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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"There is a sweetness in being the sole source, the autocratic and irresponsible cause, the greatest joy, and the profoundest pain to another..."
"I was afraid to take stock of anything. I simply hastened to live through every day til evening. And at night I slept while the lightheartedness of childhood came to my aid. I did not want to know whether I was loved and I did not want to acknowledge to myself that I was not loved. My father I avoided, but Zinaida I could not avoid. I burned as in a fire at her presence, and what did I care to know what the fire was in which I burned and melted. It was enough that it was sweet to burn and melt."
"And I went away. I cannot describe the emotion with which I went away. I should not ever wish it to come again, but I should think myself unfortunate had I never experienced such an emotion."
True to its title, this is a story of the young protagonist’s first love: an older, cunning, and flirtatious young woman. He meets her during a summer spent in the country, which he spends vying for her hand along with a gaggle of suitors who she manipulates for her entertainment. Our protagonist’s coming-of-age comes to a turning point when he discovers that his father has been having an affair with the young woman, imbuing him with restraint and maturity. Upon his mother's discovery of the affair, they leave the countryside and the protagonist moves on with his life, reflecting on his first love--in all its clumsy naivete. I liked the central themes that 1) in life, there are experiences that are painful but necessary, and 2) it takes a certain grace and maturity to take joy in how these moments remind us of the poignancy of the human experience.
I appreciate it for those messages; however, I find that other literature extols the same and in better ways (such as The Death of Ivan Ilych). It is not terrible but unfortunately quite unremarkable and forgettable.
"I was afraid to take stock of anything. I simply hastened to live through every day til evening. And at night I slept while the lightheartedness of childhood came to my aid. I did not want to know whether I was loved and I did not want to acknowledge to myself that I was not loved. My father I avoided, but Zinaida I could not avoid. I burned as in a fire at her presence, and what did I care to know what the fire was in which I burned and melted. It was enough that it was sweet to burn and melt."
"And I went away. I cannot describe the emotion with which I went away. I should not ever wish it to come again, but I should think myself unfortunate had I never experienced such an emotion."
True to its title, this is a story of the young protagonist’s first love: an older, cunning, and flirtatious young woman. He meets her during a summer spent in the country, which he spends vying for her hand along with a gaggle of suitors who she manipulates for her entertainment. Our protagonist’s coming-of-age comes to a turning point when he discovers that his father has been having an affair with the young woman, imbuing him with restraint and maturity. Upon his mother's discovery of the affair, they leave the countryside and the protagonist moves on with his life, reflecting on his first love--in all its clumsy naivete. I liked the central themes that 1) in life, there are experiences that are painful but necessary, and 2) it takes a certain grace and maturity to take joy in how these moments remind us of the poignancy of the human experience.
I appreciate it for those messages; however, I find that other literature extols the same and in better ways (such as The Death of Ivan Ilych). It is not terrible but unfortunately quite unremarkable and forgettable.
emotional
reflective
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:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
This book was a very intriguing exploration of first love and how it sticks with you for your entire life whether it was good or bad and I think this book portrayed the confusion, the obsession, and the confusion all wrapped up really well despite the short length of this book.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was not the melancholic fluff i was hoping for 😭 still slapped though.