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heyfarahey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beautyistruth's review against another edition
5.0
'The Diary of a Superfluous Man' sets the tone for classic Turgenev, whose stories and novels are so often about unrequited or disappointed love. I like this because so many novels go the opposite way, and it exists in life.
'Mumu' made me cry and I never or almost never cry at films or books. Commentary about loneliness and alienation, it is about a deaf and dumb servant and his dog.
'Asya' has a wonderful, wild and hurried atmosphere, like blackberries.
'First Love' is more mature, like a ripe peach or mandarin but still a rich fruit. The character of Zinaida surrounded by her five suitors call to mind mythological stories but the character and what happens to her feels real and truthful.
'King Lear of the Steppes' – Grey and coarser but what a powerful protagonist, atmosphere and striking ending. I think it does the Shakespeare story justice, transplanted to contemporary Russia as it is.
'The Song of Triumphant Love' – Another beautiful artifice about difficult love and heavily symbolic, this time exotic and perfumed with an Italianate setting, a mysterious Malay servant, strange dreams, music and riches from travel.
'Mumu' made me cry and I never or almost never cry at films or books. Commentary about loneliness and alienation, it is about a deaf and dumb servant and his dog.
'Asya' has a wonderful, wild and hurried atmosphere, like blackberries.
'First Love' is more mature, like a ripe peach or mandarin but still a rich fruit. The character of Zinaida surrounded by her five suitors call to mind mythological stories but the character and what happens to her feels real and truthful.
'King Lear of the Steppes' – Grey and coarser but what a powerful protagonist, atmosphere and striking ending. I think it does the Shakespeare story justice, transplanted to contemporary Russia as it is.
'The Song of Triumphant Love' – Another beautiful artifice about difficult love and heavily symbolic, this time exotic and perfumed with an Italianate setting, a mysterious Malay servant, strange dreams, music and riches from travel.
athenamatisse's review against another edition
3.0
3.0 - 3.5 / 5 stars
I didn't enjoy all these stories but they all offered something different.
The Diary of a Superfluous Man: 3.5/5
Mumu: 3/5
Asya: low 3/5
First Love: 4/5
King Lear of the Steppes: low 3/5
The Song of Triumphant Love: 4/5
I didn't enjoy all these stories but they all offered something different.
The Diary of a Superfluous Man: 3.5/5
Mumu: 3/5
Asya: low 3/5
First Love: 4/5
King Lear of the Steppes: low 3/5
The Song of Triumphant Love: 4/5
ovidusnaso's review against another edition
3.0
Finalement fini! Paroles hors de l'ordinaire quand on parle d'un oeuvre qu'on a aimé. Et j'ai bien aimé, mais le lenteur de "Premieur Amour" m'a vraiment ralenti dans la lecture. "L'auberge de grand chemin" et "L'antchar" m'ont beaucoup plus en comparaison, et même prises à ses propres termes. Bonnes nouvelles claires, mais rien d'étonnant.
snowbenton's review against another edition
4.0
Sad and deep and so very Russian.
First Love is excellent.
First Love is excellent.
theultracheesey's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nbhrn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Love me a russian author who writes depressing stories