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alison_jane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
betka_s's review against another edition
3.0
Čím víc o tom přemýšlím, tím víc mě to asi nakonec bavilo. Přesto je to lepší průměr, spíš 3,5. Ale určitě jsem ráda, že jsem měla možnost si tohle dílko přečíst.
http://listarna.blogspot.cz/2013/02/chvostu-zdar-rc.html
http://listarna.blogspot.cz/2013/02/chvostu-zdar-rc.html
yevolem's review against another edition
4.0
What was lost in translation and what didn't I understand because I didn't live in Russia through its modern changes? Probably far more than I realize. I'd say it's at least as much I was oblivious to the "dense interweaving of borrowings, imitations, rehashings, and allusions" that fill the book. The framing of the story is that it's a found novel, similar to found film genre, though the only concession to this conceit is the opening commentary by the experts who have examined it. The purpose of this commentary seems to be for grounding the events of the novel. The metapurpose seems to be the author commenting on himself, his work, and what the reader ought to expect from what they're about to read. It's also possible that the opening isn't separate from the rest and is there to trick the reader into believing that the events described occurred in-universe rather than being exclusively in the imagination of the author.
As I've previously read a Pelevin work, I knew what to expect going in. Based on the reviews many were thoroughly baffled and confounded by the disconnect from what they thought they were reading and what it turned out to be. I would advise against reading this if your interest lies primarily with the idea of werepersons or any standard notions of how it's represented by its listed genres or the synopsis on Goodreads. Yes, they're accurate descriptions but they're also misleading in that they aren't the novel's focus. There are sex scenes, but they aren't described in graphic detail. This is almost entirely about, as the author writes in the opening commentary, "pseudo-oriental pop-metaphysics". Introspection and discussion are the vast majority of the text. This isn't an overstatement.
The protagonist, a fox spirit girl, is a prostitute, as they all must be in some way or another, in the form of a "fourteen to seventeen years old - closer to fourteen" girl. Her name, A Hu-Li, is said to translates into modern Russian as "So Fucking What?", which gives an idea of the tone of the novel. This isn't Spice & Wolf, as that began two years later, though that is an appropriate reference and comparison, at least on a superficial level. The author would seem to expect the reader to be familiar with both high and low culture, as the references dart from literary novels, videogames, sociopolitical tracts, movies, mythology/folklore, Japanese pop culture, music, philosophy, and various others. I'm unable to say whether provide any depth or are simply namedrops. The humor is irreverent, cynical, sarcastic, and dark. In terms of comedians it has similarities with Anthony Jeselnik and Daniel Tosh.
As with the previous novel I read by him, I'm at a loss for what its rating ought to be. I'm unable to reconcile my subjective feelings with what I objectively read. This is a difficult book to recommend to others.
Here's a nice animated fan trailer.
Warning: It has plot spoilers and is completely accurate but as noted it isn't representative of the reading experience.
https://vimeo.com/102107747
As I've previously read a Pelevin work, I knew what to expect going in. Based on the reviews many were thoroughly baffled and confounded by the disconnect from what they thought they were reading and what it turned out to be. I would advise against reading this if your interest lies primarily with the idea of werepersons or any standard notions of how it's represented by its listed genres or the synopsis on Goodreads. Yes, they're accurate descriptions but they're also misleading in that they aren't the novel's focus. There are sex scenes, but they aren't described in graphic detail. This is almost entirely about, as the author writes in the opening commentary, "pseudo-oriental pop-metaphysics". Introspection and discussion are the vast majority of the text. This isn't an overstatement.
The protagonist, a fox spirit girl, is a prostitute, as they all must be in some way or another, in the form of a "fourteen to seventeen years old - closer to fourteen" girl. Her name, A Hu-Li, is said to translates into modern Russian as "So Fucking What?", which gives an idea of the tone of the novel. This isn't Spice & Wolf, as that began two years later, though that is an appropriate reference and comparison, at least on a superficial level. The author would seem to expect the reader to be familiar with both high and low culture, as the references dart from literary novels, videogames, sociopolitical tracts, movies, mythology/folklore, Japanese pop culture, music, philosophy, and various others. I'm unable to say whether provide any depth or are simply namedrops. The humor is irreverent, cynical, sarcastic, and dark. In terms of comedians it has similarities with Anthony Jeselnik and Daniel Tosh.
As with the previous novel I read by him, I'm at a loss for what its rating ought to be. I'm unable to reconcile my subjective feelings with what I objectively read. This is a difficult book to recommend to others.
Here's a nice animated fan trailer.
Warning: It has plot spoilers and is completely accurate but as noted it isn't representative of the reading experience.
https://vimeo.com/102107747
scunareader's review against another edition
1.0
Not at all to my liking. The author apparently turns himself on with constant name-dropping of authors. His self-proclaimed hipster status (as exhibited through the writing itself) is laughable. Also, here's a word (or two) of advice: if you're going to write an urban fantasy novel, it NEEDS a plot, fast moving action (chicken hunting in the woods does NOT count), and some sort of spine-tingling je ne sais quoi.
This novel is crap.
This novel is crap.
jodyinbk's review against another edition
not your traditional werewolf book. the philosophy is what made it interesting.
humblebee20's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me by my partner's (Russian) father. I didn't know what to expect coming into it and I honestly still don't know if I truly read the book that I was given. A kitsune prositute that looks like a 16 year old girl is certainly a rocky start, but the addition of overabundant Russian references and werewolf rape made me feel like I had walked into a room of people who had a hung out over the weekend and I'd been left out on all the inside jokes. I'm not Russian nor am I well versed in Russian culture and literature. I'm sure that made this book already a little more difficult to get into. The book has a clever premise and fun ideas but I felt like they didn't really go anywhere. The main character tends to overexplain, and yet I felt I knew next to nothing about the main "love intrest". It felt gross that the main character getsb raped anf finds herself falling for the assaulter, even getting into a relationship with him, and spoilers, he leaves her when he finds out she's "too old". It left a bad taste in my mouth and makes me feel like the author was indulging in some gross fantasy. (And no, it's not a Lolita reference, stop using that book as an excuse for creepy male writing). It also doesn't stray away from constant jabs at lgbtq people (It startes right out the gate too, like page 5) throughout the book. I'm jsut disappointed because a lot of the themes could have been done really well, but it just flopped in my eyes. I'm sure a Russian audience would be better suiteed for this book, but probably the only audience.
bford's review against another edition
2.0
This was a bit of a grind, and I really didn't enjoy the central love story - which is a lot of the book unfortunately. Romance and sex are written at the level I'd imagine finding in a Fifty Shades book, really cringey.
Overall I didn't really enjoy it until the third act when all the philosophy throughout comes to a head. That portion of the book redeemed my efforts for the most part.
Overall I didn't really enjoy it until the third act when all the philosophy throughout comes to a head. That portion of the book redeemed my efforts for the most part.
stillneedsdreams's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
5.0
Pelevin just keeps surprising me. Simple, rough words to explain things that are essential for us to understand.
scarletohhara's review against another edition
3.0
Its great writing, but I haven't been able to get the point of this book!