katevrst's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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? No
4.5
piikuri's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
elenavarg's review against another edition
3.0
(3,5 stars)
This book definitely isn’t for readers who like a plot-driven story, as nothing really happens. Then again, the story is a exploration of one woman’s life from beginning to end, so in one sense *everything* happens. Before picking up the novel, I read up on the author and as I suspected, she isn’t Evenki herself but has studied Evenki and other Native cultures. I can’t presume her writing is completely accurate, but at least the Evenki aren’t described as neither noble nor backwards ”savages”: the Evenki are written as a complex group of people with both ”good” and ”bad” people and customs.
The author’s writing style made reading about the most mundane and everyday things highly enjoyable. The title of the English translation is different from the actual title, ”The Right Side of the Argun”. The original title makes more sense for the story, which makes me wonder why it was changed. The English title suggests the Evenki are on their last quarter, dying down, but the original title eludes more to the reality of Evenki people having their land split between Russia and China along the Argun river. The title change is already affecting the international reading of the novel, as at least the Finnish translstion was made from the English one.
This book definitely isn’t for readers who like a plot-driven story, as nothing really happens. Then again, the story is a exploration of one woman’s life from beginning to end, so in one sense *everything* happens. Before picking up the novel, I read up on the author and as I suspected, she isn’t Evenki herself but has studied Evenki and other Native cultures. I can’t presume her writing is completely accurate, but at least the Evenki aren’t described as neither noble nor backwards ”savages”: the Evenki are written as a complex group of people with both ”good” and ”bad” people and customs.
The author’s writing style made reading about the most mundane and everyday things highly enjoyable. The title of the English translation is different from the actual title, ”The Right Side of the Argun”. The original title makes more sense for the story, which makes me wonder why it was changed. The English title suggests the Evenki are on their last quarter, dying down, but the original title eludes more to the reality of Evenki people having their land split between Russia and China along the Argun river. The title change is already affecting the international reading of the novel, as at least the Finnish translstion was made from the English one.
piiiesk's review against another edition
5.0
a moving book about the beauty of nature, familial relationships and the horrors of a world changing into modernity.
it is an incredible read, I would have liked to underline every other sentence. so many wise and great thoughts and ways to live or not to live. I enjoyed every second of reading this book.
it is an incredible read, I would have liked to underline every other sentence. so many wise and great thoughts and ways to live or not to live. I enjoyed every second of reading this book.
libellus's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
jemmacm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
anskutiti's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
anettelai's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ireanna's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
cakefairy's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Can't remember the last time I lived in a world this vividly. Spectacular.