tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post8195416261716271756..comments2024-03-23T18:50:06.402+11:00Comments on journey & destination: Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1966)Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-71246375611223040542018-03-11T17:54:12.178+11:002018-03-11T17:54:12.178+11:00Thank you! I wasn't aware that it was the anni...Thank you! I wasn't aware that it was the anniversary of his birth.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-15400634140483436122018-03-09T15:54:10.431+11:002018-03-09T15:54:10.431+11:00Prof premraj pushpakaran writes -- 2018 marks the ...Prof premraj pushpakaran writes -- 2018 marks the 100th birth year of Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn!!!prof prem raj pushpakaranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14561237920972677898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-89328122816259094482017-06-27T16:53:14.501+10:002017-06-27T16:53:14.501+10:00It was amazing. It's a pity the title doesn...It was amazing. It's a pity the title doesn't convey the scope of the book, but then that would be almost impossible.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-74452598078001277342017-06-26T22:33:46.278+10:002017-06-26T22:33:46.278+10:00I find illness memoirs kind of upsetting, but this...I find illness memoirs kind of upsetting, but this one was so compelling, from the anxiety of diagnosis to iatrogenic problems, that I couldn't put it down. Extremely readable, an amazing novel.Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05038437416575948282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-47387160936967252017-06-15T11:47:12.486+10:002017-06-15T11:47:12.486+10:00I knew it would be good if Solzhenitsyn was the au...I knew it would be good if Solzhenitsyn was the author, but yes, the title isn't a drawcard. A microcosm is a great way to describe how he folds in the characters & their backgrounds, the politics etc. I also liked that part about the couple in exile & that Kostoglotov delayed going to the hospital in order to see the ballet!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-74725241282512827902017-06-14T08:15:32.007+10:002017-06-14T08:15:32.007+10:00I thought, POETIC LIFE, YES! That is what makes us...I thought, POETIC LIFE, YES! That is what makes us human.Silviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249978624747684879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-89470138408592542452017-06-14T08:13:51.425+10:002017-06-14T08:13:51.425+10:00Great post about one of my favorite books. Strange...Great post about one of my favorite books. Strange, to love a book with this title so much. I agree, the medical differences and talk were fascinating. I also loved the way the lives of all those in the ward give us a microcosm of sorts, and we get to know about how different Russians lived. The conscience problem, the who is good or bad in a tyrannical government, what does it mean to be a man, or a human, are all pondered and treated generously through the book.<br />My favorite part is when Khrushchev tells the story of that couple in exile?, the ones with the dog, those who were treated badly, but who managed to maintain beauty in their daily life. I forgot the details, but the whole book made a mark on me. (I still remember the young boy with cancer in the leg, and a lot from the last part, Khrushchev's exit. I cried and cried).Silviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249978624747684879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-91773032481123443042017-06-11T12:21:10.513+10:002017-06-11T12:21:10.513+10:00And I have yet to read Tolstoy!!And I have yet to read Tolstoy!!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-35873404133370931432017-06-11T12:20:43.586+10:002017-06-11T12:20:43.586+10:00Hi Michele, there were a couple of characters in t...Hi Michele, there were a couple of characters in this book that got under my skin :)Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-77046997391491176822017-06-11T12:17:27.664+10:002017-06-11T12:17:27.664+10:00I rarely see books by Solzhenitsyn & have only...I rarely see books by Solzhenitsyn & have only stumbled upon them 2nd hand. I love how he incorporates history, philosophy & politics into his writing, whether it's a novel or nonfiction.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-25159496779357971112017-06-11T06:13:25.163+10:002017-06-11T06:13:25.163+10:00Fascinating! One of the Russian authors I've y...Fascinating! One of the Russian authors I've yet to get to. Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466108789532345790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-26269476056998751232017-06-10T21:29:42.445+10:002017-06-10T21:29:42.445+10:00I went through a Russian authors phase when was ex...I went through a Russian authors phase when was expecting my second son, and I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. As you said, it held my attention for the entire read -- and I had forgotten how long it was. It's been over 20 years since I read it, but the feeling of some of the scenes and the despair of particularly one of the characters is still with me.Michele Morinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814119096056835884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-42779734858644044742017-06-10T20:05:15.938+10:002017-06-10T20:05:15.938+10:00I'm ashamed to say I've never read anythin...I'm ashamed to say I've never read anything by this author. Thanks for a great review of this book!hopeinbrazilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05842290165385823751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-255907365581763042017-06-09T14:42:02.991+10:002017-06-09T14:42:02.991+10:00I do hope you enjoy it, Becky. I always get a litt...I do hope you enjoy it, Becky. I always get a little worried when I say how good a book is just in case it's all my my own head. Pretty safe with an author like Solzhenitsyn though.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-40893740257206640842017-06-09T14:40:14.992+10:002017-06-09T14:40:14.992+10:00Hi Margaret, so good to catch up with you again la...Hi Margaret, so good to catch up with you again last weekend!! <br />Cancer Ward surprised me in how easy it was get sucked up into the story. Quite unlike other Russian lit that I've read, although I always have trouble remembering who was who with all those Russian double-barrelled names!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-51436205908789753892017-06-09T11:03:25.380+10:002017-06-09T11:03:25.380+10:00I bought this one earlier this year. You made me w...I bought this one earlier this year. You made me want to read it now ;)Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07901303060435341815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-28360461677890172832017-06-08T20:37:07.998+10:002017-06-08T20:37:07.998+10:00I read this quite a few years ago and was surprise...I read this quite a few years ago and was surprised how much I enjoyed the book. So very different to medicine today. I admire the courage of those that choose not to have treatments that often have no effective result.<br />MargaretAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-16836478607403089222017-06-08T18:36:55.589+10:002017-06-08T18:36:55.589+10:00It is fascinating! I know in my parents' gener...It is fascinating! I know in my parents' generation, doctor's opinions weren't questioned. We have access to so much information now that we tend to question everything.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-13109562809592531772017-06-08T18:32:53.914+10:002017-06-08T18:32:53.914+10:00I mentioned the medical background bit partly beca...I mentioned the medical background bit partly because I gave the book to my 24 yr old daughter to read earlier this year & she thought it was ok but didn't share my enthusiasm. We usually have a similar taste in books but not this time.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-42476832636346826372017-06-08T18:30:13.232+10:002017-06-08T18:30:13.232+10:00It was quite different to One Day in the Life &...It was quite different to One Day in the Life & I think you're right about it being relevant today.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-22391449383696848382017-06-08T18:29:05.118+10:002017-06-08T18:29:05.118+10:00Thanks Nancy. The title is a bit off putting &...Thanks Nancy. The title is a bit off putting & I was pleasantly surprised at how readable the book was.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-18353003321187814272017-06-08T10:51:55.919+10:002017-06-08T10:51:55.919+10:00Cancer Ward has been sitting on my bookshelf for a...Cancer Ward has been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, and this makes me even more intrigued to read it now. The topic of healthcare vs. free will is a complicated but fascinating one, and, of course, where it overlaps politics, it gets even more difficult. Great review!Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01693636355638596302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-887923917126811612017-06-08T10:20:53.456+10:002017-06-08T10:20:53.456+10:00Great commentary on this book.
I have been wantin...Great commentary on this book.<br /><br />I have been wanting to read this, and read Solzhenitsyn in general for awhile. <br /><br />There are many things that sound appealing about this work. Though I do not have a medical background, I am generally interested in all things medical. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-59743316923645942972017-06-08T00:58:58.339+10:002017-06-08T00:58:58.339+10:00Oh, I love this! I mean, I haven't read it (y...Oh, I love this! I mean, I haven't read it (yet), nor do I have a copy; however, as soon as I find one or I break down and buy it on Amazon.com, I will jump into it. I did appreciate Solzhenitsyn's autobiography and I am set to read One Day in the Life this year. So this book sounds right up my alley. Even sounds relevant today. Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7546783121640385268.post-281599419580157462017-06-07T22:04:46.697+10:002017-06-07T22:04:46.697+10:00Wonderful review, Carol...I've hesitated readi...Wonderful review, Carol...I've hesitated reading this book<br />but you have helped me finally dare read it!<br />Thanks for your insights!n@ncyhttps://nancyelin.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com