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on January 29, 2017
The writing style is Russian, which to me means that the writer enjoys the use of a thesaurus for his own delight, not mine. I am fascinated by the plot and the setting, so I have continued to read. However, this is slow going work. Sometimes the main character will slip into an alcoholic delusion and the reader must understand this in order to follow the narrative. This narrative shift seems to function as an experiment in writing about reality and alternative reality. Because the author is writing about alcoholism, this is not a comfortable or delightful transition. The novel gets very dark and dense. The plot is interesting enough to help me get through the depictions of the gritty and miserable experience of alcoholism. But, again, it is a Russian story. There is no hope, and perhaps I will be rewarded with the death of the main character. As I cannot figure out his motivation to keep going in the cold, dark, hopeless winter, at times I would like for him to simply die in the cold and be done with it.
on July 5, 2017
This was the most disjointed novel that I have ever read. The author jumped from one thing to another. There didn't seem to be a plot and and the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. It only seemed to be a description of what it must be like to be a hopeless alcoholic. Reading this book was a waste of my time. How could anything this bad even get published?
Kind of hard to follow and obscure in parts, but overall a good novel. It shows the homelessness of Filya and his feeble attempt
on January 13, 2017
To call home. He is displaced and empty. I think the power of the book is that we all feel this way from time to time. We search for answers but don't find them.It can take years before we can break out of a pit or a rut.But I think if we persist we will find the answers we search for. For me it is Jesus who gave his life for me so I can have life.
on January 19, 2017
Into the Thickening Fog, by Andrei Gelasimov is a very strange and wonderful type of morality play. Akin to Crime and Punishment, this Russian author also brings the reader deep into the conscience of the protagonist. From him we learn that conscience is a terrible thing, much worse than karma, having neither grace nor mercy. Woe unto the soul who rewards itself with evil. The conscious is a brutal taskmaster. So how, in the light of the agony of human existence does the author offer up such wry humor? Sheer genius. Where there should be a stinking odor we are touched with the sweet smell of fragile humanity. When you read it you experience the burn of the frozen north, where there is no hiding place from the storm of self-judgment, and the cold fire devours the stubble. Woe unto those who call evil good, and good evil.
on March 6, 2017
I hated this book. Sorry. It took forbid to get into, and even then I only kept reading because I was 60%in and hoped I'd find a plot.
I never did. It's hard to follow and the moment you think you've found a purpose, you find you're completely wrong. The main character is just a self observed dink. I really feel like I wasted time here, this It's the 8th book I've read in 2017 and it took longer to get through than all 7 of the others out together.
I never did. It's hard to follow and the moment you think you've found a purpose, you find you're completely wrong. The main character is just a self observed dink. I really feel like I wasted time here, this It's the 8th book I've read in 2017 and it took longer to get through than all 7 of the others out together.
on June 7, 2017
I have lived in Russia for 15 years. I fully understood where the author was coming from. Unlike most reviewers here, I got drawn into it. Maybe because it reminded me of a crazy, drunken night in -40 degree Siberia I had myself? Regardless, I loved the book....until the end. It left me wondering if my interpretation of it was correct or not. That bothers me. Plus, it seemed anti-climatic to me. But knowing Russians as I do, I think it is me that missed the full point.
on January 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and totally had me hooked from the beginning. It is totally from the lead characters view so when he passes out and comes too, it is like leaving the room for a while and coming back to a conversation you have been having but don't remember. Confusing at first but as the book continues the characters all begin to have connection and you gradually learn all about them. The description of the cold and events are so well done that I could feel the cold. It seemed realistic. There are many very comical situations, some reminiscent of Roan Atkins Mr. Bean. However still making the reader understand his inner demons and personal tragedies that have lead him to this place. I highly recommend this book.
on February 19, 2017
No seriously. What? I guess I'm required to write 17 words in order for this to qualify as a review. Perhaps it confuse the situation that I was reading the book as I fell asleep each night but I didn't feel like there was much development of the different characters not a whole lot of coherence of plot.
on April 30, 2017
Best description of living in profoundly cold weather I have ever read. Redeemed by the dog. Follows the persistently depressing attitude reflected in so many Russian works. Like VERY MUCH that the translator is given attention in addition to the author.
