My return to Platonov was better than expected. Also this guy likes trains! Like REALLY likes trains. I put down a Platonov book about 2 years ago, butMy return to Platonov was better than expected. Also this guy likes trains! Like REALLY likes trains. I put down a Platonov book about 2 years ago, but picked him up again when I found this collection of short stories. I liked it more than I thought I would, as while the titular story 'Soul' dragged a bit, I found them altogether well written. 'The Return' and 'River Potudan' were spectacular and easily 4.5 stars, while the others really did not have the same level of charm. Still, if you can find and read those two shorter stories, they are well worth it!!
I know many will be turned off because Platonov doesn't immediately denounce the Soviet state. Well, if you want that read an exile or Grossman, because that isn't Platonov. Instead he shows a window into the realism (or promoted realism) of the Soviet life, and it is clear it is not a bed of roses. While 'Soul' seems to say Communism is what can save the Dzhan community, Platonov's Communism is NOT the Soviet Communistm, so he is not a Soviet puppet.
Instead he often shows his disillusionment with what he fought for in the Revolution and this comes across clearly in his stories of low-energy endings. Especially 'River Potudan' where disillusionment with life, Revolution and love all intermix. The themes there were exceptional. And 'The Return' shows similarly how a returning soldier from WW2 experiences disillusionment as well. What he thought he fought for turned out to be not everything he thought it was. The ending of 'The Return' was spectacualar!
I had started 'The Foundation Pit' years ago, but put it aside, and now after experiencing Platonov here in this collection, I am happy to return to his most well-known work and to see how it may affect me. I will be re-reading 'River Potudan' many times in my future. Top marks on that story....more
This was a very modest look into Dutch Culture, a culture that is most often known to the broader world through 1600-1800s paintings rather than literThis was a very modest look into Dutch Culture, a culture that is most often known to the broader world through 1600-1800s paintings rather than literature. Names like Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt are more well known that any Dutch writers (save Anne Frank if you consider she was Dutch-German).
So when the opportunity to explore a relatively unknown Nescio came across my TBR pile, I jumped at the chance. He reminds me very much of Theodor Storm with his bleak and dark portraits of the IJmeer, and the various canals paint a very real sense of Amsterdam and the Netherlands in the time before and after WWI. Often cool and without much food, Nescio's protagonists seem to share a story of "getting by" using constructive depictions and stirring emotion within the reader.
While not the most evocative of global writers, there may not be a better Dutch writer in the last 100 years. All in all, a collection of good stories to come out of the Low Countries....more
It was a rare chance to read something from the Arab world and Tayeb Salih was welcomed, especially as stories on the Nile are ususally dominated by EIt was a rare chance to read something from the Arab world and Tayeb Salih was welcomed, especially as stories on the Nile are ususally dominated by Egyptians, so this was pleasent to hear from those further upriver. In fact, I found his descriptions of the Nile to be mesmerizing. And the descriptions of Sahara Heat were also amazing! Those were the times I felt most connected to Salih's novella.
Still, I didn't really enjoy the plot too much here, it seemed like much of it was just running in circles, and I suppose for the foreshadowing and allusions act as plot devices, but I thought those plot devices weren't servicable. As I said, I thought his descriptions and use of language were his strongest suit and the 3 star is because I found the plot lacking....more
Delightful little Novella! Zweig entertains yet again! I enjoy searching for bookstores' last book of fiction alphabetically because I love it when itDelightful little Novella! Zweig entertains yet again! I enjoy searching for bookstores' last book of fiction alphabetically because I love it when it is Stefan Zweig! Usually if it's a new-to-me Zweig I will buy it and I was very impressed with this short novella.
Zweig places a nice contrast between the personalities of Czentovic, the chess master, and Dr. B, the amateur who challenges him. In just a few pages, we see how the game of chess affects Dr. B and through it how WWII and the Nazis have imprinted on his life. Great read, short read. Timeless ...more
Top class work by Pushkin! I don't remember the last time I flew through a book like this one! Curled up on my couch with a cup of coffee, each time ITop class work by Pushkin! I don't remember the last time I flew through a book like this one! Curled up on my couch with a cup of coffee, each time I finished a chapter, I just had to see what Pyotr Andreyich and Masha would do in the next one. Love, adventure, war and rebellion, what more could one ask for in a short novel? Pyotr Andreyich, our hero, must avoid bandits and traitors all while remaining loyal to his love of the Captain's Daughter and to Russia. Three cheers for Grinyov!
