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masugoupil's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
msgtdameron's review
5.0
Many reviews compare Generations to War and Peace and yes they both follow a family over many years that's where comparison ends.
Tolstoy spent his entire life looking for the Russian soul or what made Russia uniquely Russian. This search is epitomized when Natasha jumps up and dances at Uncles. The spontaneity of the dance is the expression of Russia's soul that Tolstoy was looking for. Tolstoy was also, unapologetically, a Monarchist. During his early work, Sevastopol tales for instance, Tolstoy looked at what was wrong with Russia but later he abandoned liberalism an became a monarchist. War and Peace is the height of support for the Tsars.
Aksyonov is not an apologist for the Communists and Generations is not quite and attack on the Party and the rulers. Aksyonov is not looking for the Russian soul he is dissecting that soul being squashed by the Party. The fear in book one is almost palatable. Several times I stopped and went out side to check that some crazed Time Lord had not picked up my home and dropped it in Moscow circa 1934, that is how powerful the fear is. We see the security organs both collect conspirators, interrogate them, and intern them in Kolyma. We can see the pain of the families as they wait for word of their interned loved ones. Aksyonov also makes us feel the loose of love that happens after long separation. Especially after separations that put both people in the relationship in extreme situations. We are made to think about how we would react in the same position and those thoughts can become dark.
Aksyonov makes us think, makes us feel, makes us worry, makes us cry and teaches us history. History that could repeat itself any where in the world when Autocrats take control. A great read.
Tolstoy spent his entire life looking for the Russian soul or what made Russia uniquely Russian. This search is epitomized when Natasha jumps up and dances at Uncles. The spontaneity of the dance is the expression of Russia's soul that Tolstoy was looking for. Tolstoy was also, unapologetically, a Monarchist. During his early work, Sevastopol tales for instance, Tolstoy looked at what was wrong with Russia but later he abandoned liberalism an became a monarchist. War and Peace is the height of support for the Tsars.
Aksyonov is not an apologist for the Communists and Generations is not quite and attack on the Party and the rulers. Aksyonov is not looking for the Russian soul he is dissecting that soul being squashed by the Party. The fear in book one is almost palatable. Several times I stopped and went out side to check that some crazed Time Lord had not picked up my home and dropped it in Moscow circa 1934, that is how powerful the fear is. We see the security organs both collect conspirators, interrogate them, and intern them in Kolyma. We can see the pain of the families as they wait for word of their interned loved ones. Aksyonov also makes us feel the loose of love that happens after long separation. Especially after separations that put both people in the relationship in extreme situations. We are made to think about how we would react in the same position and those thoughts can become dark.
Aksyonov makes us think, makes us feel, makes us worry, makes us cry and teaches us history. History that could repeat itself any where in the world when Autocrats take control. A great read.
cayo's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
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