I read "Childhood". Although it was the first time I read a work by Maxim Gorky, I was satisfied both with the writing and the book itself.

The author tells his own life story in this book, which is the first book of his Autobiographical Trilogy. The author's style is beautiful and his life story is interesting, so it was an easy book to read.

I am planning to read the other books of the trilogy at the first opportunity.

This is one of the best books I have ever read!

I read it in the translation of Pushpamayee Basu when I was in class ten. Although it was very difficult to read. At that time, for me, it was one of the 'heavy' books.

Still, I managed to read it. After finishing reading, I realized how delicious a book I had read

I had to read this autobiographical novel for school when I was no older than 12.

I remember clearly that at that time, the depressive and violent writing style made me physically uncomfortable.

I had just finished reading about the fate of the young man nicknamed Gypsy, and I couldn't fall asleep all night. Instead, I was uncontrollably shaking and sobbing.

Never in my life had I had such a strong reaction to any book. I think I wasn't of the proper age to truly appreciate the literary merits of Gorky's writing.

Lately, however, I've been kind of curious about how I would react to the book as an adult.

When I reread it, it was everything I remembered: bleak, depressing, and unfair. But at the same time, the novel showed me its brand new side - lyrical and enlightening.

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it this time!

Why in the world would schools push books on kids that are way out of their comprehension level?

At least I escaped the time when my peers were reading War & Peace in grade 10. Really?

It makes me wonder if there is a better way to introduce literature to students so that they can truly understand and appreciate it without being overly burdened or confused.

That's the first volume of a trilogy recounting the author's childhood and youthful memories.

Fatherless, abandoned by his mother, he tells about his miserable childhood with his grandparents. His grandfather is a brutal, tyrannical, often drunk man who terrorizes those around him, yet we can sense that he loves his grandson. Her grandmother is a good but weak woman, passive, fatalistic, bigoted, yet of great tenderness and immense love for her little Alyosha.

The daily life of all these poor people is filled with misery, misfortune, and violence. They suffer so much that each new casualty becomes a "distraction"! Alyosha grows up and becomes resourceful, naughty, and cheerful, but deep down, his heart is sad. When his mother dies, he has to earn a living as a rag picker, which he vividly describes in "By winning my bread."

Lenin and Stalin made Gorky the favorite writer of the new regime while not fully appreciating his work. In my opinion, there are several reasons for this. Firstly, Gorky is undoubtedly a misguided bourgeois. However, the popular class is far from being idealized as among the Communists (and Christians, for that matter). The overwhelming misery they endure gives rise to common passions such as savagery and avarice, which also drive them away from the "positive proletarian." Secondly, Gorky has faith in man but believes more in progress due to an internal struggle, culture, and ideology. If he collaborated with the Soviet regime in the cultural field, the Communists had a dual attitude toward culture.

On the one hand, they disseminated it and tried to liberate the people. On the other hand, they were also wary of it because, according to them, it was associated with the bourgeoisie. Finally, his novels are Russian, steeped in religiosity. They refer to "Eternal Russia," far from building a new world and "making a clean sweep from the past."

Gorky's "Mother" was very disappointing to me. Both in terms of content and style. "Haven't you read Gorky's 'My Childhood'? What a great loss", this could be one of the most clichéd sentences in the world.

The weakness of autobiographies is that the lack of fiction easily turns into the simplicity of "then this would happen, my grandfather would get angry, my mother would be sad, my grandmother would tell stories of not being sad" within a short period of time. When the lines start to be connected like this, all my enthusiasm for reading disappears.

On the other hand, I was impressed by the author's simple observation. One can see how Russian society was in a crisis in the 1870s. There was a cruel, objective cold-bloodedness and aesthetics in the description of violence and injustice. Perhaps it was the legacy of Dostoyevsky.

Roman times, an autobiography, or rather its first part; because it consists of three parts, this is the very first part.

Mazlum Beyhan's fluent translation also facilitates smooth progress.

The events he experienced in childhood, it shows how deeply they have affected Aleksey. When he grew up, he wrote down every detail very clearly. He told and told. He started the narration with his father who died when he was very young, the kind-hearted nanny who drank vodka and smoked cigarettes, his grandfather who beat him but raised him, his mother who disappeared and then reappeared, his stepfather, his friends, his uncles... down to the tiniest details.

The life he lived didn't please him. He was constantly in a state of hopelessness but tried to hide it from his grandfather, nanny and mother. He was always causing trouble, misbehaving and getting beaten.

Fighting was the only pleasure of his life in childhood. His mother beat him with a belt. He had developed a hatred for everything. He did all kinds of mischief in the school he never liked and was constantly ridiculed. His studies were not very good, but not very bad either. His meeting with Bishop Hrisanf at school opened the way to books for him in a way.

He tried to stab his stepfather because he beat his mother but was not successful.

In his own words, the first part of Gorky's autobiography, "My Childhood", sheds light on the wild Russian life.

It is worth reading...

"My Childhood" is a remarkable memoir penned by the renowned Russian writer Maxim Gorky and published in 1913. It forms an integral part of Gorky's trilogy of autobiographical works, along with "My Apprenticeship" and "My Universities."

This book vividly describes Gorky's childhood years, spent in poverty during the late 19th century in the Russian Empire.

The main character is Gorky himself, referred to as Alexei Maximovich. Other significant characters include his mother, grandfather, grandmother, and uncles.

