Analysis Of Valentine Kataev's 'Book Time, Forward !'

Pouring concrete does not seem to be an important job to most people, and writing an entire book about pouring concrete also seems banal. But if you look at the underlying social commentary of a nation going from the old Imperial Russia, to the new Soviet Union, it speaks to the power of people coming together to achieve a single goal. The Book Time, Forward! by Valentine Kataev shows how people from all over Russia came together to become the people of the Soviet Union. Stalin used his first five year plan to unify the people to work toward a single goal of updating Russia, and making her a world power. Kataevs book Time, Forward! shows unity through a concrete pouring competition, and the people of the Soviet Union swiftly move forward

Because of the increase in production, the shift uses it allotted cement, and was refused more from the warehouse. Eventually the cement arrives by train from the warehouse and work continues towards breaking the record. As the train of cement arrives, it is depicted as “The train came up slowly, overcoming the pressure of the wind with tremendous difficulty.” This reference explains the reluctance of some in the Soviet Union to move forward and become modern. The final obstacle is the lack of water to make the cement mix, the reasoning behind the loss of water was cost effectiveness. Marguiles had moved forward to break a record with consideration of the cost, only the result. The water is restored and 402 mixtures were poured during this shift, but because of the water stoppage, Marguiles has the shift time was extended and 506 mixtures were poured. With the record broken, brigadier Ishchenko is confirmed into the party and all of his shock brigadiers receive access into the Komsomol, the Youth Communist League. The glory is short lived, as the record they just established is also broken within a day, by yet another construction