Reviews

Picknick auf dem Eis by Andrey Kurkov

rhiannonhatt's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

thomasgammon's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

majya's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was weird in the best way, where I never quite knew what was going on, with just the right amount of information. I think George Bird also did an absolutely brilliant job with the translation, giving us extremely beautiful and flowing prose. 

ryverbear's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

catinatreehouse's review

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bec___'s review against another edition

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funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

lyla_fibert's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

4.0

halfcalico's review against another edition

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4.0

Live, laugh, love Misha

sallywilde's review against another edition

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informative mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

J'ai été déçue par Le Pingouin, je m'attendais à beaucoup plus apprécier ce nouveau classique, mais je suis passée à côté. Il faut dire que je m'attendais au niveau de satire et au zeste de fantastique du Maître et Marguerite, et non, du tout.
La passivité de Victor qui confine à la naïveté voire à la stupidité a commencé à me taper sur les nerfs. Sentiment qui s'accroît vers la fin du roman quand le héros est toujours incapable de faire 2+2 sur sa situation, ce qu'il s'est passé ou l'attend, alors que c'est devenu clair pour le lecteur depuis un certain temps. Je ne sais pas si tout cela est voulu, j'imagine que oui et que l'absurde soumission fait partie de la satire socio-politique promise de l'ex URSS, mais si c'est bien le cas, l'exécution m'a laissée de marbre.
Les personnages sont plats, ce n'est clairement pas un roman porté par le travail sur la profondeur de ses personnages, et pourtant, malgré un résumé prometteur, l'action et le rythme non plus ne sont pas au rendez-vous. 
Je pense qu'il n'est tout simplement pas fait pour moi.

oliverho's review against another edition

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4.0

Fun, dark comedy set in the Ukraine just after the fall of the Soviet Union. There's a Kafka sort of humour, and an awesome penguin. The main character writes obituaries for people who haven't died yet, and then they start dying, and he also has a huge pet penguin, which he took from the state-run zoo when it offered free animals to anyone willing and able to feed them. How could I not like that? The book ends a little too abruptly, but there's a sequel, so I'm guessing the weirdness continues there. The main character is often a little too passive and navel-gazing, but for the most part I liked his cold detachment in the face of unknown enemies, impending doom and terrible, absurd and violent events unfolding around him.