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euanjones27's review
3.0
3.5/5
Really enjoyed this one, the perspective on time and existence, building off Nietzsche's "eternal recurrence" was very interesting and the overall book was well written and flowed very well. Overall a really enjoyable and interesting read but would be much much better if Ivan wasn't portrayed in such an annoying fashion (although I guess this is authorial intent - making clear his ideology of fatalism), and also the ending which makes literally no sense at all.
Really enjoyed this one, the perspective on time and existence, building off Nietzsche's "eternal recurrence" was very interesting and the overall book was well written and flowed very well. Overall a really enjoyable and interesting read but would be much much better if Ivan wasn't portrayed in such an annoying fashion (although I guess this is authorial intent - making clear his ideology of fatalism), and also the ending which makes literally no sense at all.
mee48w82hsshe's review
mysterious
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
luisasm's review
2.0
Not bad. Interesting, but also a little confusing. Not very satisfying or particularly great, but it is thought provoking.
kalin_grace's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
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 against another edition
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
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.