Reviews

First Love by Ivan Turgenev

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grayi's review

3.0

"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."

Well, that's one scarring first love for sure.

Vladimir was sixteen when he fell in love for the first time and we get to see how this new feeling grows and changes with him. From the innocent, idealistic, and almost naive love at first sight to the obsessive, dangerous, and violent one-sided love: intense from start to finish.

Vladimir never gets closure, and neither do we.

zoekk's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

beautiful descriptions of love and longing. the story felt cozy, despite its sad nature. i admired that the princess wasn’t painted as the villain for her carelessness and seductiveness.

emiliefox's review

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5.0

Exquisite writing, brilliant storytelling.

colorfulleo92's review

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2.0

Don't have much to say about this short novella. Wasn't my cup of tea really.

alishajuma's review

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2.0

I really wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t for me. It’s very nostalgic and the protagonist is telling the rather pathetic story of his first love. It was nicely written but it didn’t really capture my attention and I think I just don’t like love stories. The love interest also was just reminding me of Nastasia Filippovna from The Idiot which made me dislike her. When the love interest isn’t likeable to me it’s hard to be invested in the story. Definitely better than other things I rated 2 stars but it’s a 2 because it was a let down.