Scan barcode
jedisuckerpunch's review
4.0
ah, this is my first russian lit, and if Chekhov is consistently like this in his other works, he may just be my new favorite.
there's three short stories in this book, A Nervous Breakdown, The Black Monk and Anna Around The Neck. I am mostly going to write this review about A Nervous Breakdown simply because it was my most favorite one of the lot. The Black Monk too is really good, but I could resonate more with A Nervous Breakdown.
in this short story, the protagonist's abrupt collision with a reality both true and morally askew sparks an inner turmoil. the man is so affected by it, he really can't think of anything besides it. the book essentially talks about the clash between societal norms and personal ethics, resulting in a mental breakdown.
Chekhov captures the paradoxical coexistence of pleasure and indifference amidst suffering. through the protagonist's descent into madness, he unveils society's apathy towards everyday injustices in this world, that is simply, accepted as the norm.
reading this reminded me of my time in Bombay. while many speak fondly of the city and romanticize living there, my own experience was marred by a pervasive sense of unease. everywhere i turned, i was confronted with the stark realities of poverty and suffering. people slept on the streets, makeshift shelters erected amidst the smallest nook and crannies underneath bridges and highway tunnels. children sought refuge from the rain in pots and pans, their plight ignored by passersby who simply carry on, as if such suffering were commonplace. i, too, found myself momentarily distracted from my discomfort with a refreshing mint lime, only to swiftly resume my journey, the momentary reprieve giving way to a numbing indifference. it's a cycle that is constant. but then again, if i raised hysterics over this matter, i'd be considered some sort of odd ball, when in reality, the problem in itself needs to be addressed. not my oddball-ness. i was there when an international convention (i think it may have been the g20 summit) was being held, and for that, they donned the roads and highways with flowers and plants, and tried to cover up the obvious poverty by building high rise walls and vertical sheets. do you see what I'm saying? idk if i have done a good job explaining this, but this is all i can do at the moment.
in short, i think i dig anton chekhov.
there's three short stories in this book, A Nervous Breakdown, The Black Monk and Anna Around The Neck. I am mostly going to write this review about A Nervous Breakdown simply because it was my most favorite one of the lot. The Black Monk too is really good, but I could resonate more with A Nervous Breakdown.
in this short story, the protagonist's abrupt collision with a reality both true and morally askew sparks an inner turmoil. the man is so affected by it, he really can't think of anything besides it. the book essentially talks about the clash between societal norms and personal ethics, resulting in a mental breakdown.
Chekhov captures the paradoxical coexistence of pleasure and indifference amidst suffering. through the protagonist's descent into madness, he unveils society's apathy towards everyday injustices in this world, that is simply, accepted as the norm.
reading this reminded me of my time in Bombay. while many speak fondly of the city and romanticize living there, my own experience was marred by a pervasive sense of unease. everywhere i turned, i was confronted with the stark realities of poverty and suffering. people slept on the streets, makeshift shelters erected amidst the smallest nook and crannies underneath bridges and highway tunnels. children sought refuge from the rain in pots and pans, their plight ignored by passersby who simply carry on, as if such suffering were commonplace. i, too, found myself momentarily distracted from my discomfort with a refreshing mint lime, only to swiftly resume my journey, the momentary reprieve giving way to a numbing indifference. it's a cycle that is constant. but then again, if i raised hysterics over this matter, i'd be considered some sort of odd ball, when in reality, the problem in itself needs to be addressed. not my oddball-ness. i was there when an international convention (i think it may have been the g20 summit) was being held, and for that, they donned the roads and highways with flowers and plants, and tried to cover up the obvious poverty by building high rise walls and vertical sheets. do you see what I'm saying? idk if i have done a good job explaining this, but this is all i can do at the moment.
in short, i think i dig anton chekhov.
unfortunatilly's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
urlordlorin's review
reflective
fast-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
2.25
Meh.
eeely's review
4.0
Two of the three works in this book are incredible short stories that have cemented themselves in my mind for the last few months since I read them.
In order they are
A Nervous Breakdown - 4/5
This short story is incredible, the sheer anxiety and stress I got watching this man have a nervous breakdown was scary and it was just in the goldilocks range of not being too long or too short. I did thoroughly enjoy this one however it doesn't really stick with me like the next one did.
The Black Monk - 5/5
This short story was incredible. The plot, the characters, even the damn garden was set up incredibly well. The Black Monk really portrays Chekhov's disdain for the modern way of living more than any of his other works in this book and left me feeling anxious for a while. The ending is immaculate, there isn't and ounce of fluff in this one, everything is perfect. I love it. Incredible.
Anna Round the Neck - 3/5
This one was kind of mid. The ending felt rushed and it didn't do anything crazy for me. I still enjoyed reading it, and the main plot was cool and all but it didn't have the same impact as the other two short stories did. Further more it felt undeveloped and the ending was rushed.
All in all, great collection, I loved reading this and it sticks with me.
In order they are
A Nervous Breakdown - 4/5
This short story is incredible, the sheer anxiety and stress I got watching this man have a nervous breakdown was scary and it was just in the goldilocks range of not being too long or too short. I did thoroughly enjoy this one however it doesn't really stick with me like the next one did.
The Black Monk - 5/5
This short story was incredible. The plot, the characters, even the damn garden was set up incredibly well. The Black Monk really portrays Chekhov's disdain for the modern way of living more than any of his other works in this book and left me feeling anxious for a while. The ending is immaculate, there isn't and ounce of fluff in this one, everything is perfect. I love it. Incredible.
Anna Round the Neck - 3/5
This one was kind of mid. The ending felt rushed and it didn't do anything crazy for me. I still enjoyed reading it, and the main plot was cool and all but it didn't have the same impact as the other two short stories did. Further more it felt undeveloped and the ending was rushed.
All in all, great collection, I loved reading this and it sticks with me.
rianna_3419's review
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
laurenkara's review
4.0
chekhov continues to write whiny men throwing tantrums n losing their minds and i continue to love every second of it!! i am such trash for everything this man writes and it’s better if we don’t analyse why <3
trashboat_111's review
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the black monk by far the best story in the book, the other 2 exerts weren’t bad but weren't great either
birki6's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
From the three stories, I loved the Black Monk the most. It was wuite sad, but also the one you can learn from the most. Nervous breakdown was interesting and I found it a bit confusing how, at times, it expressed strongly progressive views and in other times quite conservative thinking. Of cpurse, context od the time needs to be taken into account.
The story Anna Around the Neck I liked the least. Ot was very fast paced, but Anna is not a character for me, I couldn't sympathise with her hunger for money, fame and power.
Now that I think about it her hunger seems almost the same as Kovrin's for knowledge and enlightment in the Black Monk story, so the question that imposes on myself is why did I like him and not her?
The story Anna Around the Neck I liked the least. Ot was very fast paced, but Anna is not a character for me, I couldn't sympathise with her hunger for money, fame and power.
Now that I think about it her hunger seems almost the same as Kovrin's for knowledge and enlightment in the Black Monk story, so the question that imposes on myself is why did I like him and not her?