sarapalooza's review against another edition
4.0
Maidenhair
Mikhail Shishkin
.
Stunning prose. Part history, part rapturous fever dream, this is a very unique and strange novel.
.
The topics range from relationships... to the malleable nature of time... to faith and love... and oh, you know, any heavy topic that is usually relegated to that point long after the party is over and it’s about 2 am.
.
The narrative jumps epochs and points of view. I can’t help but think what a massive undertaking translating it must have been.
.
I’m not going to summarize, as that’s not really possible and wouldn’t do it justice. The form is very experimental and quite a trip. Maidenhair is often disturbing, often moving, and so descriptive, it transported me into about six different memories of my own - some of which I hadn’t even thought of in a long time. A pretty powerful work.
.
#shishkin #maidenhair
Mikhail Shishkin
.
Stunning prose. Part history, part rapturous fever dream, this is a very unique and strange novel.
.
The topics range from relationships... to the malleable nature of time... to faith and love... and oh, you know, any heavy topic that is usually relegated to that point long after the party is over and it’s about 2 am.
.
The narrative jumps epochs and points of view. I can’t help but think what a massive undertaking translating it must have been.
.
I’m not going to summarize, as that’s not really possible and wouldn’t do it justice. The form is very experimental and quite a trip. Maidenhair is often disturbing, often moving, and so descriptive, it transported me into about six different memories of my own - some of which I hadn’t even thought of in a long time. A pretty powerful work.
.
#shishkin #maidenhair
fabo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nicka's review
5.0
Nothing less than extraordinary. Heartbreaking and exhilarating. Shishkin has a masters touch, a language virtuoso. The modernist flourishes are really something to marvel at. Modernist prose acrobatics aren’t supposed to be so evocative, so....emotional. I was moved beyond words. This will no doubt be considered among the classics of Russian literature.
daneekasghost's review
3.0
A book with huge scope that kind of swirls through a bunch of narratives that never really come together.
For all that, it was pretty easily readable, I didn't have trouble finishing it, but I do feel like there was quite a bit of stuff that I didn't get out of this.
For all that, it was pretty easily readable, I didn't have trouble finishing it, but I do feel like there was quite a bit of stuff that I didn't get out of this.
More...