Doctor Zhivago

A classic

Dr. Zhivago is a wonderful novel! It is very detailed and can be confusing at times. It is not meant to be light reading!! It really makes you think about life and questions your beleifs. Keeping a list of all the characters and how they are connected is very helpful. This novel discusses the Russian government choices, religion, and morals. While reading this novel the author Boris Pasternak paints a perfect picture as to where the scenes take place and who the characters are. The writing style is very elegant and beautiful. At the back of the novel there are many poems that Paskernak wrote. When reading I felt as though I were actually feeling what the characters felt and saw. I highly recommend this novel! I really enjoyed it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Jist of Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago, written by Boris Pasternak, is a story about the turmoil of revolutionary Russia and its people. It begins a few years before the Bolshevik Revolution and follows events that lead to Civil War and the establishment of the Soviet government. The main character is Dr. Zhivago, a kind and passionate man, who is constantly affected by these events. The book has excellent historical value as well as detail of its characters so that it fully embodies the disorderly mindset of the people. This is most evident in Dr. Zhivago¿s relationship with a woman named Lara. He and his wife Tonya were happily married but when he was drafted to a medical outpost he fell in love with the nurse Lara. Though the Doctor is a good man he is torn between his two loves and inevitably cheats on Tonya. His relationship with Lara beautifully parallels the political struggle that was taking place in Russia. She represents the Communist Russia that the people longed for. She is so close yet unattainable every time the doctor begins to settle with her they experience pain and hardship, whether it be by outside forces or their own actions. She is impossible to reach, impossible to forget, and their relationship, like the revolution, was impossible stop once it began. Dr. Zhivago allows the reader to witness a struggle of the human mind¿s judgment and its desires. It demonstrates that our decisions can start us in one direction and that life¿s unforeseeable circumstances can easily lead us astray.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Doctor Zhivago written by Boris Pasternak is a great read for th

Doctor Zhivago written by Boris Pasternak is a great read for those who understand and appreciate the Russian revolution of the early 20th century. The novel tells the story of a man who is stuck with the ideals of those who take charge in Russia. The novel itself is hard to put in words, but it starts with an introduction of the main character Yurii the audience immediately sympathizes with him because at the age of ten he loses his mother. The novel takes place in an era of sociopolitical corruption brought upon by a pre-world war I ideologies. Furthermore, the main struggle faced by Yurri is the struggle for love. First marries and cheats , at certain moments it seems circumstantial, yet it adds to the corruption the book is trying to reveal. The main symbol is the change that is brought upon by war, a change that lara does not experience even though she has lost the most. Over all the book is a good read with very deep and intense undertones, it is best to read constantly because at times many stories develop at a time.

Do not read

Really slow book. Too many characters with so many differnt stories taking place. At the end of the book i still had a hard time recaping what happend. Might be better to watch the movie on this one.

jdiev

Bayley's translation of the Paternak classic is wonderful! Pasternack writes in the style of his famous perdecesors, Tolstoy, Doestovsky, and Putkin. I deeply enjoyed his treatment of the historical chaos of the Russian revolution within the context of the aesthetic.

Goes Nowhere

It didn't merit all the hype.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

doctor zhivago

People who told me aobut it said it was great, so I went and bought the book Doctor Zhivago. I was expecting MUCH more out of it. The whole story is not that bad, but the plot... it was tiring. I think that one problem of it is that it was over stretched. The overal srory itself was ok, but not a book I would recomend

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

can't think of anything good to say...

