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A review by greeniezona
How the Two Ivans Quarrelled by Nikolai Gogol
5.0
I've ben meaning to read Gogol ever since reading [b:The Namesake|33917|The Namesake|Jhumpa Lahiri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480106986l/33917._SY75_.jpg|16171], and this lovely Melville House novella seemed like a good way to jump in.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. I mean, I expected the skewering of aristocratic Russian society, sure. But I did not expect it to involve this almost slapstick level of absurdity. When my over-the-top cackling drew raised eyebrows from the rest of my family and I tried to read some choice bits to them to explain, I was crying and gasping with laughter.
Of course, the pitch of that absurdity peaks fairly early in the book, then slowly simmers down to shaking-my-head levels, but all the better to drive home the satire and class criticism, rather than leave it feeling just absurd.
I think it's safe to say I'll be seeking out more Gogol in the future.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. I mean, I expected the skewering of aristocratic Russian society, sure. But I did not expect it to involve this almost slapstick level of absurdity. When my over-the-top cackling drew raised eyebrows from the rest of my family and I tried to read some choice bits to them to explain, I was crying and gasping with laughter.
Of course, the pitch of that absurdity peaks fairly early in the book, then slowly simmers down to shaking-my-head levels, but all the better to drive home the satire and class criticism, rather than leave it feeling just absurd.
I think it's safe to say I'll be seeking out more Gogol in the future.