A review by inkwitchery
First Love by Ivan Turgenev

4.0

This is the first novella I’ve read from Ivan Turgenev. I found it quite randomly whilst browsing the free books selections on my eReader app. The synopsis piqued my interest right away as I’ve a soft spot for love stories. It didn’t take long for me read and I quite enjoyed it.

First Love is a about Vladimir, a 16 year old boy falling in love for the first time with his new neighbor, a beautiful princess name Zenaida. Unfortunately for Vladimir, his love is unrequited. Thus we as readers experience Vladamir’s roller coaster of emotions; hope, excitement, jealousy, confusion, rage, anxiety, and back again as he is held captive by Zenaida’s capricious ways. I enjoyed Turgenev’s convincing writing style. He managed to pack quite a story in less than 130 pages! My heart went out to Vladimir when he figures out who Zenaida’s heart belongs to.

The last chapter is what I really loved about this book. In it, we’re reminded of love’s role in life and death. I highly recommend this novella and it’s one that will certainly stay with you for a while.