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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I have mixed emotions about it, to be honest. I already knew the plot and the characters from regular viewings of David Lean’s adaptation (one of my husband’s favorite films). If given a choice, I generally prefer to watch the adaptation of a book prior to reading the book, as I find that doing it in the reverse order makes it more difficult to enjoy the adaptation because it tends to make me focus on all of the things the filmmakers got wrong. In this case, I found myself wishing that the author had been able to maintain his focus as well as the filmmakers did. Certain sections really dragged and there were many occasions when it felt like the story was press ganged by partisans and prevented from reuniting with the main characters for a chapter or three. Don’t get me wrong, the authors of some of my favorite classic novels go off on even more tangents than this, but, for some reason, Pasternak’s meanderings didn’t thrill me as much as Tolstoy’s rambling about the “great man” theory of history or Victor Hugo’s scintillating description of the Paris sewers or Melville’s lengthy essays on cetaceans. Maybe it’s because Russian history in this time period is so utterly depressing, maybe it’s because something got lost in translation. I don’t know. I only know that it didn’t quite make it onto my greatest of “great novels” list.
Doctor Zhivago is a novel that interested me throughout but honestly left me feeling a little unsatisfied. It seems quite like an attempt to break into the Soviet epic genre but just isn't fleshed out to a satisfying point to achieve this. Therefore, it is a lot more digestible than many similar books but I just felt the transitions between different points were not detailed enough for me to feel lost in the story.
Above all, it is a love story. Yet I don't feel like it's clear exactly between who (there are a few love triangles and some adultery)! I guess you could describe it as a tale regarding the overruling idea of love rather than love between specific individuals. Love through turmoil and sacrifice for love are not unique concepts by any means, but it was enjoyable to read.
I think people give Pasternak too much credit for writing Doctor Zhivago as a 'genius work' against the Soviet Union. It really isn't. It actually feels imbued with a rather patriotic spirit at times, and there is not really anything very special about it.
Above all, it is a love story. Yet I don't feel like it's clear exactly between who (there are a few love triangles and some adultery)! I guess you could describe it as a tale regarding the overruling idea of love rather than love between specific individuals. Love through turmoil and sacrifice for love are not unique concepts by any means, but it was enjoyable to read.
I think people give Pasternak too much credit for writing Doctor Zhivago as a 'genius work' against the Soviet Union. It really isn't. It actually feels imbued with a rather patriotic spirit at times, and there is not really anything very special about it.
I don't know why I hadn't rated this yet, but it's definitely one of my favorites. The writing is so beautiful. Love, betrayal, snow, trains, war, Russia. Definitely will have to re-read at some point.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Now I simultaneously understand why it's a famed classic and why no one reads it. Unlike many more popular classic novels, Doctor Zhivago is tough to get into and it doesn't really get easier. With dozens of characters with unfamiliar Russian names/nicknames and jumbled plotlines, it's an incredibly difficult read. But every few pages, language is so gloriously used that it's almost worth the effort. For a reader curious about the upheaval of early-mid twentieth century Russia, Pasternak paints a fascinating picture of the ups and downs, the optimism and the hardship and the ramifications of change. This is never going to be my favorite book that I repeatedly reread, but I'm glad I read it.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was eager to watch the Russian 2006 version of Doctor Zhivago, but wanted to read the book first. I managed to complete it, but was sorely disappointed. The book gives the reader pretty good insight into the history of Russia during that time, but the characters and dialogue aren't anything to write home about. Maybe the movie will be better.
Just finished... listening to Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. A new story to me as I’ve not seen the film versions. It was hard at first to identify the characters, most of which have multiple names but I loved the descriptions of the settings.
This book is…dense to say the least. I enjoyed the characters and the story was really compelling but I got a bit lost in all the history and philosophy of it at times. It’s a classic that I think is worth reading if you enjoy the movie. It’s adds depth that wasn’t captured on screen, which was why I read it at all. Overall, I liked it, but I doubt I’ll read it again.