kathrynwilliams's review against another edition
5.0
A magical, fairy tale-like Russian short story. This was my second time reading it.
cajunliterarybelle's review against another edition
4.0
Not the Christmas story I grew up with concerning Christmas Eve events, but this one is more fun. Love, betrayal, a witch, and a devil all in a Christmas story? The best Christmas stories to me are a little spooky or a little sweet, and this one is both, so I’m sold. Culturally specific holiday tales posed a unique flavor that the standard “Night Before Christmas” hair doesn’t have. I never knew a Russian / Ukrainian writer gave the world a great Christmastime story like this with even lessons included (if you think about it all), and now I need to read more cultures’ holiday tales in the future. What a treat for children of Russia and Ukraine to grow up with this kind of literature!
calalo's review against another edition
4.0
La habilidad de Gogol no esconde secretos, entiende que la fantasía es inseparable del cuento porque no ve en este una historia corta, sino un lienzo de imaginación que causa impacto con sus detalles y colores. Verlo paseandose entre la tradición y lo surreal es un banquete adelantado de Nochebuena capaz de reavivar la imaginación infantil que los años suelen adormecer.
leafingthroughlife's review against another edition
4.0
Gogol's story opens on Christmas Eve with the scene of a witch and a devil who are up to no good. The devil has in mind to foil the plans of devout local blacksmith, Vakula, to pay court to the village beauty, Oksana. Oksana is as dreadfully vain as she is beautiful, and has chased off all her many suitors, mistreating them and playing hard to get, not to mention spending more time with her mirror than with them. Frustrated by the continual rebuffing of his advances, Vakula has nearly given up on Oksana and life itself, when he comes up with one last risky gambit to win her affections.
I'll say no more for fear of giving away overmuch, but I was thoroughly charmed by Gogol's remote village where carolers traverse the town on a cold, crisp Christmas Eve, singing for treats from the townspeople. Besides the witch and the devil and the unfortunate Vakula, the town is populated by a cadre of important men made laughable by their foibles, a crowd of fierce housewives, and gaggles of laughing girls. Despite the less than traditional Christmas content, I found Gogol's story to be a delicious and humorous little folk tale of his own creation and a welcome departure from the Christmas norm.
I'll say no more for fear of giving away overmuch, but I was thoroughly charmed by Gogol's remote village where carolers traverse the town on a cold, crisp Christmas Eve, singing for treats from the townspeople. Besides the witch and the devil and the unfortunate Vakula, the town is populated by a cadre of important men made laughable by their foibles, a crowd of fierce housewives, and gaggles of laughing girls. Despite the less than traditional Christmas content, I found Gogol's story to be a delicious and humorous little folk tale of his own creation and a welcome departure from the Christmas norm.
mint_renegade's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
What a strange, underwhelming, little story.
emminkirjakasa's review against another edition
2.0
Olisin toivonut jotain enemmän, vaikka olikin hauska tarina.