The story commences with Gorky's memories of his grandfather, a powerful and respected figure in the family. But after his grandfather's demise, Gorky's life takes a tragic turn. His father passes away, and his mother remarries a cruel and abusive man.

Despite these hardships, Gorky finds comfort in his grandmother and his passion for learning. He starts reading books and becomes deeply fascinated with the world around him. The relationship between Gorky and his mother is also a prominent theme. Although she is often absent and preoccupied with her own difficulties, Gorky remembers her affectionately and acknowledges her strength in the face of adversity.

Throughout the book, Gorky's observations of life in Russia during this era are profound and perceptive. He描绘s a vivid picture of poverty, oppression, and the daily struggles. However, he also discovers beauty and hope in the world, and his love of learning and indomitable spirit shine brightly.

"My Childhood" is a powerful and moving memoir that captures the essence of growing up in poverty in late 19th-century Russia. Through his vivid descriptions and emotional insights, Gorky offers a unique perspective into a world that is both harsh and beautiful, inspiring readers with his resilience and determination. It is an essential read for anyone interested in Russian literature or the human experience.

Rana Dil Nawaz,
Karachi, Pakistan.
https://ocdil.blog

This is an autobiographical novel that is written in a rather fluent and plain language, and it is truly a striking one.

The author's ability to tell their life story in such a straightforward manner makes it easy for readers to engage with and understand.

The simplicity of the language does not detract from the power of the narrative; instead, it enhances it, allowing the events and emotions to shine through clearly.

As you read through the pages, you are drawn into the author's world, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and everything in between.

It is a captivating read that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the author and a new appreciation for the art of autobiographical writing.

Whether you are a fan of novels or simply interested in learning more about someone else's life, this book is definitely worth picking up.

The captivating story that I have never and will never tire of reading.

It is the third or fourth time that I have read or reread this story.

I don't remember the exact number and dates of all those readings since Khalil gave me this wonderful story.

I remember that I was in elementary school at that time. I just remember this.

How can poverty and misery crush childhood with such a huge amount of cruelty?

Any society that we live in without paying attention to those responsible children or the cemeteries of bones and fractures

Who always live on the margins of life.

Any misery that has driven them to such extremes.

I think it is up to us to give them a greater amount of attention or at least notice.

Perhaps one day a great writer like Maxim Gorky will emerge from among them.

The first part of Maxim Gorky's biography. I don't really enjoy reading biographies much. I think there are often a lot of unfavorite mysteries or exaggerations sometimes. But since this novel belongs to Russian literature, it must be different at least for me. The Russians write about the people. Even when the title of the book is "I", they first mean the Russian "I" and then themselves. Russian literature doesn't make you want to die, but it also doesn't make you want to live. So restricted in the middle, you are sad but you are also filled with strange hope. You can turn the page at any moment and see the answer, but you restrict yourself and don't turn the page. It's as if you are Alexei and you don't know what is happening in front of you, not fully understanding why this life is so tragic.

I was bored with the book until I reached a paragraph that made me cry a lot and made me rethink everything I had read in it. The content of the paragraph was not something new to me. I had known it before, but its effect was there.

Maxim Gorky was a completely new author to me. It was only because the bookstore had a copy of Gorky’s novel, Mother, that I happened to notice this edition of his autobiographical series. Among the two options, I decided to buy My Childhood. Shortly after that, I went back and purchased the novel as well.

Having read a history of the Volga last year, I found that much of the geographical aspects described in this novel added a new layer of nuance to the generalized history I already knew.

The narrative kicks off in Astrakhan, where Alexei’s father is given a commission to complete some works but unfortunately contracts cholera. A series of events then unfolds, leading both him and his mother back to Nizhny Novgorod. There, Alexei’s life starts anew as he becomes part of his grandfather and grandmother’s household.

The stories are truly lovely portrayals of family life, with all its demented contradictions, tensions, and paradoxes. The complex, almost kaleidoscopic cast of characters often gives the impression that it is more fictional than autobiographical. Above all, the responsibilities, obligations, care, and love found within the bonds of his grandparents offer a diverse range of love. At times, it can be troubling, damaging, and traumatic, while at other times, it is deeply sacrificial, custodial, and provides an unconditional and definitive foundation for life. This is truly a stellar read that I would highly recommend to others.

Nobody writes about death as poignantly as the Russians do.

The scene at the end of the book, which is a mere page in length, is truly unforgettable. Here, Gorky describes the death of his mother that he witnessed as a child, and it will stay with me for a long time.

The stuffy smell, the wax-coloured skin, the paper-thin limbs, and the dimness of the small room - all are so accurately described with so few words.

The book is very grim. There are no champagne-problems or existential ennui that one is used to encountering when reading Russian classics that describe the lives of the aristocracy.

Gorky's family were commoners and lived a simple life. His mother was absent from the picture most of the time, and he was largely brought up by his grandmother and grandfather.

The former is described with such kindness - a very good character building, and she really comes alive in front of the reader's eyes.

His grandfather, on the other hand, was mindlessly violent towards almost all the family members. This was tolerated with stern patience by all apart from Maxin Gorky himself.

Also described are various practical jokes Gorky played on others and that were played on himself - a great inspiration if you happen to have a secret enemy.

All in all, it painted a very thorough and vivid picture of a family in Tsarist Russia, at all times keeping an observant and non-judgemental attitude towards the happenings. It is a painfully beautiful book that offers a unique perspective on life and death.