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Book reviews for "Rasputin,_Valentin_Grigorevich" sorted by average review score:

Farewell to Matera
Published in Textbook Binding by Duckworth (1991)
Author: Valentin Grigorevich Rasputin
Amazon base price: $27.95
Average review score:

Farewell to Matyora is Grand
Valentin Rasputin's "Farewell to Matyora" is an outstanding work of Russian literature that I highly recommend. Of course, such novels are better read in their native language, but for those of us who don't read Russian (I fortunately do!), this novel may be one of the only English-language translations available and, as such, is a great boon.

Valentin Rasputin has been called one of the most important voices of the post-Stalin era of Soviet literature. Indeed, it has been compared to Solzhenitsyn's masterpieces "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch" and "Matyora's Home." One of Rasputin's shining graces is that he openly exposes the inward charms of Russian character and culture.

The story itself is about the destruction of a village to make way for a Soviet hydroelectric dam project. The dynamics between the older and younger members of the village and their feelings about their imminent departure from a place that has been home to them their whole lives forms the central conflict and interest of the novel. At the same time, the author reveals some of the deep-seated values about the relationship between man and nature that are key to Russian culture.

The blurbs on the back of the novel had a statement that I wanted to share:

"A haunting story with a heartfelt theme, 'Farwell to Matyora' is a passionate plea for humanity and an eloquent cry for a return to an organic life."

My strongest criticism of the novel is that the translator in many places seemed to come up short with ways to adequately portray the nuance and charm that are some of Rasputin's strongest charms in his native Russian. In many places the English translation did a very poor job of conveying the Russian meaning. I compared the Russian original to the English translation several times throughout the novel. I feel that the translator simply wasn't up to the task although I certainly don't think I could do a better one. Translation is an art and, at that, a fickle one.

One of my favorite little phrases that the translator decided to keep was "Japanese Gods," which is a euphemism for cursing in Russian that a charming old codger of a character frequently repeats in his efforts to keep from actually cursing around another character that he considers is a "lady."

Read "Farewell to Matyora" because it's a charming novel for a lover of Russian literature. I highly recommend it.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan


Farewell to Matyora: A Novel
Published in Hardcover by MacMillan Publishing Company (1979)
Authors: Valentin GrigorEvich. Rasputin and Valentin Grigor'evich Rasputin
Amazon base price: $11.95
Used price: $9.00
Collectible price: $12.71
Average review score:

Farewell to Matyora is Grand!
Valentin Rasputin's "Farewell to Matyora" is an outstanding work of Russian literature that I highly recommend. Of course, such novels are better read in their native language, but for those of us who don't read Russian (I fortunately do!), this novel may be one of the only English-language translations available and, as such, is a great boon.

Valentin Rasputin has been called one of the most important voices of the post-Stalin era of Soviet literature. Indeed, it has been compared to Solzhenitsyn's masterpieces "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch" and "Matyora's Home." One of Rasputin's shining graces is that he openly exposes the inward charms of Russian character and culture.

The story itself is about the destruction of a village to make way for a Soviet hydroelectric dam project. The dynamics between the older and younger members of the village and their feelings about their imminent departure from a place that has been home to them their whole lives forms the central conflict and interest of the novel. At the same time, the author reveals some of the deep-seated values about the relationship between man and nature that are key to Russian culture.

The blurbs on the back of the novel had a statement that I wanted to share:

"A haunting story with a heartfelt theme, 'Farwell to Matyora' is a passionate plea for humanity and an eloquent cry for a return to an organic life."

My strongest criticism of the novel is that the translator in many places seemed to come up short with ways to adequately portray the nuance and charm that are some of Rasputin's strongest charms in his native Russian. In many places the English translation did a very poor job of conveying the Russian meaning. I compared the Russian original to the English translation several times throughout the novel. I feel that the translator simply wasn't up to the task although I certainly don't think I could do a better one. Translation is an art, and, at that, a fickle one.

One of my favorite little phrases that the translator decided to keep was "Japanese Gods," which is a euphemism for cursing in Russian that a charming old codger of a character frequently repeats in his efforts to keep from actually cursing around another character that he considers is a "lady."

Read "Farewell to Matyora" because it's a charming novel for a lover of Russian literature. I highly recommend it.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan


Live and Remember
Published in Hardcover by MacMillan Publishing Company (1978)
Authors: Valentin GrigorEvich. Rasputin and Valentin Grigor'evich Rasputin
Amazon base price: $11.95
Used price: $5.64
Collectible price: $15.88
Average review score:

Between a rock and a hard place
Like many good pieces of literature, this one takes up a confrontation between values: the patriotic and military values vs. the personal, family values. Andrei Guskov is a Russian soldier who is wounded at the front in 1944. When he recovers, he decides not to go back to his unit, and therefore becomes a deserter. He hides in the thick forests that surround his natal village, in Siberia (the location of most, if not all, of Rasputin's work). It is winter, and at nights, Guskov wanders near the town. One day, he comes home and suddenly finds his wife, Nastiona. Andrei forbids her to say anything to his or her parents, which puts the woman in a difficult situation. Even so, Nastiona finds a way to visit her husband sometimes, taking advantage of some trip to the city, or in the middle of harsh winter storms. They face a hard dilemma, because Guskov will be forced to leave the surrounds in Spring, when peasants return to work. And then hell breaks loose, when Nastiona gets pregnant.

This is a beautiful novel, unfortunately little known. Rasputin is a good writer and the story is moving and even tragic. Best enjoyed in a winter evening.


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