This is one of the most boring books I've ever read. It's a sort of love story set during the Russian revolution. The story was dull, the characters bland and the writing wooden. I really struggled just to finish this book. I really can't think of anything good to say about it.....except maybe that my version has some well done illustrations. Doctor Zhivago is one novel that I won't be re-reading

A Great Novel with a some flaws

I watched the movie before I read the book and one thing for sure is the fact that the movie dwelled too much on the Lara and Yuri love story. However, the novel goes deeper, describing Russia as it was during the first half of the last century especially before the Second World War. Actually, the novel revolves around Yuri Andreivich Zhivago a doctor and poet whose life is a series of trials beginning with the funeral for his mother¿ until he too made the honorable exit to the world beyond. Dr Zhivago trials take him across the length and breadth of Russia through war as a soldier in the Red Army and as a man with a strong desire to lead a normal life with his wife and son, but who cannot avoid the love of a woman destiny always put on his way.

the torturous zhivago

the movie was very fascinating and made me want to read this book, but after months of reading this book off and on i found that this book was torturous!! The plot didn't become interesting until the last 200 pages. however, if you want to learn a lot about Russia's culture this could be the book for you. (lots of talk about potatoes and vodka)

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very nice. I like.

Doctor Zhivago, in its novel form, presents a tragic love story and also presents an affecting perspective of some of the struggles Russians faced during and after the Soviet takeover. Doctor Yury Zhivago, during the Revolution, becomes torn between an affair with Lara Antipov, whom he loves and his wife, Tonya, to whom he has deep loyalty. Lara represents Zhivago¿s world-weariness and Tonya his youthful innocence. Tonya, with Yury¿s children, escapes to Paris before the country and becomes a symbol of innocence leaving the scene. His eventual surrender to his feelings for Lara coincides with the communist takeover of Russia. Lara can also be seen as a symbol of communism and Tonya a picture of the old czarist regime as what is familiar to both Yuri and to Russia is replaced by something new and captivating. In addition to being a doctor, Yury Zhivago was a lover and a poet. He mirrors somewhat the story¿s author, Boris Pasternak, as both were persecuted by the Soviets because of their poetry and other writings. In many ways Pasternak¿s story can be seen as a critique of Communist Russia. Pasternak, in Doctor Zhivago, portrays the Soviet regime as restrictive and dehumanizing. The story¿s account of love and innocence lost is one that many have been able to relate to and Zhivago¿s personal internal battles with guilt and feelings of love and passion and remorse unite him to the reader.

Doctor Zhvago, A Man Caught Between Love and War

Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak, is a wonderfully layered story that weaves in and out of romance and war to create and very interesting and captivating story. The combination of these two powerfully contrasting elements gives this story a very unique and enjoyable feel. The intertwined elements of romance and war are present even at the beginning of the book. This book occurs during the first half of the 20th century in Russia where war is everywhere and is inescapable. It follows the life of Yuri Zhivago, a doctor, as he falls in love, finds a new love, and how he reacts to his feelings, all while a revolution is happening right before his eyes. He gets torn apart from his first love when he becomes a medical officer in the army, but in the process, he falls in love again. I thought that this was very interesting, during a horrible time like war, where lives are lost constantly, great things like love can be found. After tending to victims of the revolution, Dr. Zhivago says to his love interest, ¿How can I love at a time like this?¿ The author does a really nice job of somehow making a love story that takes place during a time of complete destruction and chaos and gave the story a very relatable and convincing feeling. It is very interesting how Dr. Zhivago handles loving someone at a horrible point in Russia¿s history. I enjoyed Doctor Zhivago and found it to be captivating from start to finish. The use of two contrasting issues, war and romance, in this story make this story appeal to a wide range of people. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is willing to make a big time commitment to read this great book.

