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Dr Zhivago
The Russian Revolution forms the background to this beautiful but heartbreaking tale of four young people, Yury, Tonya, Lara and Pasha, who find love only to lose it again in tragic circumstances.A classic love story, Dr Zhivago remains one of the best-loved romantic books of the century. It was also beautifully filmed with Omar Sharif and Julie Christie in the leading roles.
77 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 28, 2014
You read enough Russian novels and you start to wonder if the whole point of Russian writing is to share with the reader how utterly miserable it is to be Russian.
February 17, 2021
What a heart wrenching book! At first I was definitely in the mode of "how is this the most romantic book of all time when Yuri is just cheating on his wife and we think this is supposed to be OK?"
But as the chapters went on, I saw the harsh conditions they were living in, the revolution, the slaughters, the starvation and hardship; when you have all this, why does it matter who he loves? He found someone that he loved and someone that loved him back and they understood what they were doing was not ideal but there was no jealousy or contempt. At a time like the chaos of these times, these small matters of infedility didn't seem to matter because these were different times when people married for convinience rather than love. So to find love at a time when there was barely any hope, is something very special indeed. I was reluctant with the infedility to begin with but as time went on and realised he's probably never going to see his wife and children again, I came to accept it. Ah human relationships are so weird. Maybe there isn't really a right or a wrong, especially depending on the times that events are taking place.
But as the chapters went on, I saw the harsh conditions they were living in, the revolution, the slaughters, the starvation and hardship; when you have all this, why does it matter who he loves? He found someone that he loved and someone that loved him back and they understood what they were doing was not ideal but there was no jealousy or contempt. At a time like the chaos of these times, these small matters of infedility didn't seem to matter because these were different times when people married for convinience rather than love. So to find love at a time when there was barely any hope, is something very special indeed. I was reluctant with the infedility to begin with but as time went on and realised he's probably never going to see his wife and children again, I came to accept it. Ah human relationships are so weird. Maybe there isn't really a right or a wrong, especially depending on the times that events are taking place.
July 24, 2016
Эта книга прекрасна. И прекрасна многим. Ведь не зря она попала под советскую цензуру и её автор стал лауреатом Нобелевской премии.
Автор наилучшим образом показал судьбы людей попавшим в жернова революции и нового режима. В книге хорошо изображено истинный облик людей в революционной среде, их мораль, нравственность и поступки.
Отдельного внимания стоит сам сюжет данного романа. Несмотря на его, возможно излишнюю драматичность событий, он стоит самой высокой оценки.
Борис Пастернак был настоящим борцом, которого не остановил режим. И данный роман хорошее тому подтверждение.
Автор наилучшим образом показал судьбы людей попавшим в жернова революции и нового режима. В книге хорошо изображено истинный облик людей в революционной среде, их мораль, нравственность и поступки.
Отдельного внимания стоит сам сюжет данного романа. Несмотря на его, возможно излишнюю драматичность событий, он стоит самой высокой оценки.
Борис Пастернак был настоящим борцом, которого не остановил режим. И данный роман хорошее тому подтверждение.
February 16, 2020
Η ρωσική τέχνη είναι η ακραδαντη απόδειξη της θεωρίας του Νιτσε περί δημιουργίας : Εκεί που η ζωή συναντά τις πιο δυσμενεις συνθήκες, σε εκείνο το σκιερο μέρος, αναπόφευκτα θα ευδοκιμησει η τέχνη. Και θα είναι μια λυτρωτικη κραυγή που θα ταξιδέψει για γενιές και γενιές, σε κάθε μετεριζι, σε κάθε χαινουσα πληγή, στην ψυχή κάθε αλυτρωτου στασιαστη ώσπου να βρει το καταφύγιο της και να αναπλασει τον κόσμο, κατά μία μορφή που θα καθιστά την ύπαρξη ανεκτη. Η τέχνη απ ότι φαίνεται ήταν το μόνο καταφύγιο των Ρώσων, σε μια Ρωσία που κατασπαραζε τις ίδιες της τις σαρκες, και με το αίμα που περισσευε εβαφε τις σελίδες της ιστορίας της.
Ο δοκτωρ ζιβαγκο είναι είναι μοντέρνο κλασσικό ορόσημο της μεταγενεστερης ιστορίας, όχι μόνο της Ρωσίας, αλλά και ολόκληρης της ανθρώπινης υπαρξιακης παραδοξολογιας εν γενει. Είναι η αφήγηση της φυσικής απορροιας ενός μηδενιστικου πνευματος, που γαλουχησε ένα νέο κράτος το οποίο μανιωδώς αναζητουσε την ταυτότητα του για να ξεχωρίσει και να ιδρύσει κάτι καινούργιο. Το τίμημα όμως ήταν ανυπολογιστο. Το μεταίχμιο μεταξύ τσαρικης Ρωσίας, και της ανεληξης του σοσιαλιστικου ιδεωδους και του προλεταριατου, καθώς και οι ζωές των ανθρώπων που στροβιλιζονταν αβουλα μέσα σε αυτή τη δινη ιστορικών γεγονότων, είναι και το κύριο στορυ του Μυθιστορηματος.
Πρόκειται για το κλασσικό μελαγχολικό αψεγαδιαστο Ρωσικό ταμπεραμεντο, υπό τα χρώματα μια μοντερνας στυλιστικης πινελιας, που κατ εμε εκθρονισε τον στυγνο ρεαλισμό των προγενεστερων συγγραφέων που σηματοδοτησαν και το ύφος της Ρωσικής λογοτεχνίας. Ο παστερνακ, γνωστός ως ποιητής, στο πρώτο του μυθιστόρημα, αμφιταλαντευεται κομψα ανάμεσα στον ρόλο του ποιητή και του πεζογραφου φτιάχνοντας ένα απαράμιλλο έργο τέχνης, που σίγουρα τον τοποθετεί στο βάθρο των σπουδαιων της γενιάς του!
A Russian classic Lads! Enjoy!
Ο δοκτωρ ζιβαγκο είναι είναι μοντέρνο κλασσικό ορόσημο της μεταγενεστερης ιστορίας, όχι μόνο της Ρωσίας, αλλά και ολόκληρης της ανθρώπινης υπαρξιακης παραδοξολογιας εν γενει. Είναι η αφήγηση της φυσικής απορροιας ενός μηδενιστικου πνευματος, που γαλουχησε ένα νέο κράτος το οποίο μανιωδώς αναζητουσε την ταυτότητα του για να ξεχωρίσει και να ιδρύσει κάτι καινούργιο. Το τίμημα όμως ήταν ανυπολογιστο. Το μεταίχμιο μεταξύ τσαρικης Ρωσίας, και της ανεληξης του σοσιαλιστικου ιδεωδους και του προλεταριατου, καθώς και οι ζωές των ανθρώπων που στροβιλιζονταν αβουλα μέσα σε αυτή τη δινη ιστορικών γεγονότων, είναι και το κύριο στορυ του Μυθιστορηματος.
Πρόκειται για το κλασσικό μελαγχολικό αψεγαδιαστο Ρωσικό ταμπεραμεντο, υπό τα χρώματα μια μοντερνας στυλιστικης πινελιας, που κατ εμε εκθρονισε τον στυγνο ρεαλισμό των προγενεστερων συγγραφέων που σηματοδοτησαν και το ύφος της Ρωσικής λογοτεχνίας. Ο παστερνακ, γνωστός ως ποιητής, στο πρώτο του μυθιστόρημα, αμφιταλαντευεται κομψα ανάμεσα στον ρόλο του ποιητή και του πεζογραφου φτιάχνοντας ένα απαράμιλλο έργο τέχνης, που σίγουρα τον τοποθετεί στο βάθρο των σπουδαιων της γενιάς του!
A Russian classic Lads! Enjoy!
December 8, 2018
It is not the author’s fault that a book written by a Russian about Russians is littered with so many Russians that all have complex Russian names. Such is usually the main complaint about this classic. I even remember reading a “Peanuts” cartoon where Charlie Brown and company commented on such an unfortunate factor as it related to this book. Once one gets past this, many claim that there’s a beautiful story to be told, and many hail it as “The Novel of the Century”. Even the movie was supposedly outstanding (I haven’t seen it).
Maybe it’s because I read the book 60 years after it was published, or maybe it’s because I don’t read many Russian authors, but I found myself a bit empty after reading this. It certainly didn’t go in the direction that I was expecting, and the story really left me empty. Perhaps that was the point. When telling a story about Russians during the most turbulent point of Russian history, I’m sure there were an awful lot of people that found themselves uplifted from whatever normalcy they were accustomed to, and were never able to return to any sort of routine that they once knew.
The book succeeds in illustrating the bleak life of Russia during the first few decades of the twentieth century. Our protagonist is Yury Andreyevich Zhivago. He’s referred to as “Yury”, “Yury Andreyevish” and “Zhivago” as well as a couple of nicknames. Being the lead character, it’s not too daunting to keep up will all of these monikers. However, when EVERY character in this novel has several different names, it can be a bit too much.
Anyway, Yury marries childhood friend Tonia, yet fate pushes him in many different areas of Russia during the revolution, and he soon finds himself working side by side with another childhood friend, Larissa (or ‘Lara’). Lara is married as well, but due to her circumstances, Yury and Lara soon fall in love. Had they lived in some sort of normal existence, this infatuation could easily have been cooled over time, but 1917 Russia is anything but a normal existence.
You might be thinking at some point that this is essentially a “love-triangle” novel, but I’m not sure I would even classify it as such. In fact, it’s the personal lives of these characters that left me wanting more. I never really felt things moved as they should, and there too many things that were unresolved at the end of the story. As I mentioned, this may have been the point. Since lives during this tumultuous time were so chaotic, why paint a nice happy picture at the end where everything gets neatly folded and put away in its proper place?
I think that was my main problem. I expected more of a story and less of a history lesson. Speaking of “history lesson”, I also confess that there are many aspects of this novel that are confusing unless one has a fair knowledge of the times and place. Being that the author is Russian, and that the book was written in 1957, he probably felt this was unnecessary, and he was probably right. Since these events now took place 100 years prior to when I read the book (2017), I would bet many readers can’t adequately comprehend some of the situations and turmoil. I wish the author could have spent a bit more time explaining why things were the way they were. He also never lets his readers know how much time has passed between key events. True, one can figure this out – but maybe, again, only if one has knowledge of the history.
I’ve also read that the author is mainly a poet. Interesting because although Zhivago is a doctor, he’s also a poet as well. Poetry doesn’t pay many bills when your country is embedded in a revolution, so this hobby of Zhivago is usually only mentioned in passing. However, the end of the book does contain “Poems of Zhivago”. To be honest, I didn’t read them. I was too relieved to be done with, what I thought, was a fairly disappointing story. Perhaps some of these poems may have tied up a few loose ends that never seemed to get resolved? I don’t know, and sadly don’t really care.
I should also point out that I’m of the minority of the opinion here. Most people really loved this book (more, it seemed, loved the movie), so if you stumbled across this review and feel dissuaded to try the book, I should point you to the many positive reviews as well. Give the book about 100 pages before you give up. Make sure you go through the pages slowly. And make sure that you give yourself enough time to digest all the complex vowel-less last names.
Maybe it’s because I read the book 60 years after it was published, or maybe it’s because I don’t read many Russian authors, but I found myself a bit empty after reading this. It certainly didn’t go in the direction that I was expecting, and the story really left me empty. Perhaps that was the point. When telling a story about Russians during the most turbulent point of Russian history, I’m sure there were an awful lot of people that found themselves uplifted from whatever normalcy they were accustomed to, and were never able to return to any sort of routine that they once knew.
The book succeeds in illustrating the bleak life of Russia during the first few decades of the twentieth century. Our protagonist is Yury Andreyevich Zhivago. He’s referred to as “Yury”, “Yury Andreyevish” and “Zhivago” as well as a couple of nicknames. Being the lead character, it’s not too daunting to keep up will all of these monikers. However, when EVERY character in this novel has several different names, it can be a bit too much.
Anyway, Yury marries childhood friend Tonia, yet fate pushes him in many different areas of Russia during the revolution, and he soon finds himself working side by side with another childhood friend, Larissa (or ‘Lara’). Lara is married as well, but due to her circumstances, Yury and Lara soon fall in love. Had they lived in some sort of normal existence, this infatuation could easily have been cooled over time, but 1917 Russia is anything but a normal existence.
You might be thinking at some point that this is essentially a “love-triangle” novel, but I’m not sure I would even classify it as such. In fact, it’s the personal lives of these characters that left me wanting more. I never really felt things moved as they should, and there too many things that were unresolved at the end of the story. As I mentioned, this may have been the point. Since lives during this tumultuous time were so chaotic, why paint a nice happy picture at the end where everything gets neatly folded and put away in its proper place?
I think that was my main problem. I expected more of a story and less of a history lesson. Speaking of “history lesson”, I also confess that there are many aspects of this novel that are confusing unless one has a fair knowledge of the times and place. Being that the author is Russian, and that the book was written in 1957, he probably felt this was unnecessary, and he was probably right. Since these events now took place 100 years prior to when I read the book (2017), I would bet many readers can’t adequately comprehend some of the situations and turmoil. I wish the author could have spent a bit more time explaining why things were the way they were. He also never lets his readers know how much time has passed between key events. True, one can figure this out – but maybe, again, only if one has knowledge of the history.
I’ve also read that the author is mainly a poet. Interesting because although Zhivago is a doctor, he’s also a poet as well. Poetry doesn’t pay many bills when your country is embedded in a revolution, so this hobby of Zhivago is usually only mentioned in passing. However, the end of the book does contain “Poems of Zhivago”. To be honest, I didn’t read them. I was too relieved to be done with, what I thought, was a fairly disappointing story. Perhaps some of these poems may have tied up a few loose ends that never seemed to get resolved? I don’t know, and sadly don’t really care.
I should also point out that I’m of the minority of the opinion here. Most people really loved this book (more, it seemed, loved the movie), so if you stumbled across this review and feel dissuaded to try the book, I should point you to the many positive reviews as well. Give the book about 100 pages before you give up. Make sure you go through the pages slowly. And make sure that you give yourself enough time to digest all the complex vowel-less last names.
October 30, 2012
I can see why this is a classic of Russian Literature. It is beautifully written. It is also a great picture of what Russia was like during the revolution. It is pretty accurate which is why I think it was banned in Russia in the fifties. There is some beautiful symbolism: Zhivago represents the Russian people and the women in his life are representative of the new and old Russia. The weather reflects Zhivago's inner emotional state. If you can stomach the grand sweeping generalizations about human nature, politics and art, you will probably enjoy this book. I am not saying it will keep you up nights, but it is a good read, and an interesting historical phenomenon.
July 18, 2015
Aone-shot temporarily rating, upon the controversy of the novel's theme"storyline",plot,writing style,and the elusive nature of love,
it may deserve another reading,also a more stable,passionate mood
we will see any way,,,
it may deserve another reading,also a more stable,passionate mood
we will see any way,,,
July 17, 2019
4 young people, Yury, Tonya, Lara and Pasha, find love and lose it in this extraordinary time. Their heart-breaking stories make Dr Zhivago one of the greatest romantic books, and films, of the century.
February 27, 2024
A strange book. The movie was my dads favorite growing up and I have seen it a dozen times. So I went in with certain expectations of it being a tragic love story(which it is in part) and am glad to have found more.
September 12, 2022
Fue la obra más extensa al cual le dedique dos meses de lectura profunda.
March 16, 2021
Sometimes I find fault with myself for not reading more contemporary literature. But why do that when the literature of the past is so much richer? I just re-read Dr. Zhivago for the second time. You can tell that Pasternak started his literary career as a poet, because his descriptions are so filled with beautiful metaphors. His prose takes some getting used to, but once you get into it, it sweeps you along. It's also filled with ideas about God and history, like any great Russian novel. The dialogue often seems unrealistic in that I can't imagine real people sounding so articulate, but maybe that's just a reflection of how poorly educated we Americans are now. And who cares, when what the characters have to say is so interesting? I love the final image of the book, the centuries drifting like a caravan, floating out of the dark, to Christ for judgment.
April 10, 2022
I am thankful that I did not live in that time period. Russian Literature is hard to read. characters names changed often in the book making it hard to follow. The brutality was hard for me to read.
April 6, 2013
¡Que bien sintetizado!
http://www.losmilyunlibros.com/2013/0...
http://www.losmilyunlibros.com/2013/0...
January 22, 2016
Well can't remember the story at all, but I remember I really loved the picture on the cover. Inside the book wasn't as romantic though.
June 27, 2017
While I understand that Pasternak was showing the complexity and problems behind the Russian Revolution, I was confused by the names. Also, the morality of the storyline troubled me throughout.
April 28, 2020
This is a very sad depressing story about a very sad and depressing time. I have always enjoyed the movie due to the beautiful cinematography. I appreciated the details the novel adds to the movie. I was always mad about the adultery theme, but after going down a Wikipedia rabbit-hole one night, I read about Boris Pasternok's struggle with his own adulterous affair, I understand why the themes are in there.
Some of the writing is beautiful, but most is very bland. I found it hard to follow along to conversations. I would forget which character was talking. There's quite a few characters and they have multiple long Russian names that are used interchangeably. I had to use SparkNotes to keep them all straight
I appreciated the political discussions and think this definitely should be required reading for highschool. Especially, since socialism is becoming so hip. The Bolshievic Zhivago speaks with on the train station describes himself as a Social Democrat... Everything old is new again... *sigh*
I wish more historical context was given along with the story. I know something of the Revolution, but I had to spend a lot of time on Google to look up subjects.
This book is often described as a romance, but it's more a historical drama. Very little time is spent on romance.
Zhivago is a pretty quirky and complicated character and I wasn't satisfied that the book explained his motivations for all of his actions. I still have questions...
To conclude, this is an important book that should remain widely read, but due to the dark subject, it wasn't enjoyable.
Some of the writing is beautiful, but most is very bland. I found it hard to follow along to conversations. I would forget which character was talking. There's quite a few characters and they have multiple long Russian names that are used interchangeably. I had to use SparkNotes to keep them all straight
I appreciated the political discussions and think this definitely should be required reading for highschool. Especially, since socialism is becoming so hip. The Bolshievic Zhivago speaks with on the train station describes himself as a Social Democrat... Everything old is new again... *sigh*
I wish more historical context was given along with the story. I know something of the Revolution, but I had to spend a lot of time on Google to look up subjects.
This book is often described as a romance, but it's more a historical drama. Very little time is spent on romance.
Zhivago is a pretty quirky and complicated character and I wasn't satisfied that the book explained his motivations for all of his actions. I still have questions...
To conclude, this is an important book that should remain widely read, but due to the dark subject, it wasn't enjoyable.
January 27, 2020
I may be the only person of my generation who has not read the book or seen the movie and have rated this a 3 because I found the story of the Russian revolution , told through the life of Yura, Dr Zhivago, quite interesting. I read it on Kindle and found the formatting was quite frustrating which did not enhance the reading: chapters were marked clearly but paragraphs often seemed to change between characters and scenes abruptly which may have been easier to understand in a regular printed book. I plan to read it in a book to check this.
I may be jaundiced but I didn't really see the love story as beautiful, it seems to me the story of a man who had no capacity to commit, probably due to the numerous stresses in his life. His was a chaotic life in a country undergoing unimaginable change. The observations of the privations experienced gave a clear understanding of the society adapting but to me it was not the romantic story I expected.
I may be jaundiced but I didn't really see the love story as beautiful, it seems to me the story of a man who had no capacity to commit, probably due to the numerous stresses in his life. His was a chaotic life in a country undergoing unimaginable change. The observations of the privations experienced gave a clear understanding of the society adapting but to me it was not the romantic story I expected.
January 20, 2023
Every Russian novel I read, it reminds me how much I hate to be cold. Dr. Zhivago is the sad and unstable story of a man who becomes a doctor (surprise) and finds himself in love with two women. He practices medicine amongst the soldiers in war ravaged Russia during WWI and the Russian Civil War. It’s gritty and gross and sad - but there is so much hope as well. Much like the other Russian novels I’ve read in the past year, there is tons of philosophy and deep dialogue.
Notable Quote: I don't think I could love you so much if you had nothing to complain of and nothing to regret. I don't like people who have never fallen or stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and of little value. Life hasn't revealed its beauty to them.
