Farewell to Matyora

Title: Farewell to Matyora

Author: Valentin Rasputin

Pages: 227

Genre: Fiction

Letter Grade: C+

Synopsis: This book is a sanctioned piece of Soviet literature. It was published in the Brezhnev (post-Stalin) era and portrays how a Soviet village is destroyed because of a large hydroelectric dam project. The book describes how the older people in the village struggle to change and adapt and how the younger villagers are much more willing to give up their village and move to a new, larger village. The book provides an argument that the Soviets can only be spiritually regenerated by returning to and embracing the old way of life.

My Review: I found this book to be a pretty easy read, but I did not find it all that interesting. The book is full of symbolism and metaphors. The book seems to be lacking a climax and most of the story is simply filler. I'll be reselling this book on half.com.

From the Book: "(p. 92) "So don't live to be that old," Darya said with sudden anger. "Know your limit," and she stopped, lowering her voice, realizing that it is not given for man to know his time. "Is it for one's sins that God keeps you alive beyond your time? Oh, they must be terrible sins for that...Where do you collect them? Man must live only as long as he serves a purpose.""