libronika's review
2.0
I was expecting something better. The publisher's description was way more exciting compared to the actual story. A reader can easily spot a biblical style inspiration, where characters and locations are symbolical and archetypal. In the end, the story lack depth which is a shame considering the subject of The General of the Dead Army.
edwardgrey's review against another edition
4.0
Found this book while going through Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century list and decided to pick it up since the author was Albanian.
The book was a little slow and hard to keep going at times, but it also had it's shining, memorable moments. I would say that it wasn't what I expected it was gonna be. The way the albanian landscape and weather is described is quite melancholic. In my immaginations I would often see grey.
As always I'm glad I read this book, thought I'm not sure how many people I could recommend it to.
The book was a little slow and hard to keep going at times, but it also had it's shining, memorable moments. I would say that it wasn't what I expected it was gonna be. The way the albanian landscape and weather is described is quite melancholic. In my immaginations I would often see grey.
As always I'm glad I read this book, thought I'm not sure how many people I could recommend it to.
bole1709's review against another edition
3.0
Slično kao i u knjizi Palata snova, ponovo je Kadare bio jako blizu da me kupi i ponovo nije uspeo. Nisam siguran u šta da uperim prst, ali fali mi to nešto jako jako sitno kako bih stvarno zavoleo Kadarea i njegova dela.
Čitajući ovu knjigu, imao sam osećaj kao da sve ide ka nekom vrhuncu, kako će se svaka od epizoda koje se nižu, svaki i najmanji detalj spojiti u jednom iznenađenju, obrtu na samome kraju do kog, nažalost, nije došlo. Samo me ostavilo razočaranog. Zanimljivo je prikazan život u Albaniji, običaji, odnosi prema strancima i bivšim neprijateljima kao i pogled iz ugla jednog stranca, Italijana. Sve je to super, ali niti ima neke preterane radnje, niti obrta, samo epizode koje bez obrta ostaju upravo to, skup epizoda.
Dok Palata snova neodoljivo podseća na Andrićevo delo i iznenađujuće spominje bitku na Kosovu, u Generalu mrtve armije se pojavljuje Alija Đerzelez što pokazuje uticaj naše književnosti na Kadareovo stvaralaštvo.
Čitajući ovu knjigu, imao sam osećaj kao da sve ide ka nekom vrhuncu, kako će se svaka od epizoda koje se nižu, svaki i najmanji detalj spojiti u jednom iznenađenju, obrtu na samome kraju do kog, nažalost, nije došlo. Samo me ostavilo razočaranog. Zanimljivo je prikazan život u Albaniji, običaji, odnosi prema strancima i bivšim neprijateljima kao i pogled iz ugla jednog stranca, Italijana. Sve je to super, ali niti ima neke preterane radnje, niti obrta, samo epizode koje bez obrta ostaju upravo to, skup epizoda.
Dok Palata snova neodoljivo podseća na Andrićevo delo i iznenađujuće spominje bitku na Kosovu, u Generalu mrtve armije se pojavljuje Alija Đerzelez što pokazuje uticaj naše književnosti na Kadareovo stvaralaštvo.
doppy's review against another edition
tense
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? No
3.75
krissshto's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cizt's review
4.0
Ruggigt laddad roman. Varje scen är fylld till bredden med tvetydighet och atmosfären är ofta som en mörk bakgatan en sen kväll, man oroar sig för vad som kan hända – ändå händer det sällan något alls.
zazine's review
dark
sad
slow-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
2.5
theportalmaster's review
5.0
This is one of the best books I have read by Ismail Kadare so far. I loved the symbolism.