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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a tough read if you are not familiar with the time period, the history and the references made. If you get the joke you get it, if you don't you don't. I appreciated a lot of the themes around morality and what we consider right or wrong. I also thought the mental health aspect was interesting. The Pilate parts took me awhile to get into and understand, and event then I'm sure I'm missing nuance. The second half moved very quickly and was my favorite part. I think so much of this book is summed up with this quote, "You spoke the words as though you did not recognize the existence of either shadows or evil. But would you be kind enough to give some thought to this: what would your good be doing if there were no evil, and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it? After all shadows are cast by objects and people. There is the shadow of my sword. But there are also shadows of trees and living creatures. Would you like to denude the earth of all the trees and all the living beings in order to satisfy your fantasy of rejoicing in the naked light?"
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
reflective
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:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Actually, for no particular reason, I wasn’t really enjoying it, it was very tedious and confusing, then I went on vacation and didn’t read at all, and when I came back I just didn’t feel like finishing it.
A novel of infinite whimsy and surprising depth. Every character - of which there are many - is so woefully human in their intentions despite being consistently larger than life in their actions. The climatic scenes - from feast to feast - are so lavish you wish to live them and never leave. However many events of the novel, especially in the first half, are repetitive, interchangable, and occasionally trying. A stellar piece of Russian absurdism and surprising journey - even if the plot itself may leave something to be desired as a whole.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes