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clemireads's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Suicide attempt
ecsolius's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
First of all, I have to say that part of the reason why I bought this book was because of how absolutely gorgeous it is. Just look at that gold cover. It has the ability to reflect what you put in front of it. And, on the inside, the first and last couple pages are a deep red. This sort of visual symbolism definitely piqued my interest, as well as the pose of the little gymnast on the cover.
Now, moving onto the story itself. Can we even call it a story? It is neither historical fiction nor biography, despite me putting it in those categories. Lafon transcends genre with this novel thanks to her expert abilities to create a work that teeters between categories. Lafon interviews Nadia to gain her perspective; includes past interviews, history, and context; and somehow creates a plot, literally of Nadia's lifetime, that is well-done and not melodramatic.
And, I have to say that as a non-native French speaker and someone who's interested in Romania, this book was very interesting and informative, both in language and in history. I never knew the type of mental and physical stamina these girls needed to have in order to compete, and how their country affected them in its time of political change. It is for all of these reasons which I give this book 4 stars!
Now, moving onto the story itself. Can we even call it a story? It is neither historical fiction nor biography, despite me putting it in those categories. Lafon transcends genre with this novel thanks to her expert abilities to create a work that teeters between categories. Lafon interviews Nadia to gain her perspective; includes past interviews, history, and context; and somehow creates a plot, literally of Nadia's lifetime, that is well-done and not melodramatic.
And, I have to say that as a non-native French speaker and someone who's interested in Romania, this book was very interesting and informative, both in language and in history. I never knew the type of mental and physical stamina these girls needed to have in order to compete, and how their country affected them in its time of political change. It is for all of these reasons which I give this book 4 stars!
gleefulreader's review against another edition
5.0
The Little Communist Who Never Smiled is a fascinating re-imagining of the life of Nadia Comaneci as told through the narrator and her imagined dialogue with Nadia herself while writing her biography. While the set-up is rather odd (and might leave you reaching for your phone to sort out how much of what is written is accurate), ultimately it works. The biographical details are interesting and I did spend a fair bit of time googling to see video of the routines or biographies of individuals referred to in the book. However, the bigger payoff comes in the deeper examination of the use of the female gymnasts and their bodies as a battleground in the propaganda war within Romania, between east and west, and between the western bloc countries themselves, and the imagined effect this had on the girls themselves. For a fairly slim novel, this book covers a lot of territory. Highly recommended.
strawfly14's review against another edition
4.0
RESEÑA EN EL BLOG: http://detras-del-conejoblanco.blogspot.com.es/2016/04/la-pequena-comunista-que-no-sonreia.html
Tenía muchas ganas de leer este libro y no me ha decepcionado. Es verdad que si lo metemos en el tema "gimnasia" que tiene bastantes carencias, pero como novela en general me ha gustado. En esta novela fabulada, Lafon logra una buena reconstrucción de la época y la sociedad en la que creció y desarrolló Nadia su potencial como gimnasta. Quizá me ha faltado algo de profundización en la personalidad de la gimnasta, porque a veces la encontraba a años luz y no lograba alcanzarla, pero me ha parecido una buena reconstrucción. Me deja con ganas de leer el libro de Nadia -Cartas a una gimnasta joven-, pero me ha gustado. Se ve la presión a la que se ven sometidas a las gimnastas -aunque como se escribe ahí, ella lo quería- y a lo efímero de sus hazañas en un mundo que olvida demasiado rápido.
Tenía muchas ganas de leer este libro y no me ha decepcionado. Es verdad que si lo metemos en el tema "gimnasia" que tiene bastantes carencias, pero como novela en general me ha gustado. En esta novela fabulada, Lafon logra una buena reconstrucción de la época y la sociedad en la que creció y desarrolló Nadia su potencial como gimnasta. Quizá me ha faltado algo de profundización en la personalidad de la gimnasta, porque a veces la encontraba a años luz y no lograba alcanzarla, pero me ha parecido una buena reconstrucción. Me deja con ganas de leer el libro de Nadia -Cartas a una gimnasta joven-, pero me ha gustado. Se ve la presión a la que se ven sometidas a las gimnastas -aunque como se escribe ahí, ella lo quería- y a lo efímero de sus hazañas en un mundo que olvida demasiado rápido.
ladypalma's review against another edition
3.0
Era da tempo che volevo approfondire la figura di una delle ginnaste più celebri al mondo, per cui quando ho trovato questo titolo sono rimasta subito molto incuriosita. La vita della rumena Nadia Comaneci viene ripercorsa dalle origini, con un focus interessante su cosa significa essere una piccola sportiva vincente anche nel contesto della Guerra Fredda. Ho apprezzato il modo in cui è stato dipinto il mondo rumeno e più in generale comunista, senza fare sconti neanche al blocco occidentale. La narrazione è inframmezzata spesso da stralci di conversazione tra l'autrice e la ginnasta stessa, volti a mostrare aggiunte, particolare e anche opinioni su quanto appena letto in maniera romanzata. Questa parte metatestuale è molto utile a dare credibilità e forza storica al testo; ma, a causa della sua forse eccessiva ingerenza, va a spezzare la fluidità della lettura.
Se i primi anni di Nadia sono seguiti con una certa cura fino alle Olimpiadi di Montreal, sul dopo ci sono invece alcune lacune. Solo vaghissimi accenni al figlio di Ceasescu, praticamente nulla sulla vita dopo l'arrivo in America (cosa che, proprio in virtù della contrapposizione tra est e ovest sarebbe stata interessante) e, soprattutto, neanche una menzione per sbaglio a Bart Conner.
È stata una lettura che mi ha dato spunti utili e informazioni nuove... ma non quante speravo. In sostanza, mi è parso un lavoro incompleto.
Se i primi anni di Nadia sono seguiti con una certa cura fino alle Olimpiadi di Montreal, sul dopo ci sono invece alcune lacune. Solo vaghissimi accenni al figlio di Ceasescu, praticamente nulla sulla vita dopo l'arrivo in America (cosa che, proprio in virtù della contrapposizione tra est e ovest sarebbe stata interessante) e, soprattutto, neanche una menzione per sbaglio a Bart Conner.
È stata una lettura che mi ha dato spunti utili e informazioni nuove... ma non quante speravo. In sostanza, mi è parso un lavoro incompleto.
amelie5m's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
saarustin's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder