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swussian's review against another edition
Lyssnar som ljudbok, läst förut, jävlar vad kåt bok
nguyen_vy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
madfil's review against another edition
5.0
(15 October, 2012)
The first novel of Sholokhov’s epic ‘Don’ series packs quite a punch. Mixing everyday Cossack life with historic events of early 20th century Russia, it mainly shows us how grandiose events can never eclipse the human condition (as a whole) or the individual emotions we all feel when beset by the vicissitudes of life. In effect, it makes history subordinate to human impulse as opposed to its catalyst.
Part I (Peace) is a glimpse of family and farm life in the Don River region; beautiful, simple yet complex, with a harsh dose of reality. It culminates in a brutal, horrifying crime - easing the transition from Peace's relative harmony to the all-too graphic violence of parts II, III and IV (respectively War, Revolution and Civil War). To any history buff the titles are hopefully self explanatory.
The first novel of Sholokhov’s epic ‘Don’ series packs quite a punch. Mixing everyday Cossack life with historic events of early 20th century Russia, it mainly shows us how grandiose events can never eclipse the human condition (as a whole) or the individual emotions we all feel when beset by the vicissitudes of life. In effect, it makes history subordinate to human impulse as opposed to its catalyst.
Part I (Peace) is a glimpse of family and farm life in the Don River region; beautiful, simple yet complex, with a harsh dose of reality. It culminates in a brutal, horrifying crime - easing the transition from Peace's relative harmony to the all-too graphic violence of parts II, III and IV (respectively War, Revolution and Civil War). To any history buff the titles are hopefully self explanatory.
saramoga2690's review against another edition
4.0
I still remember reading this when i was little and was shy about some parts in it and how shameless was the writer to describe, i remember also how he was very well at describing places and scenes as if u can watch it not just reading. Was a good experience overall and maybe i read it again someday.
tomleetang's review
4.0
A little weak on characterisation, but otherwise a really fascinating peek into Cossack life and how it altered through world war, revolution and civil war. Much of it is unpleasant - particularly the casual rape and descriptions of bodies leaking organs - but the visceral quality is what makes it compelling and emotionally raw.
ttovarischh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
yellagal57's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
daytonm's review against another edition
4.75
Before I review: this is a novel in four volumes, and it’s hard to find a version with all 4. The audiobook is only volume 1; the nearly 600-page Penguin edition (despite having four “parts”) is only the first two volumes. I got a version from the library that comes in four separate books; the pages are small but it adds up to more than 2200. A friend in my book club found a complete version all in one book that’s 1300 pages. I say this so you know what you’re getting into and also don’t get fooled by the audiobook/Penguin versions. It’s originally in Russian, which is part of the difficulty of finding complete English versions; I read the Stephen Garry translation revised and completed by Robert Daglish (if your version just says Garry without Daglish it’s likely abridged, I think there’s a Daglish-only version too that’s full).
Anyway, preface aside, this book is long and winding and maybe overlong but I loved it. It follows a community of Cossacks (one young man in particular and his family) who experience Russia from just before World War I to the revolution and years of civil war. In structure, it’s almost like an epic fantasy: farming villagers getting wrapped up in large-scale forces beyond their control or imagining. But unlike fantasy, these forces were real; I confess I am not expert in 1913-1922 Russia, so I was a little confused at times, but for the most part I could follow along.
Sholokov portrays the beauty of the landscape, the delight and violence of village life, and the horror and brutality of war that seeps into all aspects of life, affecting not only soldiers but women, children, horses. The characters are engaging as they all respond differently to the situation, even if, like some fantasy series, the large number of characters is hard to keep track of. (Also like some fantasy, I could have used a map!) Sometimes all the different battles and officer strategizing were hard to follow or felt like too much, but overall it kept my attention despite its length (I did sometimes take breaks between volumes.)
It’s a commitment, for sure. But I feel I’ve gone on a journey with these characters, laughed loved and cried with them, made all the more affecting by the fact the tumult and tragedy they lived through was real, even if most specific individuals were not. A real achievement I never would have read or even heard of without my Russian lit book club.
Anyway, preface aside, this book is long and winding and maybe overlong but I loved it. It follows a community of Cossacks (one young man in particular and his family) who experience Russia from just before World War I to the revolution and years of civil war. In structure, it’s almost like an epic fantasy: farming villagers getting wrapped up in large-scale forces beyond their control or imagining. But unlike fantasy, these forces were real; I confess I am not expert in 1913-1922 Russia, so I was a little confused at times, but for the most part I could follow along.
Sholokov portrays the beauty of the landscape, the delight and violence of village life, and the horror and brutality of war that seeps into all aspects of life, affecting not only soldiers but women, children, horses. The characters are engaging as they all respond differently to the situation, even if, like some fantasy series, the large number of characters is hard to keep track of. (Also like some fantasy, I could have used a map!) Sometimes all the different battles and officer strategizing were hard to follow or felt like too much, but overall it kept my attention despite its length (I did sometimes take breaks between volumes.)
It’s a commitment, for sure. But I feel I’ve gone on a journey with these characters, laughed loved and cried with them, made all the more affecting by the fact the tumult and tragedy they lived through was real, even if most specific individuals were not. A real achievement I never would have read or even heard of without my Russian lit book club.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
A book about life of Cossacks approaching the times of First World War and Russian Revolution. It is more realistic account of rural.life I have come across. Characters are complex with a roughness on the visible behaviour and the author writes so beautifully about Don and areas surrounding it.