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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Really enjoyed the first part. Did not enjoy missing so much text in the second part.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first time i read this was probably 1998 and then again somehwere in the aughts
2014: Re-read of a newer translation. Still one of my favorites, top ten all time just in terms of altering my understanding of what writing can be like. I still prefer the runyonesque guerney translation from the 1930s. This P&V feels much more sedate, less joyous, less puckish.
2018: Re-re-re-read: i cant keep track of which edition/translation this page marks but i'm here to talk about the bernard guilbert guerney translation, edited by suzanne russo. re-read it this december because there are conditions of the soul which can only be addressed by vaguely psychedelic early 19th century picaresque fiction. i dipped into a bunch of different translations and i really cannot stress 1) i speak like a grand total of 8 words of russian so have zero grounds for judgment apart from the english ear-feel of the translations 2) the guerney translation is SO MUCH BETTER than the P&V. the P&V feels like fussy antique fidgeting. guerney feels like finding out your great great great grandparents were secretly weird.
2014: Re-read of a newer translation. Still one of my favorites, top ten all time just in terms of altering my understanding of what writing can be like. I still prefer the runyonesque guerney translation from the 1930s. This P&V feels much more sedate, less joyous, less puckish.
2018: Re-re-re-read: i cant keep track of which edition/translation this page marks but i'm here to talk about the bernard guilbert guerney translation, edited by suzanne russo. re-read it this december because there are conditions of the soul which can only be addressed by vaguely psychedelic early 19th century picaresque fiction. i dipped into a bunch of different translations and i really cannot stress 1) i speak like a grand total of 8 words of russian so have zero grounds for judgment apart from the english ear-feel of the translations 2) the guerney translation is SO MUCH BETTER than the P&V. the P&V feels like fussy antique fidgeting. guerney feels like finding out your great great great grandparents were secretly weird.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 stars because it is not finished and also because Pavel Ivanovici did not get his. He was a bitch till the end and he knows it.
Some parts of the second half were missing, but I think I got the main idea.
Gogol is like Caragiale, but more depressing and mental breakdown inducing, cuz he is russian.
All in all I liked the book, I enjoyed how almost all characters had their own way of speaking. Also, a lot of complex characters were created. I learned a lot about old russian mentality too and had a few good laughs.
Some pasages were really deep tho, Gogol did not have to hit this hard, but he did and God bless his russian heart.
Imma drink a shot of vodka in his honor, I think he would like that.
Also, it was quite clear to me that parts of this book were a love letter to Russia. The way the author describes the scenery and the customs really shows a lot of love from his side. In the rest of the book, he satirises the country.
F Pavel Ivanovici Cicikov!
Some parts of the second half were missing, but I think I got the main idea.
Gogol is like Caragiale, but more depressing and mental breakdown inducing, cuz he is russian.
All in all I liked the book, I enjoyed how almost all characters had their own way of speaking. Also, a lot of complex characters were created. I learned a lot about old russian mentality too and had a few good laughs.
Some pasages were really deep tho, Gogol did not have to hit this hard, but he did and God bless his russian heart.
Imma drink a shot of vodka in his honor, I think he would like that.
Also, it was quite clear to me that parts of this book were a love letter to Russia. The way the author describes the scenery and the customs really shows a lot of love from his side. In the rest of the book, he satirises the country.
F Pavel Ivanovici Cicikov!
Too bad Gogol destroyed the second half before he died... silly Gogol.
oh wow
such Russia
so bureaucracy
money is evrything
Sobakevich is bear
such Russia
so bureaucracy
money is evrything
Sobakevich is bear
Would probly have 5 stars but neebody told me he never finished it so it just cuts off at the end of part 2, I would muchly like to know how it was going to end