secemozmen's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
s_books's review
3.25
Strange life indeed! It is a bit frustrating that the title character is allowed to become his younger self, he remembers how things will go, and then he still does the same stupid things (although it is a little unclear if he is fully remembering before he does them or if the full
memory only comes once he’s already done the actual action). There are some profound statements in this book but they are surround by this story of a somewhat infuriating young man. And then the revelation at the end by the magician which is left unresolved; that is also frustrating, I would have liked to know if that is really the case and what would happen afterwards. While reading this, I found myself thinking of The Tatami Galaxy, with the magician at times being the old woman fortune teller and at times (particularly the last part) being Ozu — I don’t know if that author had read this book but it’s an interesting take on the same subject (that no matter what, things would always have ended up as they are, even if you could go back and do things over again). I’m undecided whether or not to attempt a re-read of this at some later time.
memory only comes once he’s already done the actual action). There are some profound statements in this book but they are surround by this story of a somewhat infuriating young man. And then the revelation at the end by the magician which is left unresolved; that is also frustrating, I would have liked to know if that is really the case and what would happen afterwards. While reading this, I found myself thinking of The Tatami Galaxy, with the magician at times being the old woman fortune teller and at times (particularly the last part) being Ozu — I don’t know if that author had read this book but it’s an interesting take on the same subject (that no matter what, things would always have ended up as they are, even if you could go back and do things over again). I’m undecided whether or not to attempt a re-read of this at some later time.
historianvik's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very philosophical but entertaining. It leaves a meaning that sits with you and makes you think long after you finish.
merixien's review against another edition
3.0
3,5/5
Özgür irade var mıdır yoksa hayat değiştirilemez monoton bir döngüden mi ibarettir sorgusu üzerine şekillenen bir kitap. Ivan hayatında yaptığı hatalar sonucu, kaybettiklerini geri almak istemektedir. Bu sırada bir büyücü ile tanışır ve sonsuz bir döngünün içerisine girer. hayatının kadını olduğunu düşündüğü Zinaida ile (ki buradaki isim seçimi de oldukça etkileyici) yollarının bir türlü birleşmemesinin sebebinin bir şanssızlık olduğu düşüncesinde. Ancak hiçbir çaba harcamadan yalnızca şans döngüyü kırmak için yeterli midir? Farklı bir yazım tarzını kazandırması ve fikir açısından çok değerli ancak dönemi ve ilk örneklerden olduğu göz önüne alındığında okurunu biraz sıkan yanları da var.
Özgür irade var mıdır yoksa hayat değiştirilemez monoton bir döngüden mi ibarettir sorgusu üzerine şekillenen bir kitap. Ivan hayatında yaptığı hatalar sonucu, kaybettiklerini geri almak istemektedir. Bu sırada bir büyücü ile tanışır ve sonsuz bir döngünün içerisine girer. hayatının kadını olduğunu düşündüğü Zinaida ile (ki buradaki isim seçimi de oldukça etkileyici) yollarının bir türlü birleşmemesinin sebebinin bir şanssızlık olduğu düşüncesinde. Ancak hiçbir çaba harcamadan yalnızca şans döngüyü kırmak için yeterli midir? Farklı bir yazım tarzını kazandırması ve fikir açısından çok değerli ancak dönemi ve ilk örneklerden olduğu göz önüne alındığında okurunu biraz sıkan yanları da var.
wormz's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
candiecane333's review against another edition
2.0
Very slow steam of consciousness with a very annoying main character. The magician told him couldn't change anything if he went back in time & after he did nothing changed because he was still the same person. At the end the magician gives him a choice of spending 15 years with him or going back & then the book ends anticlimacticly. Also I didn't understand why the author added that the devil would hinder him since he knew the great secret.
pvn's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this and recommend it for literature and even scifi fans. The book has been around for decades and there are many helpful reviews from readers smarter than I, so I'll let those stand.
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
antij's review against another edition
2.0
I find it hard to like a character who sees all the mistakes he's going to make and then makes them anyway, then complain about his mistakes but instead of doing anything about them just shrug his hands and decide he can't do anything about it. The story really didn't need to go 200 pages to make this point. About 20 pages in and I think most people will have gotten the author's thesis statement. It was hard not to see a devious nature in a character at the end, though I imagine it wasn't intended to read him this way as it might have actually made things interesting.
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