ruta_crnoja's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not what I expected. At one point I thought to stop reading because I thought it went of tracs, but it turned out to be a great novel.
book_dragon29's review against another edition
1.0
Summary: Man cuts off dick to join religious cult. Wife would have liked to have been informed.
I should have trusted my instincts about this book when I knew it wasn’t for me after a mans genitals during a sex scene were referred to as ‘his gift’. Are you joking?
This book was ridiculous nonsense and the only reason I am glad I have finished it is so I can write this scathing review whilst knowing I gave it every possible chance to redeem itself.
If you like books where:
- the female character (because there is only ever one in books like this) can only be referred to as beautiful / ‘whore’/ ‘slut’ and is generally written terribly,
- self important men who think they are doing such noble things are actually just spouting macho shithead nonsense, usually at the expense of the women around them - who were entirely financially and socially dependent on them at this time let’s remember,
- nothing really happens, but not like in the nice old books way where nothing happens except everything happens. No, like all these big events happen but they’re not actually leading anywhere and you finish the book feeling like, what was the point of that?
- there are vile descriptions of people eating human organs,
- there are too many individual stories going on to be able to emotionally invest in any of the characters (although they are all awful so why would you),
- half of it may as well be in riddles because the language is so clunky and you can’t understand the point of what anyone is actually trying to say
Then knock yourself out. Ridiculous that I got sent this when I asked my book subscription provider for a ‘cheerful read’. Lol ok.
I should have trusted my instincts about this book when I knew it wasn’t for me after a mans genitals during a sex scene were referred to as ‘his gift’. Are you joking?
This book was ridiculous nonsense and the only reason I am glad I have finished it is so I can write this scathing review whilst knowing I gave it every possible chance to redeem itself.
If you like books where:
- the female character (because there is only ever one in books like this) can only be referred to as beautiful / ‘whore’/ ‘slut’ and is generally written terribly,
- self important men who think they are doing such noble things are actually just spouting macho shithead nonsense, usually at the expense of the women around them - who were entirely financially and socially dependent on them at this time let’s remember,
- nothing really happens, but not like in the nice old books way where nothing happens except everything happens. No, like all these big events happen but they’re not actually leading anywhere and you finish the book feeling like, what was the point of that?
- there are vile descriptions of people eating human organs,
- there are too many individual stories going on to be able to emotionally invest in any of the characters (although they are all awful so why would you),
- half of it may as well be in riddles because the language is so clunky and you can’t understand the point of what anyone is actually trying to say
Then knock yourself out. Ridiculous that I got sent this when I asked my book subscription provider for a ‘cheerful read’. Lol ok.
howkatiereads's review against another edition
5.0
Best book I've read in a long time. I pretty much read it straight through (granted I did have a rare day of nothingness in front of me). It's one of those books that you tear through, but when you get towards the end, you try to read slower, because you want it to last longer (maybe that's just me). Hard to explain what it's about without giving away anything good, but the themes are vast and haunting, like the time and place it's set.
christopherbabcock's review against another edition
2.0
DNFed page 37. As others have said, this book mimics Dostoevsky and Solzhenititsyn, clearing trying to establish itself within the sweeping scope genre of Russian literature. But there's a difference.
Dostoevsky worshipped and sought the goodness of God in his novels, even when the world was bleak and evil. Meek's novel worships the bleak and the evil and seems to revel in God's silence on the endless steppes. While the prose was haunting, I couldn't bring myself to read more. To revel in darkness for the sake of being "gritty" is to become less real, less true, less genuinely human. For it is the moments of light, not darkness, that reveal who we are.
Dostoevsky worshipped and sought the goodness of God in his novels, even when the world was bleak and evil. Meek's novel worships the bleak and the evil and seems to revel in God's silence on the endless steppes. While the prose was haunting, I couldn't bring myself to read more. To revel in darkness for the sake of being "gritty" is to become less real, less true, less genuinely human. For it is the moments of light, not darkness, that reveal who we are.
mikelangan's review against another edition
4.0
An ingenious novel with many interwoven stories makes this book a compulsive page turner. The reader is always anxious to know what happens next. A very brief outline is as follows. Suffice to say it is a novel well worth reading.
The story is centered in a remote Siberian town called Yazyk, which is in turmoil because of the civil war between the Whites and the Reds. It includes a reclusive Christian sect (practicing castration to remain pure) and a unit of Czech soldiers stranded in the aftermath of World War I together with cannibalism and escaped penal inmates. The reader can feel the all encompassing coldness of the location.
Extreme convictions abound as does mindless hatred.
The principle character, Samarin, wanders into the town having escaped from an Artic labour camp. The story gradually reveals Samarin's true history and character and his interaction with the community. Zealots abound as does their willingness to carry out, in the name of humanity, the most grotesquely inhuman acts.
