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thetainaship's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
madmadder's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
kzs's review
Captivating. I had to really pace myself with these; I only read one story a day. I'm trying to understand Russia more as a country, a mindset, an attitude, and these stories gave me a small window into it. A lot of them are sad, but almost seem to repel pity. Proud, but cynical... I might reread these after I've read more Pushkin, it just feels like there are things I missed.
bagoody's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hemingshea's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations for this book (especially with a preface by Svetlana Alexievich) and it just didn't live up to them. I love short story collections and Russian lit but I the book didn't totally deliver. Polish Friend, On the Banks of the Spree, and The Gypsy were my favorites