Reviews

A sangre y fuego by Pedro Pedraza y Páez, Henryk Sienkiewicz

stellimicans's review against another edition

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1.0

Rozpiszę się, bo czytanie tego było drogą przez mękę.
Osoby, które dają tej książce więcej gwiazdek niż dwie albo nie czytały lepszej książki (niska poprzeczka), albo są ofiarami gaslightu nauczycieli polskiego.

Postacie? Bez charakteru, nikomu nie miałam ochoty jakkolwiek kibicować.
Skrzetuski? Niby główna postać, ale nie umiem wymienić jego cech charakteru poza byciem szlachetnym, co jest nasunięte przez autora. Autor najwidoczniej miał go dość, bo przez 3/4 książki go nie ma, a jak już się pojawia jest albo umierający, albo chory XD Ot, taki główny bohater.
Helena? Uwięziona w syndromie damy w opresji. Cała powieść jest właściwie o ratowaniu jej. Zawsze jest piękna i śliczniutka, nawet jeśli z Zagłobą ucieka przez pola i stepy w przebraniu parobka. Poza tym, zawsze się modli i w sumie nic więcej nie robi.

O reszcie krótko. Sienkiewicz najwidoczniej zapominał, że Bohun jest zły i np. podczas słodkich wyznań do Heleny nagle musiał wtrącić, że jak go zdenerwuje to ją zgw*łci. Tf? Zagłoba na początku śmieszył, ale im dalej w las tym bardziej drażnił swoim byciem cwaniakiem tylko w gębie. Tak, Henryk, załapałam że Wołodyjowski jest niski - nie musisz tego powtarzać.

Cały wątek romantyczny jest bez sensu. Skrzetuski nagle trafia na Helenę. Ooo ptak na jej ręce przyciąga go do niej, łolaboga co za znak wspaniały. No i tego samego dnia, kniaziówna decyduje, że to za niego wyjdzie. Zamienili ze sobą tylko parę zdań. No, tak robią ludzie, chcą wyjść za siebie po jednej rozmowie i tańcu. Zupełnie normalne.

Ogółem? U Sienkiewicza wszystko jest czarne i białe. Polacy są dobrzy, wszyscy inni źli. Każda postać jest tylko dobra albo tylko zła. Kozacy popełniają zbrodnie wojenne? Na pohybel im, hatfu! Polacy popełniają zbrodnie wojenne? Ale to przecież wspaniali chrześcijanie, to nic takiego

blok_sera_szwajcarskiego's review against another edition

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4.0

bohun and skrzetuski deserved to be gay, happy couple. screw you, pozytywizm

literackafirma's review against another edition

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4.0

cztery gwiazdki jako karniaczek za to, że to najgorsza część trylogii (ale wołodyjowski jest silly)

aniagajecka's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No

5.0

A slightly slow-paced historical novel, in which the battle and historical threads interferes with the love triangle of two tough guys and the girl whose main role in the whole story is to be rescued.  

reeb's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

denadero's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

airamainefats's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

ekogekko's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

llythia's review against another edition

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5.0

I first picked this book up nearly 20 years ago, for the sole reason of it was one of the fattest books I could find in the library. I did not expect to find a beautifully written sweeping epic, that would open my eyes to the broader history of the world and change the direction of my life.

When I read this book the first time, it was as if I was reading a fantasy novel - I didn't understand the italicized snippets of Polish or Ukranian. I had no idea that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had really existed, nor that the Hmyelnitzki Rebellion was an actual historical event. When I looked it up on the internet and discovered that the book was based on actual historical events, it blew my mind. I realized that my "Western Civ" history class was really just the history of France and England - and only a very small piece of their history at that. I realized there was a whole universe of major historical events that I knew nothing about, so I started trying to learn on my own.

Eventually this book inspired me to take an entire course on Polish literature, and set me on the path that would lead to me learning Russian, and spending a year in Siberia. When I had the chance to visit Warsaw I was beyond excited to see the statue of Sienkiewicz and heartbroken that the Polish Literature Museum was closed while I was there.

But after nearly 20 years would the book hold up?

Yes.

It was definitely a different experience this time around, being able to understand the snippets of Ukranian, knowing the larger history of the region, and just being able to better understand what was going on. The book is certainly told from the perspective of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and it's obvious which side the reader is meant to cheer for, but at the same time, it also does spend a significant amount of time humanizing the enemies, so that the complexities of the rebellion are clear.

If you're going to read this book, it's critical that you read Kuniczak's translation - it's beautifully and poetically written - the settings are vivid, and it's not difficult to follow what is happening in the battles. It's a major investment of time. You're not going to finish it in a weekend. But it's still definitely worth the time, effort, and tired wrists from holding up a 1000+ page book. And when you finish, you'll be left wanting more. Which is why we're lucky that Sienkiewicz wrote a trilogy!

squashyana's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn't like how they killed off Pan Longinus only to make his death a way to amplify Pan Yan's success and admirability.