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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
reflective
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
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Classic Dovlatov. Not quite hitting the highs of "The Suitcase", though.
Я почему-то всю жизнь думал, что Довлатов это какой-то эмигрант-Буковски для бедных, то есть тех, кто на Брайтон Бич. На самом деле оказалось, что он прежде всего из Ленинграда, прародитель "Географа" и стиля, который стал настолько популярным, что тяжело его воспринимать не в мягкой обложке и не в формате ЖЖ, но концентрация точных образов и смешных фраз здесь такая, что через полчаса сдаешься.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Since Berlinale 2018 where I watched a film about Dovlatov, I have wanted to read some of his work. It turned out not to be so easy as his work has not been translated in Latvian. So I had to take the road less traveled and read something from a Russian author in English (my Russian is simply not good enough for literary adventures). Driven by a curiosity about an author that had eluded my literary radar, I was pleasantly surprised to find his writing as witty and engaging as the portrayal of his personality on screen. He writes about the realities of his time and the struggle of oppressed literary 'genius' that leads to nothing else but a broken home and alcoholism. Not an unfamiliar subject in Russian literature for sure, but he really managed to bring out the tortured soul of a Russian man. Coupled with a few extraordinary characters in the background, it was a delightful short read. But I have to give a fair warning that he uses a lot of references to many known and not so known people that you sometimes get stuck referring to the notes at the back of the book (until you just give up because those should have been footnotes...). The translation was surprisingly good!
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bittersweet novella reflecting on the absurdity of life in the Brezhnev's USSR.
The plot is narrated by a failed writer who tries to escape from the life problems by going into a sort of provincial exile, while working as a tourist guide.
At times you will laugh, but in the end a sour aftertaste remains.
The plot is narrated by a failed writer who tries to escape from the life problems by going into a sort of provincial exile, while working as a tourist guide.
At times you will laugh, but in the end a sour aftertaste remains.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism