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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Russian realism
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This novel starts out impeccably strong, with it's unexpected wit and detailed descriptions, but sadly loses its structure after volume one. Of course this is more due the fact its generally unfinished (I read the author suffered from Il health, and that he also burned several pages before he died for whatever reason.) But because of this large chunks of text, whole chapters probably, were missing, meaning it suddenly became harder to understand where the story had progressed to.
It even ends mid sentence with a note saying the rest of the manuscript is missing. However, I like to imagine what maybe Gogol had intended to write in volume three, whether Chichikov truly learnt his lesson, or whether he fled and did it all again.
It's such a shame to see that it never quite got completed but still was a pleasure to read the first volume!
It even ends mid sentence with a note saying the rest of the manuscript is missing. However, I like to imagine what maybe Gogol had intended to write in volume three, whether Chichikov truly learnt his lesson, or whether he fled and did it all again.
It's such a shame to see that it never quite got completed but still was a pleasure to read the first volume!
Gogol is great. He does some things that the other Russian authors couldn't quite get to. He doesn't tell compelling and unified long-form narratives, though, so he's never going to be as famous.
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
slow-paced
There's was absolutely no reason for it to be this long and slow
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One must not allow the relatively low star rating of this work dissuade them from reading it. The work is truly magnificent in its portrayal of the stereotypes of both Russia and her inhabitants. Chichikov is truly a character of whom it is a pleasure and honor to follow. Had this work been completed I am of the firm belief that it would afford itself a much more favourable rating, however the story feels rather disjointed and anticlimactic upon realising that the conclusion to such a profoundly well written work is not by Gogol's own hand but rather the product of a double translation.
Yet in spite of this, it is a masterclass of Russian penmanship and is absolutely, without a doubt, worth the read.
Yet in spite of this, it is a masterclass of Russian penmanship and is absolutely, without a doubt, worth the read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Spoiler
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!