mrears0_0's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ryryreadsbooks23's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What: An elderly Vladimir Petrovich is asked to tell the story of his first love. He takes two weeks two write it all down, and delivers the story to his closet friends.
What I Loved:
I found it in a local bookstore for $4 and it might be the best novella I’ve ever read.
It’s that type of writing where I think everything is placed purposefully. And because it’s a translation (done beautifully by Isaiah Berlin) I think you have to add that extra layer of specificity within the texture of the prose.
There are two levels of narrative here. The first is the absurd amount of detail, that reads so smoothly. one forgets Turgenev is just describing shit. A young Vlad can be chilling in the garden, daydreaming while surrounded by nettles and butterflies. And Turgenev continues, not about the nettles and butterflies, but about everything in Vlad’s vicinity. There are different smiles from Zinaida (the princess Vlad falls in love with) that Turgenev never has to explain. And when those smiles are aimed towards Vlad’s father, you know something is amiss.
The second level of narrative lies in the vast psychological turmoil of this 16 year old boy that I found endlessly enthralling. It’s like a much less annoying Holden Caulfield— though still reeling with anger and privilege. Because this a distant memory not taking place in a (spoiler) psych ward, Turgenev’s narrative is much more introspective and patient with its audience. As I get older, introspection and the parsing of memory has become a lot more formidable as a concept than narratives that focus on solving the present.
Zinaida is manipulative and charismatic. She notes that Vlad is younger and makes him her toy. In the way I do and don’t empathise with Vlad, I also do and don’t empathise with her. It’s hilarious when Vlad goes over and realizes she’s being courted by older pompous men. It’s even funnier reading the games she makes them play so that they can kiss her hand. She has these moments of solitude and vulnerability that never go beyond what we need to know. Like, what else is she supposed to do for entertainment other than play with boyish men? And then, when she meets a manipulator in Vlad’s father, she falls in love, and gets hurt in the process. As the narrative progresses, Turgenev adds layers of challenge— coming of age into early romance into subtle tragedy.
What I Loved:
I found it in a local bookstore for $4 and it might be the best novella I’ve ever read.
It’s that type of writing where I think everything is placed purposefully. And because it’s a translation (done beautifully by Isaiah Berlin) I think you have to add that extra layer of specificity within the texture of the prose.
There are two levels of narrative here. The first is the absurd amount of detail, that reads so smoothly. one forgets Turgenev is just describing shit. A young Vlad can be chilling in the garden, daydreaming while surrounded by nettles and butterflies. And Turgenev continues, not about the nettles and butterflies, but about everything in Vlad’s vicinity. There are different smiles from Zinaida (the princess Vlad falls in love with) that Turgenev never has to explain. And when those smiles are aimed towards Vlad’s father, you know something is amiss.
The second level of narrative lies in the vast psychological turmoil of this 16 year old boy that I found endlessly enthralling. It’s like a much less annoying Holden Caulfield— though still reeling with anger and privilege. Because this a distant memory not taking place in a (spoiler) psych ward, Turgenev’s narrative is much more introspective and patient with its audience. As I get older, introspection and the parsing of memory has become a lot more formidable as a concept than narratives that focus on solving the present.
Zinaida is manipulative and charismatic. She notes that Vlad is younger and makes him her toy. In the way I do and don’t empathise with Vlad, I also do and don’t empathise with her. It’s hilarious when Vlad goes over and realizes she’s being courted by older pompous men. It’s even funnier reading the games she makes them play so that they can kiss her hand. She has these moments of solitude and vulnerability that never go beyond what we need to know. Like, what else is she supposed to do for entertainment other than play with boyish men? And then, when she meets a manipulator in Vlad’s father, she falls in love, and gets hurt in the process. As the narrative progresses, Turgenev adds layers of challenge— coming of age into early romance into subtle tragedy.
tamara_mousa's review against another edition
4.0
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
truskawkkaa's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lululera99's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
starboyquinn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
helloooooree's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
patti66's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
woolfen's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 -
A short story about a 16-year-olds first experience with love/ devotion. The pacing meandered, but the language was pretty and the general atmosphere it created was rich.
"To sacrifice oneself is the height of bliss - for some people."
"Tidings of death heard I from lips unfeeling,/ Unmoved, I listened,"
A short story about a 16-year-olds first experience with love/ devotion. The pacing meandered, but the language was pretty and the general atmosphere it created was rich.
"To sacrifice oneself is the height of bliss - for some people."
"Tidings of death heard I from lips unfeeling,/ Unmoved, I listened,"