy od Dunces--perhaps.
I thought I had read this years ago, but it must have been something else. At any rate, a picaresque novel that's more about the landowners than the con man, and more about how showing how broken Russia was than about the con. The first half is readable and funny; the latter half is unfinshed and unedited, and a REALLY rough read. If you decide to stop at the end of the first book, I can't blame you.
Think of a satire of Melmoth the Wanderer, the eternal con man, and you won't be too far off.
Recommended if you like picaresque satires. Don't expect a Don Quixote, but an antecedent of A Confederacy od Dunces--perhaps.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's weird, because there were several witty parts that had me actually laughing out loud in public transport, but most of it was a draaaaaaaaaaaag. There isn't much plot at all. The main character going on visit after visit of different aristocratic stereotypes. Then he gets caught in his scam, moves to a different town, and goes on visit after visit of different aristocratic stereotypes again. Pretty tiring when the whole thing is 450 pages long. Oh, and the book was never finished, so there was supposed to be more of it and it's just left hanging mid-sentence. The way that it is written is quite interesting, with a narrator that goes off on tangents and addresses the reader. But besides that it's not really something I enjoyed much.
Much enjoyed this and wish that Gogol had left the rest for us to enjoy. What a talent for humor, Gogol had. I agree with those who say it's a little dark, but I can't remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a book. And the humor is very clever, unexpected. I love that Dead Souls is satirical without beating the reader over the head with irony. It's just the right blend of absurdity and subtlety. And the ventures into transcendent prose are really beautiful. Well worth the time I put into reading.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm putting down five stars for the first volume and lightly caution everyone who wants to read this before going in, as I was not aware that the second volume was sadly incomplete. That being said, this was a wonderful read. The prose style was comforting, the humor was sharp in a way that gets better with every passing year, and there were lots of poignant passages. You can tell that this was a book written during the times where writers were paid per word and I say that as a compliment, as it gives good space for the author's narrative to wander everywhere from sharp satire to fourth-wall breaking joking at the reader's expense to just plain old nice, relaxed, reflective writing. I liked it.
I wish I'd had the opportunity to read this book while in a lit class. On it's own, with no context, it's...okay. I know Gogol was clever, biting, observational, yadda yadda. But you know what? I'm just not familiar enough with Russian feudal society and archetypes to get it. Go figure.