Rating: 
Summary: One of the Greatest Books Ever
Review: This is by far one of the greatest books of the 20th century if not ever. Having read the book in both Russian and English I can say that it is more difficult to appreciate the language in the book if you are reading the English version. However, the substance of the book still shines through as being one of the most powerful descriptions of the Russian Revolution (and war in general) ever created.To those of you who read this book looking for a love story, I can only say that I pity you because you missed the true beauty of this book. Finally those who say that Lara and Yuri did not have a real love affair it is because the times that they lived in could not allow a true one to blossom. When people do not have food to eat or there survival is not guaranteed they do not worry about the more abstract principles of love. So to those of you who want to read a love story stick to the cheep paperbacks because this book is not for you. However, to those of you who want to experience an amazing account of life during the Russian Revolution (or any war for that matter) you will not regret reading this book. PS. If you can read the Russian language and the poems in back to truly appreciate the genius of Pasternak.
Rating:
Summary: Tragedies of War!
Review: The movie is my favorite of all times, so I decided to read the book. The movie concentrates mainly on the love story of Lara and Yuri, but the book describes the whole political situation and life in Russia from the revolution of 1905 till the end of WW2. Despite the tragedies and the sufferings, Pasternak is extremely romantic and sensitive to nature and to the surroundings...depicting all that is beautiful even amid the most horrifying pictures of war. I think just to show us the hope and the endurance of the human soul. Even when I felt a little disappointed when there is no more Lara and Yuri for a while, Pasternak's description of the atrocities of war and the extremes that humans reach when fighting for their survival is gloomy and sad. It gives a taste of the bitterness of war and a smell of the cheap human blood everywhere.. I loved it! I even felt so heart broken just like Yuri when he reads Tonia's letter ... great story, tragic love, unaccomplished life!
Rating:
Summary: Eternal love of two lovers-Zhibago and Lara
Review: This novel contains the rapid changes of Russian society of the time such as the revolution, and two persons who react in totally different ways. However, although the novel is describing many characters and their lives, it must be certain that it is mostly based on love of the two; Doctor Zhibago and Lara. Their love is great. In Russian, it is ¬Ó¬Ö¬Ý¬Ú¬Ü¬Ñ¬ñ ¬Ý¬ð¬Ò¬à¬Ó¬î.¡± Because this book was written under the force of Social Realism, it mainly describes the tragic life of an "Intelligenzia" in the era. We can surely call Doctor Zhibago a "Remainder" in that he couldn't adapt to anything or belong to anywhere. As a doctor he is a very capable man. When Lara's mother is about to die, she is so afraid of dying and "being forgotten," he helps her feel better by explaining what he thinks of death. We all have the same organs of liver, lung, heart and so on. However, it is not the mixture of liver or lung that we remember when recalling the memory of the person but the person self as a whole. As a result, although physical death comes toward, if you are still remembered by someone, your soul is immortal and eternal. Besides, the death of Zhibago means a lot in the story. It is an unfair and indiscriminate destruction of a pure individual under the revolution and sudden social changes. However, Zhibago is a doctor and poet at the same time. Later his brother collects and publishes Zhibago's books. "Life is short but Art is long." Despite his death, he lives an eternal life though the name of Art, or Poetry in that his sincere love of soul still remains and lasts for ever in the heart of those who read his poems and sympathise with him. Although we might assume that the goal of love is marriage, there is a kind of authentic and pure love that overcome time and space without getting legally married. Of course, some may argue that Zhibago is too irresolute in choosing one love. It is the situation and the society that make him indecisive. He is not a warlike person like Strelnikov, but simply a neutral person who doesn't want to go into action when something happens and remains the same. We cannot blame him due to his honesty and humanity. This applies to love with Lara and Tonia. There is a movie based on the book, but the unfolding of the story is quite different from the original. Therefore I would recommend that you should first read the book and then enjoy the movie if you want. How two people love each other and leave the world is pictured in the most delicate and beautiful words of Pasternak.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed masterpiece
Review: Many passages are crafted with such care that they reach the level of poetry, which should be no surprise given that Pasternak seems to have had aspirations as a poet. (Is it just coincidence that the good doctor does so much of that kind of writing in the novel?) The short passages and lightly threaded vignettes characteristic of the novel are captivating. You get the initial sense that the novel is an underrated Russian classic. Ultimately, however, Pasternak doesn't quite reach the level of mastery of a Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Turgenev, even though it aims for their kind of sweep and scope. Doctor Zhivago is generally less coherent and cogent than any of the true classics of Russian literature. Many of the vignettes embedded in the book are beautiful, and as passages of near poetry, almost can standalone. Yet, as moving as much of the book is, its heft is insufficient at helping Pasternak push towards any master theme, focus or even plot, so the force is dissipated at the end. It is no accident that the book's conclusion and epilogue seem aimless. What redeems the novel is the wonderful characters: Zhivago himself, of course, the brilliant doctor, with the dreamy poetic sensibility; the beautiful and bright Lara (who unfortunately ultimately fails as a character, though, because it's unclear what she is meant to be at the end; the contrast with Tonia could have been made better if Tonia had not been left so two-dimensional); the tactician Strelnikov, whose combination of military brilliance and ruthlessness enthralls us; the way he exits the novel at the end is unfortunately also a disappointment).
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult, but a worthy read
Review: The events of the novel revolve around a doctor and poet by the name of Yurii Andreievich Zhivago whom we first meet at a crucial point in his life. From the day of his mother's funeral to the day of his own, we follow Zhivago on his travels throughout Russia. He travels to the warfront, flees to Siberia, and is drafted into the Red Army before making his way back to Moscow. Over the course of these two decades, Zhivago repeatedly encounters a beautiful woman who essence fills his thoughts and heart. He is loyal to his wife Tonia and his little son Sasha, but he cannot help falling in love with the lovely Larisa Feodorovna Antipov, who is also already married to a famous war general. It is these chance encounters that allow the plot to progress and lead to their eventual love affair. Even with such a complex plot, "Doctor Zhivago" remains a primarily character-based novel, as can be seen from the vast number of names and people we become familiar with throughout the story. Even the minor characters become dear to us, once we have figured out who they actually are and how they are connected to the main story. It is a challenging process to sort through the long list of characters, who may have any number of pseudonyms or nicknames along with their original Russian forenames. It is rewarding to recognize that Pavel Pavlovich, Pasha, Antipov, and Strelnikov are, in fact, the same person. We are also given several glimpses into the views and opinions of minor characters. Each person we meet along the way has a detailed history and a certain point of view to establish. Even if a character is only remotely connected to the main plot, Pasternak educates us on his family history and his role in the revolution. The detail the author includes in the story extends to the scenery and land of Russia itself. With lengthy and occasionally tedious descriptions, Pasternak implores us to imagine the rough and beautiful wilderness of his home land and notes the striking contrast of the destruction caused by the war. He adds to his descriptions by making religious and philosophical allusions. These views alone are interesting but in the context of a greater story that should be told without interruption, they often slow down the more stirring moments in the plot. Some of these images, however, do create a startling picture of the devastation that swept Russia, such as the scenery at the warfront and during the uprising. Others, though educational, disrupt the plot to a greater extent. With the combination of all these elements, "Doctor Zhivago" tells a compelling story while simultaneously describing the events of the early 1900's that shaped history. But unfortunately, I did not gain as much from reading this novel as many reviewers have expressed. I enjoyed the moments when the plot neatly coincided with Pasternak's poetic descriptions of the countryside or his unnerving depictions of the revolution, but these were too sparse throughout the novel for it to be engaging. The main plot was interrupted too often by philosophic commentary from either the author or one of the characters. It often took a great effort to get through monotonous passages and descriptions that did not contribute effectively to the plot or scenery of the novel. Many have expressed their frustration at the number of long, complex names Pasternak uses to refer to each of his characters, and I would agree that this they are difficult to keep straight. But once I finally understood the names, it was rewarding to get to know the minor characters and learn of their experiences during the revolution. But despite these disappointments in the writing and the excessive commentary on the story, I enjoyed reading the novel's depiction of life during such decisive times in Russia's history. The setting and the characters were equally important in telling the story of Yurii and Lara. Though not a masterpiece in my opinion, it was certainly an interesting novel that was worth the slow read in the end. I must recommend this novel to all those who are interested in a deeply illustrated account of Russian history and an exploration of the themes inherent in that era.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous read
Review: This book is truly one of the great novels of our time, in my opinion. The greatness of the novel is not only in the quality of the writing, but also in the surroundings in which it was written, given the subject matter. Incidentally, what would likely be a very interesting read would likely be a book about the writing of this novel, its publishing, and its impact. The interaction of Pasternak's characters is masterful. His ability to weave the lives of generations of characters reminds me of Michener's. None of what happens in the novel, none of the interaction of the characters, appears to be superfluous-all has meaning. In my opinion, the notion that everything has a purpose is one of the strongest themes of the novel, and is part of what makes the novel so interesting, given that it was written under the iron curtain. Though this is a work of fiction, it provided me with several important insights into the history of Russia. For instance, Pasternak does an excellent job telling about how the revolution came about, what the means and methods of the revolution were, simply by telling the story of the novel. In the sense that it is historically accurate and representative of the times, the book certainly was educational for me. I certainly recommend it to those who love to read history and look for insights about humanity. I only wish that I could read it in Russian.