Notable Quote: I don't think I could love you so much if you had nothing to complain of and nothing to regret. I don't like people who have never fallen or stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and of little value. Life hasn't revealed its beauty to them.
September 13, 2023
'The whole human way of life has been destroyed and ruined. All that's left is the bare, shivering human soul, stripped to the last shred, the naked force of the human psyche for which nothing has changed because it was always cold and shivering and reaching out to it's nearest neighbour, as cold and lonely as itself. You and I are like the first two people on earth who at the beginning of the world had nothing to cover themselves with - at the end of it, you and I are just as stripped and homeless. And you and I are the last remembrance of all that immeasurable greatness which has been created in the world in all the thousands of years between their time and ours, and it is in memory of all that vanished splendour that we live and love and weep and cling to one another.'
(p. 362)
(p. 362)
June 6, 2021
What to say about this sweeping epic and one of my all time favorite novels. It's a beautiful and Tragic Romance set against the backdrop of turbulent times during the Russian Revolution and subsequent Civil War. The poems the philosophy and themes that the writer explores are universal from simple childhood recollections to profound mediations on orthodox theology. Nothing is black in white in the novel. The characters are fully realized human characters each with their own flaws and strengths. The period and setting are fascinating as are the characters. I don't want to go into too much detail but it's a novel best read without spoilers. A genuine masterpiece.
June 18, 2023
I almost gave this masterpiece a 5 star rating...however...it's a Russian novel which means it's way too long and has a cast of thousands many of whom use 2 or 3 different names! Confusion abounds!! Excellent, excellent book. Loved the characters, loved the setting (I'm sure I was part of the Russian nobility in a former life), and love Russian history. Another reason for the 4 stars rather than 5 stars is the fact I read this book so long ago I'm sure I couldn't remember all the sub plots nor all the characters, etc. But...if you like historical novels and really, really long books...this is your book!
January 17, 2021
Interesting. Written almost as small stories interconnecting. Zhivago himself a little bit of a lost figure - almost always to be influenced or saved especially by women, therefor maybe the story should be classified as romance and not a historical book about the Russian revolution. Interesting also that Lara and the women generally made the best comments :- "...so the individual was destroyed' explained Lara." One can clearly see the communist and socialist methods...the Reds and anything that does not fit their agenda must be the enemy and this is so totally wrong!
November 25, 2023
Wonderfully interesting. The depth of characters and the beautifully story builds so much empathy for them - especially Laura and Yuri - while revealing the emptiness of the Bolsheviks revolution.
Been meaning to read this for a long time. Finally the Ukrainian invasion in 2023 rekindled my interest in reading this book and I wasn't disappointed.
I made a list of the huge number of Characters in the book as I read it and who they were and I am glad I did it as they appear much later in the book again after being introduced.
Been meaning to read this for a long time. Finally the Ukrainian invasion in 2023 rekindled my interest in reading this book and I wasn't disappointed.
I made a list of the huge number of Characters in the book as I read it and who they were and I am glad I did it as they appear much later in the book again after being introduced.
August 23, 2021
A book of intense, atmospheric moments set against the tumultuous backdrop of 20th century Russian history. Although worthy of being regarded a classic, this didn't feel like anything in the thread of Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky. I tend to prefer novels that do more with fewer characters rather than the oversprawling saga as written. I haven't seen the movie, but maybe that cuts to the heart of the story more directly.
February 28, 2020
(The audiobook option is not available to review here, but that's what I went with.)
I gave up on this pretty early on. As with other Russian novels I've attempted, I got really hung up with all the various names each character might go by. I can't compartmentalize well enough to keep track of people. It breaks my brain.
I gave up on this pretty early on. As with other Russian novels I've attempted, I got really hung up with all the various names each character might go by. I can't compartmentalize well enough to keep track of people. It breaks my brain.
November 15, 2020
One of the most essential books in Russian Literature when it comes to understanding the strife of a nation and a community of people through wars and revolutions, all while opposing ideals and ideologies of philosophical and socialistic essential are prevalent throughout. This demonstrates the complexity of the rise of the USSR.
