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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s an adequate story but over the decades past, i’ve seen and read this story through different perspectives. it was still a good story but I was able to foresee what was going to happen.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
“i burnt as in a fire in her presence, but 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.”
man, how i love afflicting, melancholic tales! turgenev’s first love is a wistful depiction of, as the title suggests, a first, young love that persists, and remains, and haunts. i really liked turgenev’s writing style, softer and subtler than that of his contemporaries; which i found perfect for portraying not only vladimir’s infatuation with zinaida and idealization of love but also, how both of these change and evolve, making him, in turn, change and evolve through the experiencing of love and heartbreak.
overall, i enjoyed this a lot. it is short, but still layered and complex, and it really makes me want to delve further into turgenev’s work.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I am undoubtedly only picking up on surface level themes here, but regardless this was a quick and enjoyable read. A classic novel that didn’t drive me insane trying to understand. Getting cucked by your own dad is crazy though
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Reading this made me feel so glad I’m not a teenager anymore.
The prose was beautiful, like absolutely elegant. Turgenev captures the first love intensity so well, and readers will be transported back in time to their own. However, this is all the novella has going for it.
The characters, and I mean all of them, are so unlikable. And you know, maybe that’s the point. Everyone is insufferable in their own way when they are experiencing infatuation and love. Zinaida, the love interest that everyone is infatuated with, just plays with all their hearts, and as an adult you sit there and go why would you put up with that. Vladimir, the 16 year old, really has the only excuse-how could he know better?
The affair you can see coming, and I truly hated it. Because you’re telling me that Vladimir tells his father about his crush on Zinaida, and the father just goes, “yep, let me get in on that.” AND Vladimir harbors NO ILL WILL?!?? Could not be me.
The ending was incredibly sad because you think it can’t get worse. Then it does. Then you’ll sit there staring at a blank wall because what else can you do after reading that.
I would recommend on the prose and the emotion capture only but be prepared to be frustrated.
The prose was beautiful, like absolutely elegant. Turgenev captures the first love intensity so well, and readers will be transported back in time to their own. However, this is all the novella has going for it.
The characters, and I mean all of them, are so unlikable. And you know, maybe that’s the point. Everyone is insufferable in their own way when they are experiencing infatuation and love. Zinaida, the love interest that everyone is infatuated with, just plays with all their hearts, and as an adult you sit there and go why would you put up with that. Vladimir, the 16 year old, really has the only excuse-how could he know better?
The ending was incredibly sad because you think it can’t get worse. Then it does. Then you’ll sit there staring at a blank wall because what else can you do after reading that.
I would recommend on the prose and the emotion capture only but be prepared to be frustrated.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Quite poignant especially at the end
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh my the twist
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was so disappointed by this after really enjoying fathers and sons