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j_f 's review for:
Dead Souls
by Nikolai Gogol
In terms of Russian literature, this novel is a disappointment. It has all the groundwork to be a great classic--it's witty, timeless and darkly intriguing--but it falls so very flat.
Namely, the book is incomplete. Entire sections are missing from the manuscript, including the ending portion. By about 2/3 in, you basically lose all hope of understanding the plot or character motivations and have to read only to catch a glimpse of that wit that kept you there at the beginning. The book goes from a 4-star read to 2 (or even 1) stars, fast.
It's difficult to imagine the book's potential if it were complete, but I'm going to assume it would have been a pretty solid classic. I am torn, though, and I wish someone had told me not to read this one. I would gladly have read The Overcoat instead, which I still might do...
Namely, the book is incomplete. Entire sections are missing from the manuscript, including the ending portion. By about 2/3 in, you basically lose all hope of understanding the plot or character motivations and have to read only to catch a glimpse of that wit that kept you there at the beginning. The book goes from a 4-star read to 2 (or even 1) stars, fast.
It's difficult to imagine the book's potential if it were complete, but I'm going to assume it would have been a pretty solid classic. I am torn, though, and I wish someone had told me not to read this one. I would gladly have read The Overcoat instead, which I still might do...