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The sly, subversive side of the nineteenth-century Russian literary character — the one which represents such a contrast to the titanic exertions of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky — was most fully realized in Ivan Goncharov's 1859 masterpiece, Oblomov.
This magnificent farce about a gentleman who spends the better part of his life in bed is a reminder of the extent to which humor, in the hands of a comic genius, can be used to explore the absurdities and injustices of a social order.
Goncharov's gentle satire on the failings of 19th-century Russian gentry and bureaucracy turns into something deeper and richer than satire, as he probes the character of a protagonist whose constitutional lethargy becomes a symbol for the malaise of the human spirit in an alienating world.
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steamyfan
Posted April 19, 2010
The hilarious, sometimes sad, tale of a certain man by the name of Oblomov. (Originally written in Russian). Oblomov himself is quite a character. Rich, lazy beyond reason, dirty and completely ignorant and oblivious of his surroundings, his life is in a state of crisis. He is being evicted, the feds are following him. How will he get out of this?
This was a very interesting book. It was quite challenging, but I enjoyed it anyway. I don't suggest this book to most people, because it has a lot of Russian themes which might not make sense unless you are familiar with Russian culture and lifestyle.
It seems most "Great Russian Novels" are about being Russian, more than anything else, and Goncharov's satire of a useless Russian nobility and a corrupt system of life rings true without being pedantic. There's something very warm and real in his characters, from the immensely forgettable Alexeyev to Oblomov's dear landlady and her "Bosom as firm as a sofa-cushion" and her always-working elbows.
I approached "Oblomov" on a recommendation from a website that tends to recommend books that I enjoy. I was completely surprised and excited by how much I enjoyed this book. The narrative is engaging and enjoyable, and became for me a page-turner unlike most of the "classics" that I have committed to reading. The characters are not only wonderfully developed but they are all incredibly interesting people you end up caring for a great deal. Even the ultimately tragic Oblomov will frustrate you yet you will find yourself frustrated mostly because you want something so much better for him. Even the seemingly unimportant side-characters have remained ingrained in my mind a long while after finishing this book. The plot can move a tad slow at points but the parts where "little is happening" are usually filled with incredibly interesting and delightful depictions of daily life for each of these characters and there is an odd underlying rhythm to the book that keeps you moving forward excitedly and expectantly. Enjoy Oblomov!
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Posted December 4, 2002
A finely written protrait of a man to lazy to do anything.Illustrates the price of inaction and slothfulnes. A bit too long, but well worth the time.
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Overview
The sly, subversive side of the nineteenth-century Russian literary character — the one which represents such a contrast to the titanic exertions of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky — was most fully realized in Ivan Goncharov's 1859 masterpiece, Oblomov.
This magnificent farce about a gentleman who spends the better part of his life in bed is a reminder of the extent to which humor, in the hands of a comic genius, can be used to explore the absurdities ...