Yuri Zhivago: A Renaissance Man

Doctor Zhivago is a great work of historical fiction. Critics bask in the author, Pasternak¿s, historical boldness and the novel¿s steamy love story with scandals, and deception. Yet, the character development defines this novel. A character, whether discovered in between a novel¿s pages or around the street corner can change a person¿s perspective for life. Pasternak perfected his characters, making them real enough to open a window not only into a reader¿s heart, but also their soul. Yuri Zhivago, the story¿s protagonist, is the pinnacle of this. His obvious flaws yet independence emphasize his humanity. Throughout the story, Yuri¿s flaws are on display. His obsession with Lara from the beginning is irksome, and the fact that he denies it to himself is immature. By not immediately admitting to himself that he is having feelings for another woman besides his wife allows him to continue to have the feelings until he is unable to harness his feelings and exert any self-control and he finds himself in a lust-based obsessive relationship with Lara. Yuri is also blessed with the ability to think for himself. Yuri is never completely with the revolution nor is he completely against the revolution. This ¿neutrality¿ is appealing to the reader and to Yuri¿s character. Yuri keeps himself alive by being a doctor in the Civil War for the Red Army yet it also opens his eyes open to the corruptness of the Bolsheviks. Doctor Zhivago is a timeless tale with attributes to appeal to all genres of readers, but most importantly it offers a protagonist that everyone can relate to. The temptation, the longing, the questioning, the loving, the humanity, everyone can relate to Yuri Zhivago.

A Great Novel with a some flaws

I watched the movie before I read the book and one thing for sure is the fact that the movie dwelled too much on the Lara and Yuri love story. However, the novel goes deeper, describing Russia as it was during the first half of the last century especially before the Second World War. Actually, the novel revolves around Yuri Andreivich Zhivago a doctor and poet whose life is a series of trials beginning with the funeral for his mother¿ until he too made the honorable exit to the world beyond. Dr Zhivago trials take him across the length and breadth of Russia through war as a soldier in the Red Army and as a man with a strong desire to lead a normal life with his wife and son, but who cannot avoid the love of a woman destiny always put on his way.

A romantic novel

Doctor Zhivago was an extremely good book. This was the first time reading this and it really caught my attention. This book is about a man and women who are already married to two different people but fall in love with each other. They had so many obstacles coming between them. I most definitly recommend this novel to anyone and everyone. But this book is also an old timey book so if you don't like romantic novels or older novels then I would not recommend it.

Very interesting novel

Doctor Zhivago is a extremely interesting novel. The combination of conflicts introduced during the story keeps you wondering what is going to happen. It also gives the reader a feel for what was happening in Russia during the Russian Revolution. In addition to the ongoing feud in Russia, the author includes a classic love story which is the main conflict occuring throughout the novel. All in all, this is an excellent book that any serious reader is sure to enjoy!

An EXCELLENT book for a serious reader.

The book opens the world of revolutionary and post-revolutionary Russia with all its turmoil and torment. Although the study and developments of characters are interesting, they are in the end just instruments which the author uses to create a representation of the times and to express a variety of harmonious and conflicting philosophies. (That is why no 'Doctor Zhivago' movie, which tends to focus on the developments in characters' lives can ever do justice to the book). Although, in my opinion a big part of the book's appeal is the author's masterfull use of the Russian language - those with skills should definetly read it in the original.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

I bought this classic novel after watching the stunning new British TV mini-series starring Keira Knightley, Hans Matheson and Sam Neill. I'm glad I did. Novels have an extra depth of character that even the best screen adaptations can't achieve - Pasternak's epic love story set in revolutionary Russia is spellbinding. The Nobel Prize winning author brings a rich, poetic quality to his prose that makes the words sing off the page. The quality of writing in Doctor Zhivago is breathtaking. A masterpiece.

Absolutely Brilliant

This was a wonderful book! I read it shortly before watching the British TV series, which was quite disappointing. I found it took a little while to get going, like Spring Torrents by Turgenev, but once it did it was brilliant. I now intend to read it in Russian (when I can get hold of a copy).

Both and outstanding historical/political novel and a beautiful love story

This book is simply impressive. From the historical and political standpoint, it is first-class, as it portrays with detail the confusing situation of life in post-revolutionary Russia. As a love story, it is equally good, if not better. Additionally, the characterization is deep, and the way it is written is absolutely wonderful. This title is recommendable to all and is, unquestionably, one of the best works in all Russian literature.