Lada Reviews

The Good Soldier Svejk is like no other book I have ever read. It is truly a classic war satire and is on par with books like Catch 22. I see it as the spawn of many satires written about WWII however quite rightly no author has ever tried to replicate the style that it was written in. Jaroslav Hasek had one of the most interesting lives of any author, switching from Austro-Hungarian to Russian Monarchist to Bolshevik to Czech nationalist during WWI and his life story is reflected somewhat in his story while he illustrates it with brilliant humour.

The character of Svejk is developed in such an intricate way that makes it difficult to discover his real purposes but the book is not damaged in the slightest by the fact that it was cut short because of Hasek's untimely death. In fact it has only helped to cultivate the Svejk legend.

I encourage ANYONE to read this book. If your knowledge of Austria-Hungary and WWI is lacking, then this is the best way to learn!

Perhaps one of the most comical books and best acerbic political satires ever conceived, this book is utterly permeated with sarcasm and the farcical adventures of the "good" soldier Svejk. Putting the defects of the Austria-Hungarian empire into the limelight Jaroslav Hasek hillariously dethrones them. It is a weeping shame however that the novel has not been completed as it quietly dies shrouding the rest of Svejk's adventures in mystery. Also, one might say that the "toilet humour" and sarcasm together with the convenient misadventures become somewhat monotonous and cliche after the first 300-400 pages. And yet, despite its weaknesses and length, "The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in WWI" undisputably deserve your attention.

Just as Don Quixote is the seminal piece of Spanish literature, and War and Peace defines Russian lit, so does Hasek's classic capture the essence of the Bohemian soul, and the ridiculousness and pointlessness of World War I.

In doing the bare minimum to be considered competent, we see the nature of Czech resistance to Austro-Hungarian (and later, Soviet) authority - as Havel put it some fifty years later, it is the "power of the powerless" - subverting authority from within while seemingly going along with the grandious designs of the ruling elite.

Svejk is a common footsoldier - an "everyman" - who frankly would rather have a beer than fight, and has no real interest in the war or its outcome. The humor is subtle, the satire biting, the social criticism of Austro-Hungarian class structure dead on. Some of the jokes and jabs may be a bit above the heads of those not familiar with the history or culture of the region. It his, however, an enjoyable - and I dare say classic - read.

OK, I'll admit up front that I only made it through 450 of this 800 page monster. As I was reading this, I saw the pile of unread books mounting alarmingly, and as I had more or less gotten the gist of it, I tucked the ribbon twixt the pages and set it aside. These (never-ending) stories of the Czech WW I soldier Svejk are considered a modern "must read." as they depict the trials and travails of a well-intentioned soldier muddling through the army beauracacy. The book functions as a satire of the war, the leaders, and the army. The problem is, these stories were written as serials, and as such, tend to go on and on and on.... so that Hasek could milk more money from them. In fact, they are unfinished, as the author died before he could dictate the end! So, I suggest dipping in to it, but not soaking too long as the antics don't vary much as the book moves along. Those with an particular interest in Czech culture or World War I might have greater reason to finish it than the general reader.

I first read Hasek's masterpiece almost 30 years ago in a shorter and more Bowdlerized translation. The Cecil Parrot edition is, needless to say, far preferable (it even contains a wonderful introduction including a discussion of Czech profanity as compared to that in English) and I've read it again and again since it came out in 1974. Shelby Foote said somewhere that every year he reads Proust as a sort of literary vacation. About ever 2 or 3 years I reread Svejk to cleanse my literary palate and it's always as fresh and as enjoyable as it was the first time. The dialogue, the characters and the situations in Svejk are, stated simply, the funniest I've ever read. Many other books have many merits in this regard, but none has approached Hasek in the sustained hilarity over 500 pages or more. The secret policeman, Bretschneider, Chaplain Katz, Sergeant Major Vanek, Cadet Biegler, Balloun and Lt. Dub are all memorable characters in their own right, but when they interact the result surpasses anything I have ever read for comedy. The episode involving a character with writer's block during his drafting of a prayer to be recited while administering Mr. Kokoska's pharmaceutical powders for cow flatulence is a classic rivalling Aristophanes or Rabelais. [I realize that sentence is confusingly prolix, so please read the book; it will be worth your while.] The term "laugh out loud" is overused and abused these days, but The Good Soldier Svejk will have you disturbing family and friends with repeated guffawing any time you are reading it nearby. I can't give a text any higher recommendation.

Both of the best books on the First World War were written by the losing side...ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT and THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK tell the same story, but from different viewpoints. Schweik is a wise fool whose main goal is to avoid the greater foolishness around him. Hasek was a modern day Cervantes and this modern day Don Quixote interacts with a gallery of hilarious characters and their stories. I only regret that Hasek died before the book could be finished. Josef Lada's illustrations are a wonderful addition to the book, and it's a pleasure getting Cecil Parrott's translation in hardcover. Note: The earlier translations are not the complete book.

This is a nice introduction to the field of star and planet formation. It is a bit more instructive than the similar _Protostars and Planets IV_, meaning that many of the chapters are genuinely useful at the graduate student level. However not all of the chapters are written equally well. Some contain breath-takingly comprehensive looks at their subject matters (e.g., the chapters by Chris McKee, Telemachios Mouschovios, Rafael Bachiller), while others could have been fleshed out a little more. All in all though, the book is a great companion to the larger (but same priced) _PP IV_. Although it was published first and so is slightly more dated and it is not as comprehensive as that other volume, I would recommend this over _PP IV_ for students in astrophysics on a limited budget--mainly because of its readability for second year and above graduate students.

Can someone tell me where these ideas of Fokorg and Hammil can be found that were mentioned in the previous customer review? I've run Web searches on these and found absolutely nothing. Please email at chachetpanache@hotmail.com. (P.S. I haven't read the book, my star rating was just because it was a required field to enter in the review page.)

This is the best book I have read on this topic so far, and it is a pity that I haven't read it before. I truly believe that my sex life would have been different, and probably more fulfilling. This book is a must for all those women who do not find their G-Spot by accident, and especially for those who still do not believe that the G-Spot does exist. This book should contain enough scientific proof and information to convince everyone.

This book is only outdated BECAUSE it was among the first in its class to explore the concept that a woman is allowed and supposed to gain pleasure from sex and deliver that idea to the public. In that regard it is an amazing piece of sexual education literature. The revised edition was released in the early 80s, but I believe it was written much earlier than that. It was written during a time when women (and men) were much less informed about the female anatomy, and there are numerous accounts in this book of women being embarassed by their orgasms because they were misunderstood. I believe that this book is helpful not only to the women of the time it was written but to women today. I read this book knowing full well what a G Spot was and what it did but I still found the history of it to be quite fascinating. In reading this book I not only came to more fully understand my own body and how it works but also what I can do to help it work more efficently and to my best sexual advantage. This book changed my sex life in an amazing way and for that I will always be grateful.