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birgertheburg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lapaspusempapedam's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, šī grāmata lika uzjundīt padomju laika sentimentu - tā neaprakstāmā un sirsnīgā vienkāršība lietās, domās, draudzībās un vārdos. Savā veidā padomju laikam piemita savs īpašais šarms - izlasot šo grāmatu, prātā nāk ainas ar bērnības našķi - baltmaize ar biezu sviesta un cukura kārtu; graņonkas, kuru tilpumu precīzi zināja gan Vodkas cienītāji, gan labāko kūku cepējas; ja daudzdzīvokļu namu pagalmos bija saplīsusi kāda mašīna, visi vīri metās uz vienu roku un pus dienu gar to ķimerējās līdz to kopīgiem spēkiem saremontēja; kad mammām atlika tikai atvērt logu un nosaukties "Pusdienās!" un bērni skriešus metās uz mājām; kad bērnu rotaļu laukums bija šim laikam prātam neaptveramie nepabeigto daudzdzīvokļu māju betona paneļi stāvu stāvos; kad pirmo košļeni neskaitāmas reizes mērcēji cukurtraukā, lai saldā garša nekad nepazustu; kopīgā svētku svinēšana ar kaimiņiem pie lielajiem galdiem ar padomju laiku traukiem; kad mazie svētkos vaktēja nepieskatītās, izdzertās liķiera glāzes, lai ar pirkstiem ķeksētu laukā jau sacukurojošo liķiera pēdējo pilīti...Kas tomēr par foršām atmiņām.
Patika iegrimt šajās lapaspusēs un būt līdzgaitniecei Hera gaitām. Mani paķēra ne tikai uzrunājošais stāsts, bet arī rakstnieka stils un valoda. Un nevar nepieminēt, ka Ukrainā romāns 2010. gadā atzīts par "BCC gada labāko grāmatu" un 2014. gadā -par "BCC desmitgades labāko grāmatu".
Patika iegrimt šajās lapaspusēs un būt līdzgaitniecei Hera gaitām. Mani paķēra ne tikai uzrunājošais stāsts, bet arī rakstnieka stils un valoda. Un nevar nepieminēt, ka Ukrainā romāns 2010. gadā atzīts par "BCC gada labāko grāmatu" un 2014. gadā -par "BCC desmitgades labāko grāmatu".
jrt_lit's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
urfavlazyreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
channilovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
The translation is decent, the pacing makes for a very compelling read, and the themes are easy for the audience to grasp without ever seeming condescending.
My main issue with this book is that the protagonist is a creep towards women.
My main issue with this book is that the protagonist is a creep towards women.
oryszczyszyn's review against another edition
5.0
Bez przesady stwierdzam, że to, co napisał w tej książce Zhadan, to kawał wielkiej literatury, być może największej, jaką napisano w tej części Europy w ostatniej dekadzie. Książka jest fantastyczna. Czterysta stron naładowanych pięknymi metaforami, a o tym, jak autor pisze o powietrzu, tlenie i oddychaniu, można by pewnie napisać oddzielną rozprawę. Woroszyłowgrad to powieść inicjacyjna o Ukrainie, o dojrzewaniu i o piłce nożnej. Brutalny realizm miesza się z onirycznymi, narkotycznymi wizjami. Anioły piją gruzińskie wina, a rozgrywki piłkarskie są jak średniowieczne rycerskie batalie. Wszystko to przypomina raz komiks, raz poezję, a za chwilę ciężki, realistyczny reportaż z postsowieckiej rozpierduchy. A tak w ogóle to chodzi o to, jak zarządzać stacją benzynową.
rogal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kellyd's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
DNF @ page 213
Stupidly gorgeous writing (despite the prose not matching all that great with the main character) - I highlighted so many lines and phrases. Part I was interesting - we follow an aimless man in the Ukraine who is forced to go back home and take responsibility for a gas station after his brother mysteriously leaves, yet the novel did not feel aimless, it felt relatively well guided by the author. Minus the frankly bizarre interactions the protagonist had with a couple of female characters, I was interested to see where it went.
Part II is where it fell apart for me. The beginning of Part II was absolutely baffling as I had no idea what was going on or how it connected to Part I (I do not know if this a translation issue or not). A bunch of half-baked characters are introduced and the novel itself seemed to lose its way. Such a pity.
I will definitely give this author another go because I loved his prose and this book's plot had real potential.
Stupidly gorgeous writing (despite the prose not matching all that great with the main character) - I highlighted so many lines and phrases. Part I was interesting - we follow an aimless man in the Ukraine who is forced to go back home and take responsibility for a gas station after his brother mysteriously leaves, yet the novel did not feel aimless, it felt relatively well guided by the author. Minus the frankly bizarre interactions the protagonist had with a couple of female characters, I was interested to see where it went.
Part II is where it fell apart for me. The beginning of Part II was absolutely baffling as I had no idea what was going on or how it connected to Part I (I do not know if this a translation issue or not). A bunch of half-baked characters are introduced and the novel itself seemed to lose its way. Such a pity.
I will definitely give this author another go because I loved his prose and this book's plot had real potential.