The story is centered in a remote Siberian town called Yazyk, which is in turmoil because of the civil war between the Whites and the Reds. It includes a reclusive Christian sect (practicing castration to remain pure) and a unit of Czech soldiers stranded in the aftermath of World War I together with cannibalism and escaped penal inmates. The reader can feel the all encompassing coldness of the location.
Extreme convictions abound as does mindless hatred.
The principle character, Samarin, wanders into the town having escaped from an Artic labour camp. The story gradually reveals Samarin's true history and character and his interaction with the community. Zealots abound as does their willingness to carry out, in the name of humanity, the most grotesquely inhuman acts.
amberw27's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Czechs and Reds in Siberia. Psychotic convict. Sect of castrates. Photographer mother. Loved the writing.
jesstherese's review against another edition
5.0
Read while on the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Irkutsk, mid-winter. Great vibes.
aklibrarychick's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed it, but couldn't say I loved it. The characters were well-developed and mostly likeable. The main character of Samarin was an exception. I never felt like I understood what motivated him - a fairly ordinary childhood didn't seem like the background that a revolutionary would have.
The main theme in this book is as the title suggests - love. Love in all it's various forms; parents for children, children for parents, spouses towards each other, men and women, even the love of order, and of horses (but not in a weird way). There are supporting themes as well, some of which are disturbing (cannibalism, self-mutilation), but they are presented in a way which makes sense to the story and aren't sensationalized.
I learned that there is always room for people to grow and change and to make better choices, and that some decisions are irrevocable. Most of the characters in this novel experience some sort of personal growth for the better during the course of this book. In the midst of war, cold, poverty and isolation, they manage to keep their humanity. Even Samarin, who may be seen as the "villain", makes certain choices that are detrimental to his mission in order to show humanity and compassion to others.
Matula is the only one-dimensional character in this book. How he becomes such a soulless and cruel person is never known.
Enjoyable book, especially for anyone interested in Russian history.
The main theme in this book is as the title suggests - love. Love in all it's various forms; parents for children, children for parents, spouses towards each other, men and women, even the love of order, and of horses (but not in a weird way). There are supporting themes as well, some of which are disturbing (cannibalism, self-mutilation), but they are presented in a way which makes sense to the story and aren't sensationalized.
I learned that there is always room for people to grow and change and to make better choices, and that some decisions are irrevocable. Most of the characters in this novel experience some sort of personal growth for the better during the course of this book. In the midst of war, cold, poverty and isolation, they manage to keep their humanity. Even Samarin, who may be seen as the "villain", makes certain choices that are detrimental to his mission in order to show humanity and compassion to others.
Matula is the only one-dimensional character in this book. How he becomes such a soulless and cruel person is never known.
Enjoyable book, especially for anyone interested in Russian history.
mcintoshheidi's review against another edition
4.0
Not entirely sure what to make of this, as it was powerful and interesting in places, but also quite dull in places. None of the characters were particularly sympathetic.
kulturna_knjiznicarka's review against another edition
5.0
Knjiga godine 2016! Obožavam knjige koje su mi u početku teške za čitanje i kad me sekunde dijele od toga da prestanem čitati, i onda odjednom BUM! Citat koji najbolje opisuje ovu knjigu glasi: '''Ali evo što ja mislim, ako smijem reći: revolucija se dogodi kad se dogodi ovdje!' I on se kucne po glavi.''
Majčica Rusija nakon završetka Prvog svjetskog rata i prije dolaska boljševika u njezinu najveću zanimljivost, Sibir. Zaostala grupa čeških vojnika nastanila se u malenom mjestu Jazik koje se nalazi uz žilu kucavicu Sibira, transsibirsku željeznicu. U ovom malenom mjestu živi ''sekta'' kastrata, ljudi koji vjeruju da su oni sami anđeli na ovome svijetu jer su bacili Ključeve pakla u Oganj. Jedan od glavnih likova, Samarin, bjegunac je iz arktičkog logora koji unese nemir u malenu zajednicu. Dakako, uvijek je u priči jedna žena oko koje se sve vrti i koju će vlastita požuda umalo stajati života.
Majčica Rusija nakon završetka Prvog svjetskog rata i prije dolaska boljševika u njezinu najveću zanimljivost, Sibir. Zaostala grupa čeških vojnika nastanila se u malenom mjestu Jazik koje se nalazi uz žilu kucavicu Sibira, transsibirsku željeznicu. U ovom malenom mjestu živi ''sekta'' kastrata, ljudi koji vjeruju da su oni sami anđeli na ovome svijetu jer su bacili Ključeve pakla u Oganj. Jedan od glavnih likova, Samarin, bjegunac je iz arktičkog logora koji unese nemir u malenu zajednicu. Dakako, uvijek je u priči jedna žena oko koje se sve vrti i koju će vlastita požuda umalo stajati života.