laura_huey 's review for:

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad 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: Yes

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This beautiful translation by Pevear & Volokhonsky was superbly read by Juliet Stevenson. I sometimes found it hard to keep track of the vast array of characters because of the use of first name & patronymic, surname only, and a wide range of nicknames for each person. It’s slow moving and the characters are very complex, but well worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Deportation