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richard1510's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
henrytinker's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't know if it was the translation, but I couldn't get into this. I felt like I was reading the script of a play, and I can imagine that it would be good adapted for the stage. As a short story, I felt that there were too many characters to keep track of and not enough description.
spam_jordz's review
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cel_red's review against another edition
3.0
Se tratan de dos relatos que aunque parten de ideas sencillas (la vida en la casa de una anciana y la burocracia de una estación de tren) tienen muchos matices y detalles que los ponen en otro nivel. Creo que ambos pueden parecer lentos, pero la verdad es que pasan muchas cosas desde las primeras páginas y uno debe fijarse bien en cómo se dicen las cosas y no tanto en lo que se dice para poder captar lo que la historia quiere decir.
Lo anterior no significa que sea una lectura densa, pero sí que uno como lector debe poner un poco de su parte para poder disfrutar del libro.
Ambas historias me gustaron. De Matriona destaco la vida del pueblo y que aunque ella es la gran protagonista, la conocemos a través de los ojos de su inquilino, pues el punto de vista externo es algo que me gusta mucho. En Incidente nos enfrentamos a lo tedioso y frustrante que puede resultar la administración de los trenes, pero aun así hay cosas en toda esa burocracia que nos dejan entrever el estado de Rusia en esa época. Además, el incidente al que se refiere el título deja frío a uno, porque es ambiguo y no importa la conclusión a la que se llegue, lo que pasó está mal, tal como lo sabe el protagonista.
https://bitviajera.blogspot.com/2016/05/microrresenas-libros-02.html
Lo anterior no significa que sea una lectura densa, pero sí que uno como lector debe poner un poco de su parte para poder disfrutar del libro.
Ambas historias me gustaron. De Matriona destaco la vida del pueblo y que aunque ella es la gran protagonista, la conocemos a través de los ojos de su inquilino, pues el punto de vista externo es algo que me gusta mucho. En Incidente nos enfrentamos a lo tedioso y frustrante que puede resultar la administración de los trenes, pero aun así hay cosas en toda esa burocracia que nos dejan entrever el estado de Rusia en esa época. Además, el incidente al que se refiere el título deja frío a uno, porque es ambiguo y no importa la conclusión a la que se llegue, lo que pasó está mal, tal como lo sabe el protagonista.
https://bitviajera.blogspot.com/2016/05/microrresenas-libros-02.html
greeniezona's review against another edition
4.0
I liked Cancer Ward so much that when I saw this in a used bookstore it absolutely had to come home with me. And since I'd read Cancer Ward during a previous Dewey's readathon, I decided this collection of two stories was a perfect way to start my readathon morning.
The first story, "An Incident at Krechstovka Station" took a while to get going for me, but as it unfolds it depicts a young lieutenant struggling with duty and ideals while making impossible decisions on too little information.
The second, "Matryona's House," was easier to jump into from the start -- a depiction of the greed and meanness in a small Soviet village -- centered around Matryona, the kind of simple woman easily despised for not being as self-serving as the despisers are.
I found both stories moving, and remain impressed by Solzhenitsyn's gift for characterization.
The first story, "An Incident at Krechstovka Station" took a while to get going for me, but as it unfolds it depicts a young lieutenant struggling with duty and ideals while making impossible decisions on too little information.
The second, "Matryona's House," was easier to jump into from the start -- a depiction of the greed and meanness in a small Soviet village -- centered around Matryona, the kind of simple woman easily despised for not being as self-serving as the despisers are.
I found both stories moving, and remain impressed by Solzhenitsyn's gift for characterization.
acornell's review
reflective
slow-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? No
4.0
4.5 stars
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
În vara lui 1956, lăsând în urmă un deşert dogoritor şi prăfuit, mă întorceam fără să am o destinaţie anume… în Rusia, pur şi simplu. Nu eram aşteptat şi nici invitat în niciun loc de pe teritoriul Rusiei: trecuseră vreo zece ani… Nu aveam decât o singură dorinţă, să mă stabilesc în Rusia de mijloc, departe de caniculă, în vuietul frunzelor din pădure. Voiam să mă strecor şi să mă pierd în Rusia profundă, dacă o astfel de Rusie exista, trăia undeva.
Cu un an înainte, în această parte a Uralului, aş fi putut să mă angajez doar ca muncitor necalificat. Un şantier demn de acest nume nu ar fi vrut să mă ia nici măcar ca montator-electrician. Eu însă eram tentat de învăţământ. Mi se spusese – de către oameni informaţi – că nu voi avea nimic de câştigat din această călătorie, că va fi în zadar.
Cu un an înainte, în această parte a Uralului, aş fi putut să mă angajez doar ca muncitor necalificat. Un şantier demn de acest nume nu ar fi vrut să mă ia nici măcar ca montator-electrician. Eu însă eram tentat de învăţământ. Mi se spusese – de către oameni informaţi – că nu voi avea nimic de câştigat din această călătorie, că va fi în zadar.
hayesstw's review
4.0
Two stories, both connected with railways.
One concerns a busy railway junction in wartime where the dispatchers have to balance efficiency against secrecy, in moving supplies and soldiers to the front lines, and refugees away from them, as well as salvaging goods damaged in bombing raids. Lots of goods get stolen or damaged in transit, and sometimes people do too.
The second story is after the war, when a village teacher lodges with a widow, and gradually learns about her life and realises only after her death what a genuinely good person she was.
One concerns a busy railway junction in wartime where the dispatchers have to balance efficiency against secrecy, in moving supplies and soldiers to the front lines, and refugees away from them, as well as salvaging goods damaged in bombing raids. Lots of goods get stolen or damaged in transit, and sometimes people do too.
The second story is after the war, when a village teacher lodges with a widow, and gradually learns about her life and realises only after her death what a genuinely good person she was.
vonnegutian's review
4.0
Solzhenitsyn is another author whose artistry seems effortless: a couple of years ago I read and loved 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' - how you pack that much power and brilliance into a novel so short I do not know. 'We never Make Mistakes' doesn't reach such heavy heights but is nonetheless two well written short stories that plant the reader alongside minor players far removed from the upper echelons of Soviet rule. In the first story 'An incident at Krechetovka Station' we explore the mind of a young Red Army lieutenant. Missing his wife and child who he has long since heard from, overworked yet eager to be more directly involved in fighting for his country he diligently carries out his somewhat limited position at a military controlled railroad - a logistical shambles of bureaucracy. 'Matryona's House' is about a recently released prisoner who, winds up lodging at a house of a woman looked upon as odd by her fellow villages. He and Matroyna develop a touching friendship as he sees her in the good that others miss. I really enjoyed these stories despite their being relatively short and simple. I would recommend 'One Day in the Life...' as your first Solzhenitsyn if you haven't read him before but this is fine writing nonetheless.
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