Questions About Dead Souls

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Answered Questions (4)

I want to read this book but I have some reservations about its integrity. You know, it was a part of a bigger project of Gogol's. Could anybody tell if it ends up logically? Because I don't want to read a book undone, like Kafka's The Castle. I'm waiting for your respond, thanks in advance.

Б. Ачболд Honestly, if you are having this discussion then you don't deserve to read Gogol.…moreHonestly, if you are having this discussion then you don't deserve to read Gogol.(less)

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Are the missing pages in Part 2, chapter 3 a joke by the author? Considering the allure of the information being sought, it seems like the perfect joke. I could not find any reference to this online.

Brent Ranalli I thought the same thing--tantalizing and would be a good joke. But no, what is included and omitted in Part 2 appears to be simply a reflection of wh…moreI thought the same thing--tantalizing and would be a good joke. But no, what is included and omitted in Part 2 appears to be simply a reflection of what could be reconstructed from the author's papers.(less)

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would you recommend this book for a 15 year old?

Murinius This is an old question, but I guess it depends on the particular 15-year-old. Many of the references about the types of people you can meet and their…moreThis is an old question, but I guess it depends on the particular 15-year-old. Many of the references about the types of people you can meet and their philosophies might go over their head, but who is to say that they would not enjoy it. I was reading Dostoyevsky when I was a little older than that and didn't know much about the society and politics of 19th century Russia, aside from the fact that a few decades later inequality would lead to revolution, but I really liked it and it led me down an interesting path later on. As an adult I found Dead Souls very funny.(less)

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What is with all the four and five star ratings "Dead Souls" has received here? I found it to be boring, trite, and poorly constructed. Gogol has a knack for over-writing and for giving a lot of pages to characters who are peripheral and fleeting in the narrative. The story barely has a plot and is just a succession of characters who are little distinguished from one another.

Al Maki Some, in fact many, think it's a wonderful book. The form is episodic, like Pickwick Papers, it doesn't really go anywhere, just presenting facets of …moreSome, in fact many, think it's a wonderful book. The form is episodic, like Pickwick Papers, it doesn't really go anywhere, just presenting facets of Russian society. It's an anatomy of Russian society. Your description could probably equally be applied to Huckleberry Finn, which I think is similar in many ways. (less)

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