Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Doctor Zhivago

Boris Pasternak

translated by Hayward and Harari

Published 1957

Russian historical fiction

Classics Reading Challenge 2025

⭐⭐⭐

 

In 2016, almost ten years ago - gosh, time flies! - I read this classic for the first time. I was mesmerized by it and added it to my personal canon. That's how confident I was about its ability to affect and transform me. 

Meanwhile, I re-read it last month for my Classics Reading Challenge: Russian classic, and I cannot believe I read the same book. I dragged myself through this, completely disoriented, having forgotten much of the story. Come to find out, there really is no clear plot in Doctor Zhivago. There are a million characters with a dozen or so interchangeable names each. And love story? There is NO love story. If Pasternak intended to include a love story, it is a lousy excuse for one. 

Having said all of that, I decided to read my original review from 2016, and I preferred my review to re-reading Zhivago because my review was short and sweet. I am still in agreement with my initial response to the exquisite writing style and aesthetic descriptions of Russia. Pasternak was a naturalist, it seemed. Very effective writing, indeed! Is it safe to assume that was why he won the 1958 Nobel Prize in literature for his poetic method? I also approved of the author's dissertations on essential themes, particularly on liberty and freedom, Marxism, beauty and art. I did underline quotes here and there; hence, there was some active reading going on, which means I was thinking and reading at the same time. I had a pulse, I mean, while reading.

But other than that, I was not mentally or emotionally engaged this second time, and I think it has more to do with how I have changed over these ten years. This time, I was more irritated by Yuri, our protagonist -- our tragic hero - and his adultery. And by page 486, I was extremely grateful when I turned the page to find that I had written "JERK" across the top margin because even back in 2016, I had had enough of Yuri's self-serving character. 

OK...maybe I am being a bit dramatic. 

A majority of the story is its background and setting, which is Russia, during WWI and the Russian Revolution, 1917-1922. The history is actually a beneficial part of the story. In fact, if you are looking to expand your understanding or experience of this time period, and of Russia, add it for that reason. 

But if you are looking for an entertaining story with characters, human experiences, relationships..., this is not it. I went from a five-star experience to a three-star, mainly because of the lack of cohesive plot or storyline and the disappointing characters.