Rating: 
Summary: The turmoil of the Russian revolution
Review: The manuscript for this novel was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and published initially in Europe. The author won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1958, but his government denied him permission to accept the prize.The novel is a compelling tale of the events during and after the Russian revolution. People are caught up in events not of their own choosing, over which they have no control. The old order collapses to be replaced by a new order coming out of the revolution. Families are torn apart. Dr. Zhivago is separated from Lara, never to find her again (the motion picture includes the enduring song, "Somewhere, My Love"). One of the scenes that sticks in my mind is a battle where men are ordered to fire on the "enemies," i.e., people opposing the politicians running their side of the struggle. One man simply aims at a tree on the battlefield. Occasionally someone chances to come between him and the tree. He considers it a matter over which he has no control. It is an example of politicians using people as pawns to fight their opponents, the opponents being people who might otherwise have been their friends.
Rating:
Summary: great book !!
Review: This is really a great book. As I understand, when it first came out, it was banned in the Soviet Union and the author was not allowed to go and get his Nobel Prize. I definitely admire Boris Pasternak for his insight and his boldness in writing this book, exposing the defects of Communism. When it came out in 1957-58, Communism was very dominant in the world. What happened in the 1990's - the decline of Communism world-wide and the breakup of the Soviet Union have all vindiicated him. It is really comforting to hear that this book is no longer banned in Russia and that Pasternak's son had been allowed to travel to Stockhom to get the Nobel Prize on his behalf. Truth and justice have finally prevailed. This book should be mandatary reading for young people all over the world.
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