OblomovOblomov
Score Classic
What it's about
Ivan Goncharov's classic Russian novel, first published over 150 years ago, is both very funny and deeply poignant.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's an undisputed classic of Russian literature, often compared to Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.
You'll love it if you liked
Dead Souls
Fathers and Sons
A Confederacy of DuncesGood to know
It's a translation, and the translation you choose matters.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller19 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Oblomov worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,326 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Oblomov about?
Ivan Goncharov's classic Russian novel, first published over 150 years ago, is both very funny and deeply poignant.
How long does it take to read Oblomov?
About 14 hours (568 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Oblomov?
If you liked it, try Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol, Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev or A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.