Pasternak; Doctor Zhivago review

(Also an amazing film from 1965, as well as a new miniseries staring Kiera Knightley and Hans Matheson.

Doctor Zhivago, is a Russian novel by the poet Boris Pasternak, supressed by Soviet Censorship for decades until it was finally published in the 1950's in Italy. It follows the romantic life of a doctor and poet born from a wealthy bussiness man from Pre-Revolution Russia who commits suicide after his fortune is dwindled. His son is caught in the times as a revolution is brewing.

Yury, the businessman's son, grows up in Moscow as a poet and Doctor known and respected all around the region for his work. He is swipped away by the World War, and then is torn apart by the Revolution. The story is centered around the numerous and fateful, encounters Yury seems to always have with a girl named Larissa Feodorovna, and the romance they seem to grow-- despite both being married; Yury courting his childhood friend Tonya while never letting Lara out of his mind, and Lara herself falling for a teacher whom turns to become none other than Strelnikov the Revolutionary.

Pasternak wrote his story after growing up in Soviet Russian at this point in time and seeing the communist regime as it factually was. (you will clearly see why the soviets supressed its publication so long.) It is littered with hardship and skeptical characters of the new government, but by far his greatest comment on communism was the love story itself. It asks in away, who is the true Red; The radical Revolutionary Strelnkiov off fighting the Whites, or the doctor just out treating the world in a selfless way? You can see Pasternak's answer as it is Dr. Zhivago whom is the one that truly wins the girl's heart.

But do not be expecting a cheerful love triangle (or square). This story, though is not at all gloomy, is rather hard to say has a happy ending. Rather, it somewhat strays form the average concepts of good or tragic, and instead has a very realistic, earthy feel all the way through. Though you might be blown away at the story's two-part conclussion, you will close the book wondering if it left you on a good note.

I believe Strelnikov is my favorite character, on the grounds that he is the most tragic. Caught in idealism and turned a tyrant in his disapointment, He was a revolutionary but of a different caliber than the revolution (which is due to the historical complexity and confusion of the Russian revolution, not really a literary twist) and later hunted by the Communist Party. He was the one that lost out the most, he had lost everything. When others speak of him, he's a tyrant and a bandit, but whenever you meet him you get this brotherly air about him. he's really not the antagonist of the story at all, infact Yuri and he are on good terms; "a tragic brotherhood" as it is described.


If you are a fan of history, Russian Literature, or the Russian Revoltution (though techincally the story does span from the Russo-Japanesse War to WWII, it focuses most on the Revolutionary and Civil Wars), or just a fan of intreeging love stories, Doctor Zhivago is a highly recomended novel to pick up.
/ [another brick in the wall]

   More book reviews