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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Read the first volume, which is about 2/3 or 3/4 of the book as I recall. Wonderful translation and undeniably good, but altogether too easy to put down and forget to pick back up.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How do you write a review for a book that isn’t finished? Based on what happened, I wish I could revive Gogol and make him tell us what happened, or to go back in time and save the manuscript or something.
But judging it as it is, Dead Souls is very entertaining. True, I did read it extremely slowly (as an audiobook, which I forgot about once in a while), but I can still say that it was entertaining. When I finally got the physical copy, I would have whizzed through it if I didn’t have midterms. Maybe it’s the translator’s job, or it could be the genius of Gogol, but this Russian novel was much easier to read than War and Peace. It may not be the right comparison, but it’s the only other Russian book I’ve read at roughly the same time, so...
The plot of this book was meandering and, because of the fragmented manuscript, it was hard to follow at some points (but I got the general gist of it.)
The themes of this book were varied and complex, but I loved them. I loved how Gogol would just break off from the plot and go off on some tangent about the nature of human characters in books, and how they ought not to be perfect, but instead flawed (or something like that.)
All in all, this book definitely deserves a reread from me. It would probably be more developed in my head after I read some more Russian literature, which I will get to very soon.
But judging it as it is, Dead Souls is very entertaining. True, I did read it extremely slowly (as an audiobook, which I forgot about once in a while), but I can still say that it was entertaining. When I finally got the physical copy, I would have whizzed through it if I didn’t have midterms. Maybe it’s the translator’s job, or it could be the genius of Gogol, but this Russian novel was much easier to read than War and Peace. It may not be the right comparison, but it’s the only other Russian book I’ve read at roughly the same time, so...
The plot of this book was meandering and, because of the fragmented manuscript, it was hard to follow at some points (but I got the general gist of it.)
Spoiler
Maybe I missed the explanation of why Chichikov bought dead souls, but I know about it anyway because of my 8th grade english teacher, who recommended this to me. Side note: his name, Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, is the best name ever.The themes of this book were varied and complex, but I loved them. I loved how Gogol would just break off from the plot and go off on some tangent about the nature of human characters in books, and how they ought not to be perfect, but instead flawed (or something like that.)
All in all, this book definitely deserves a reread from me. It would probably be more developed in my head after I read some more Russian literature, which I will get to very soon.
Want to reread - but stop before all the missing parts, it’s too unsatisfying. The rating is based on the completed sections
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was about 12 years old when I had to read in school for the very first time and back then I absolutelly hated it. Now, decades after, I decided to give this book another try. Wow!!! What a masterpiece this is. Gogol's writing is simply beautiful, his humor is sarcastic, and his knowledge and understanding of "Russian soul" is something that even Tolstoi doesn't have.
Sadly, Gogol wasn't able to finish this book. One can only wonder what else did he have in mind for Chichikov and all other characters.
Sadly, Gogol wasn't able to finish this book. One can only wonder what else did he have in mind for Chichikov and all other characters.
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
medium-paced