December 27, 2020
I've really got to stop reading books where men sit around talking about the women they supposedly love but are objectively awful to. I just couldn't get over how different this story would be if told from the perspective of any of the women in Zhivago's life. Maybe it is a great romance but I found Zhivago himself insufferable, self-righteous and hypocritical.
June 5, 2022
I finally read “Dr. Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak, which I thought was a Russian classic like "War and Peace" and "The Brothers Karamazov."
Pasternak, after all, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958 based on this novel.
The writing is extraordinarily beautiful, like drinking cold, pure, delicious water directly from a high mountain stream. In his early years, I understand that Pasternak was known primarily for his poetry, and his facility with the language and his eye for detail definitely come through in “Dr. Zhivago.”
However, the reason I don’t give this book five stars (in fact, I almost gave it three!), and the reason why I don’t personally consider it to be in the same league as War and Peace, is that the story drags. There are long stretches during which, even in hindsight, nothing much of significance happens. Instead, much of the book appears to describe a simple unfolding of events, not always in chronological order, without much purpose.
The sluggishness of the story caused me to put the book down for several weeks at a time, only to pick it up again because I was determined to finish it and to see what it is that motivates some people to praise it so enthusiastically.
So, I stuck it out to the end, and am glad I did.
The scenes with Yuri (Dr. Zhivago) and Lara toward the end are marvelous. The plotting which seemed nonexistent during long stretches does emerge at the end. Characters come together, twists are revealed, and some loose ends are tied up.
My wife asked if I would recommend that she read this book. Really, I wouldn’t. Life is too short, and the number of truly great books, and gripping stories, are too many.
This is a book which I think is particularly well suited to be turned into a movie. (It was, of course, turned into a very famous movie starring Omar Sharif.) Usually a movie cannot sufficiently capture the intricacies of the story that are woven together in a great novel. In the case of Dr. Zhivago, however, I think a screen writer could essentially take "all of the good parts" of the books and incorporate them straight into the movie.
So, I will recommend that my wife watch the movie instead!
Pasternak, after all, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958 based on this novel.
The writing is extraordinarily beautiful, like drinking cold, pure, delicious water directly from a high mountain stream. In his early years, I understand that Pasternak was known primarily for his poetry, and his facility with the language and his eye for detail definitely come through in “Dr. Zhivago.”
However, the reason I don’t give this book five stars (in fact, I almost gave it three!), and the reason why I don’t personally consider it to be in the same league as War and Peace, is that the story drags. There are long stretches during which, even in hindsight, nothing much of significance happens. Instead, much of the book appears to describe a simple unfolding of events, not always in chronological order, without much purpose.
The sluggishness of the story caused me to put the book down for several weeks at a time, only to pick it up again because I was determined to finish it and to see what it is that motivates some people to praise it so enthusiastically.
So, I stuck it out to the end, and am glad I did.
The scenes with Yuri (Dr. Zhivago) and Lara toward the end are marvelous. The plotting which seemed nonexistent during long stretches does emerge at the end. Characters come together, twists are revealed, and some loose ends are tied up.
My wife asked if I would recommend that she read this book. Really, I wouldn’t. Life is too short, and the number of truly great books, and gripping stories, are too many.
This is a book which I think is particularly well suited to be turned into a movie. (It was, of course, turned into a very famous movie starring Omar Sharif.) Usually a movie cannot sufficiently capture the intricacies of the story that are woven together in a great novel. In the case of Dr. Zhivago, however, I think a screen writer could essentially take "all of the good parts" of the books and incorporate them straight into the movie.
So, I will recommend that my wife watch the movie instead!
December 27, 2022
I couldn't connect with this book, and I had to jump ship halfway. I so wanted this to be another Anna Karenina! While scenes are evocative in places, the book is scattered storytelling that often takes chapters and chapters to move forward. Characters are created at whim, dialogue is scant, and important events are jumped over in a sentence or two.
September 30, 2023
Zhivago es médico y poeta, con sus manos cura cuerpos y restaña heridas materiales producidas por el hombre, con la literatura intenta curar las de su atormentada alma. Bajo el impotente manto de la Guerra Civil que asola a Rusia luego de producida la Revolución de Octubre se desarrolla una de las novelas capitales del siglo XX. Obra maestra.
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