by Anton Chekhov 

A Classic, This edition published in 1990 by Dover Thrift, 94 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• It’s always hard to rate a short story collection since they’re all so incredibly different! I will say this one is 5 that are almost TOO similar. In an anthology, that’s a problem for me. 
• No resolution in some stories. Of course, they’re short stories so that’s the point. But if that bothers you, be warned. 
• The characters are all miserable, unhappy people. That really grates on you, especially when there’s essentially no lesson or resolution. 

What I Did Like:

• The situations are real. That was Chekhov’s point, of course. He writes characters that experience madness, poverty, and loss in a way that everyone can relate to. 
• The story is pared down to only what is necessary, yet nothing feels lost. You get descriptions of the Russian countryside and fully understand characters, yet the story is only 30 pages or less. Excellent example of a short story well done.

Who Should Read This One:

• Russian literature fans shouldn’t skip on these short stories. They pack a punch in a short number of pages. 

My Rating: 3 Stars