Pushkin is clearly a Russian genius and it's no wonder that all of the Russian greats looked up to him. his knack for just the right word or outburst from the characters made them all so real and tangible unlike any other writer. For anyone looking to read Pushkin for the first time, but who has been too afraid to dive into his works, I cannot suggest this highly enough.
This edition was a great one and I recommend it to others. Enough notes to keep one abreast of the Pugachev Rebellion, (since this is a historical novel they are crucial) but not too many to drown in meaningless asides from the translator and author....more
Nice collection of love-tragic short stories by Theodor Storm. His ability as a German realist harkens to Jack London in his bleak storytelling and poNice collection of love-tragic short stories by Theodor Storm. His ability as a German realist harkens to Jack London in his bleak storytelling and poinent ability to draw scenes into the imagination. My favorite was Aquis Submersus by far, but many others have great storylines and have amazing scenes. A must read for Northern Germany fans, describing the lowlands and North Sea atmosphere in detail. Frisian culture all around which was a nice setting for literature.
The main read, situated (chronologically) at the end was the longest and most heralded story, however I didn't like it as much as the others as I felt it dragged on. I read it second after Immensee, but I think that was an error on my part, to the detrement of how I read his masterpiece work. The Moral: Read The Stories in Order! more on that below
All his stories, at least in this collection, are 2nd or 3rd person accounts. Stories within stories and reading this collection in order will help a reader to realize this. The Rider on the White Horse, is a story within a story 4-fold, so I kept waiting for action to happen in the realm above which caused me to lose the trace of the actual story being told. By the time I read the other seven, I realized this too late which would have made Rider a much better story if I had paid attention.
Edit: I have re-read this now and I have to say this is a 5-star collection. Yes, there are some 3-star works, but as a whole for German Realism, this is top notch. 5-stars, Thank You, Teodor Storm!...more
A nice Travelogue from the early 1900's regarding weathy flight from Moscow and Petersburg during the times of the Russian Revolution. Of course the rA nice Travelogue from the early 1900's regarding weathy flight from Moscow and Petersburg during the times of the Russian Revolution. Of course the rest of Europe is still fighting in WW I, so Southern Ukraine and Istanbul aren't exactly safe havens either, but yet Teffi in her personal style doesn't bat an eyelash during her little tete-a-tetes with military checkpoints or getting swindled out of handfuls of rubles by the beyond the pale settlements she passes through. Tinges of racism when dealing with these Jewish peoples, but MUCH less than typical for the time, and I believe she is also using irony in these instances to point out the anti-semitism of her fellow travelers and agent.
Also, while I enjoyed her tales of attempting to perform at theaters to earn money during the trip and at her misery agent who attempts to help her, I was facinated as her story also worked as a travel writing. Good book for anyone looking at the Western fringe of the Russian empire during the tumultous year of 1918....more
Interesting memoirs, yet not-quite-memoirs of sorts, recalling time during Teffi's childhood, early years and later years. They aren't quite autobiogrInteresting memoirs, yet not-quite-memoirs of sorts, recalling time during Teffi's childhood, early years and later years. They aren't quite autobiographical as she sometimes writes herself as one of her sisters in the stories, but other times provides quite poignant memoirs of meeting Rasputin + others.
She does keep it interesting. Quick read and often humorous read, but never with any great action or gripping scenes. A strange little book....more
I really enjoyed Stefan Zweig's narration of the protagonist's own thoughts and how thoughts matured within young Christine Hoflehner. Zweig is quite I really enjoyed Stefan Zweig's narration of the protagonist's own thoughts and how thoughts matured within young Christine Hoflehner. Zweig is quite jumpy in his narration, few sprawly soliloquies here, but instead a frantic collection of nouns, emotions, and verbs deliver Christine's adventures from Switzerland to Vienna, while still maintaining a intriguing plot and remaining very readable. I thought Part 1 read like a tragedy and would have been pure melancholy to end it there, a 4.5-star book, but one that makes you feel awful inside. But Part II lagged more than I would have liked and for that the ending wasn't as powerful (a 3.5-star book). It delivered a nice outlook on Post-WWI Austria and this was an enjoyable view considering Austrian literature isn't readily available in English. I will look into other Zweig stories, but this one unfortunately lost a bit in the last few pages....more
Loading...
