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duchessofreadin's review against another edition
4.0
Four friends go through the terror of war together, from the endless waiting to the horrific shelling that will take some of their lives.
This was an interesting read, sharing a soldier's point of view. While it might seem tedious in spots, it was pretty accurate. Enjoyed this read.
This was an interesting read, sharing a soldier's point of view. While it might seem tedious in spots, it was pretty accurate. Enjoyed this read.
greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
Such a short little book,
so simple,
so wonderfully crafted,
so beautifully written and
so devastating!!
so simple,
so wonderfully crafted,
so beautifully written and
so devastating!!
piedwarbler's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful, spare, haunting novel about four soldiers in the Red Army in 1919. Each short chapter captures a memory and the simplicity of the language belies the complexity of the writer’s study of the human condition.
I loved this 150 page novel. To quote the novel, ‘there aren’t the words’.
I loved this 150 page novel. To quote the novel, ‘there aren’t the words’.
lottie1803's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
pearloz's review against another edition
2.0
The book was too slight for my liking—often it felt like an early reader, although I was charmed by the relationships. The book was all too predictable and written in a way that didn’t really set the experiences of our characters apart in any meaningful way. There wasn’t anything that really set its setting apart either—coulda been set anywhere. Maybe that was the author’s intent? Not for me, that’s for sure.
pixiebix's review against another edition
2.75
This was beautiful, but just short. Like, way too short. Like, do-I-have-an-edition-where-the-final-pages-have-fallen-out short. That ending was almost implausibly abrupt.
I do think that if it had been a normal-length novel my rating wouldn't have gone up too much, as the writing did hold back a little more than I would've liked it to and definitely fell into 'plain' territory (which meant for me it a) didn't pack as much of an emotional punch as it could have and b) probably won't be super super memorable for me). It still is a beautiful book, however, and I would have loved to have seen the characters expanded on further than the 150 pages allowed.
I do think that if it had been a normal-length novel my rating wouldn't have gone up too much, as the writing did hold back a little more than I would've liked it to and definitely fell into 'plain' territory (which meant for me it a) didn't pack as much of an emotional punch as it could have and b) probably won't be super super memorable for me). It still is a beautiful book, however, and I would have loved to have seen the characters expanded on further than the 150 pages allowed.
tevreads's review against another edition
3.0
Longlisted for the Man Booker International 2019. At times Four Soldiers is a moving tale of simple beauty, seemingly banale interactions between characters are touching and memorable. However, the novel seemed to lack a seamless rhythm from start to finish, most likely a result of it being a translated work from French. Overall, easily readable and an interesting subject matter.
jennareadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
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
2.75
I read Four Soldiers by Hubert Mingarelli for the #10books10decades challenge. It was originally published in French in 2003, and won the Prix Médici, a French literary award for fiction. This book is about four young soldiers in the Red Army in 1919. This is not what I think of a typical war book - there aren’t major battles and there really isn’t much action. Instead, it focuses on the close friendship of four soldiers who are always waiting for what is to come. Waiting for spring at the end of a frigid winter, or waiting for marching orders, or simply waiting for a chance to sneak away from their battalion to linger around a hidden pond.
This book felt melancholy, and though it was short, it did seem to drag along with their days. The writing is simplistic and sparse. I didn’t end up having strong feelings about this one, but I am surprised that it was a prize winner and that it was longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2019 too. It just didn’t feel inspiring or insightful or really stir up many emotions for me at all. I think I will feel okay about skipping Mingarelli’s other works.
This book felt melancholy, and though it was short, it did seem to drag along with their days. The writing is simplistic and sparse. I didn’t end up having strong feelings about this one, but I am surprised that it was a prize winner and that it was longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2019 too. It just didn’t feel inspiring or insightful or really stir up many emotions for me at all. I think I will feel okay about skipping Mingarelli’s other works.
tommooney's review against another edition
4.0
Another superb short novel about men at war by this excellent French novelist. This time Mingerelli tackles the Russian Revolution, following four soldiers from the Red Army as they battle winter, boredom and the looming dread of what is to come. They form tight friendships as they while away the hours playing dominoes, talking or just sitting by a secluded pond.
Mingerelli does such a superb job of depicting the base daily events of soldier life. He strips away the politics, refuses to take sides and has such empathy for his characters. Wonderful stuff.
Mingerelli does such a superb job of depicting the base daily events of soldier life. He strips away the politics, refuses to take sides and has such empathy for his characters. Wonderful stuff.