Rating:
Summary: A book not as good as the movie
Review: After seeing "Doctor Zhivago" I had to read the book. Knowing the reputation of Pasternak and this novel I was expecting to be more entertained than when I saw the film. It was not so. Pasternak had a wonderful story to tell, but whole pages included descriptions of terrain and weather and such. The film was able to do this much better as these descriptions were important. It is a story which lends itself to the visual--hence the wonderful movie.
Rating:
Summary: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Review: I bought this classic novel after watching the stunning new British TV mini-series starring Keira Knightley, Hans Matheson and Sam Neill. I'm glad I did. Novels have an extra depth of character that even the best screen adaptations can't achieve - Pasternak's epic love story set in revolutionary Russia is spellbinding. The Nobel Prize winning author brings a rich, poetic quality to his prose that makes the words sing off the page. The quality of writing in Doctor Zhivago is breathtaking. A masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed feelings
Review: There are several section in the book that i find to be very deep, moving, and intellectually interesting. The first would be the pre WWI philosophical discourse by the adults, while zhvago is still just the kid. The next and most emotionally powerful passage is during the Civil War when Zhvago is with the Red Partisans in Siberia. Then there is the end section on the Great Patriotic War. But it ends there, the rest of the book just takes up strands of the plot and leads them to dead ends. I didnt like Lara, Komorovsky, and Strelnikov at all. Pasternak is not a writer he is a poet, his poetry is wounderful and that is what we should read him for. This work simply does not live up to its reputation. It is not the great love stroy David lean filmed in 1965 or the Cold War tool that people make it out to be. Its just a novel with very big ups and downs. Good ideas but badly written with very wooden characters who you dont really feel for.
Rating: 
Summary: ITS A BAD BAD BOOK
Review: I guess I'm in the minority here. How else can I explain that I found this NOBLE PRIZE WINNING VERY FAMOUS novel , absolutely boring. I think the main problem is that its often promoted as "one of the greatest love stories of all times". If you approach it with this in mind , you are going to be terribly disappointed. Zhivago and Lara, sorry to say, do not know even the basics of love. They get together somewhere in the middle of the book (without really falling in love), get seperated , meet again after another 100 pages, get seperated, meet again and finally get seperated one last time, never to see each other again. One never feels their joy or pain, mainly because they don't seem to feel it either. I always felt that if you loved someone, you'd do your best to be near that person. No such feelings here. They never seem to miss each other and don't seem vey thrilled when they're together.All he does is wait for her to fall asleep so he can get back to writing poetry ( and that too NOT about her)!!! Is this love ??? All that you expect from the agony and ecstasy of this beautiful emotion is missing here. Frankly this book would be have been as good or as bad without making them lovers or even friends. In between all this we have to put up with page after page of discourses on the Russian thoughts and their way of life during the revolution. That was what the author wanted to convey anyway. There is hardly any movement in the book and I died of boredom. Surprisingly, the movie was very good(it stuck to being a love story). The Russians did their countrymen a great favour by banning this book. My advise- avoid the book. See the movie. Enjoy Omar Shariff.
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