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A review by msand3
Youth (Dodo Press) by Leo Tolstoy
3.0
3.5 stars. A bit of a disappointing conclusion to Tolstoy’s trilogy, if only because the protagonist, Nikolai, is growing into a rather annoying young man. His precocious boyhood traits are now becoming manifest as haughtiness. Like Rousseau, Tolstoy presents his autobiographical character in all his flaws, which almost turned me off by the end of the trilogy.
The novel begins where [b:Boyhood|2359865|Boyhood|Leo Tolstoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348535157s/2359865.jpg|2366633] left off, as Nikolai starts the process of entering the university and becoming a young man. Tolstoy provides a gorgeous description of a spring day, a symbolic setting for his new blossoming manhood. Nikolai’s imagination still causes him to dream in ways that look forward to the composition of fictional tales. We also learn more about his friendship with Dmitri Nekhlyudov, a character who is the protagonist of many pieces by Tolstoy, from A Landlord’s Morning to [b:Resurrection|6578344|Resurrection|Leo Tolstoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311643667s/6578344.jpg|1491227]. Since I am reading Tolstoy’s short work in chronological order, I enjoyed getting a different perspective on Nekhlyudov, as Tolstoy was also developing that character’s voice in several short pieces composed right around the time of Youth.
The novel ends on a low note for Nikolai, with a promise that he will tell us about the brighter moments of his youth in a subsequent work. Tolstoy never got around to writing it. Despite the downer of this final book, the overall trilogy was a rewarding read.
The novel begins where [b:Boyhood|2359865|Boyhood|Leo Tolstoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348535157s/2359865.jpg|2366633] left off, as Nikolai starts the process of entering the university and becoming a young man. Tolstoy provides a gorgeous description of a spring day, a symbolic setting for his new blossoming manhood. Nikolai’s imagination still causes him to dream in ways that look forward to the composition of fictional tales. We also learn more about his friendship with Dmitri Nekhlyudov, a character who is the protagonist of many pieces by Tolstoy, from A Landlord’s Morning to [b:Resurrection|6578344|Resurrection|Leo Tolstoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311643667s/6578344.jpg|1491227]. Since I am reading Tolstoy’s short work in chronological order, I enjoyed getting a different perspective on Nekhlyudov, as Tolstoy was also developing that character’s voice in several short pieces composed right around the time of Youth.
The novel ends on a low note for Nikolai, with a promise that he will tell us about the brighter moments of his youth in a subsequent work. Tolstoy never got around to writing it. Despite the downer of this final book, the overall trilogy was a rewarding read.