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gabestop's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
An interesting read, three stories that share similar feelings, almost somber, like searching for something lost.
mwoj232's review against another edition
4.0
Short and sweet. The mountain climber story was excellent. The title story I'd read in the New Yorker and found the ending (below) really spectacular
"Later, she would tell Sasha the same story again. I don’t think she realized that she was telling the same story. People always tell the same stories, even when they try to tell new stories. Stories are laid out in front of us, like objects, and over time we realize that they’re all made of the same material, a solid mass of stone and metal.
Nadia told the same story at dawn, as she and Sasha tried to cross a wide avenue. For a moment, she seemed to catch a glimpse of herself from the outside, like an image beside Sasha. They continued down the avenue, which grew wider and wider and impossible to cross"
"Later, she would tell Sasha the same story again. I don’t think she realized that she was telling the same story. People always tell the same stories, even when they try to tell new stories. Stories are laid out in front of us, like objects, and over time we realize that they’re all made of the same material, a solid mass of stone and metal.
Nadia told the same story at dawn, as she and Sasha tried to cross a wide avenue. For a moment, she seemed to catch a glimpse of herself from the outside, like an image beside Sasha. They continued down the avenue, which grew wider and wider and impossible to cross"
clarkissimo's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a stretch to think of this book as a novel. It’s three (very, very) loosely linked, superb stories that can be read together or separately. Each story is a spare, concrete exploration of obsession, connection, loss, and longing. I’m looking forward to more translations of this author’s work.
dogmold's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
buddhafish's review against another edition
3.0
121st book of 2022.
This is a slim, very smoothly written book in translation from Brazilian writer Emilio Fraia. The structure is taken right from Tolstoy's Sebastopol Sketches, which I actually read earlier this year, using the three timeframes, December, May and August. I was drawn to Tolstoy's book, and subsequently, this book, because my great-grandfather was captured in Sevastopol in the Second World War. Beginning the book, it's easy to be confused and curious: why did Fraia use Tolstoy's book as his inspiration? The first of the three stories is about a woman's obsession with climbing Everset, the second about a missing person and the last deals with a stage play set in Sevastopol (at last). It's one of those short story collections that gets away with being a 'novel' because of unifying themes and less than discernible connections. What struck me on finishing is the failed ambition, loneliness and quiet sense of despair in all three parts, though I didn't feel as if this was enough to satisfyingly unify them. However, I did enjoy reading them, and it was short enough to read in a few hours throughout the day, half before Sunday dinner out in the town and the other half once I was home, a little sleepy and tipsy.
This is a slim, very smoothly written book in translation from Brazilian writer Emilio Fraia. The structure is taken right from Tolstoy's Sebastopol Sketches, which I actually read earlier this year, using the three timeframes, December, May and August. I was drawn to Tolstoy's book, and subsequently, this book, because my great-grandfather was captured in Sevastopol in the Second World War. Beginning the book, it's easy to be confused and curious: why did Fraia use Tolstoy's book as his inspiration? The first of the three stories is about a woman's obsession with climbing Everset, the second about a missing person and the last deals with a stage play set in Sevastopol (at last). It's one of those short story collections that gets away with being a 'novel' because of unifying themes and less than discernible connections. What struck me on finishing is the failed ambition, loneliness and quiet sense of despair in all three parts, though I didn't feel as if this was enough to satisfyingly unify them. However, I did enjoy reading them, and it was short enough to read in a few hours throughout the day, half before Sunday dinner out in the town and the other half once I was home, a little sleepy and tipsy.
hopelessecstatic's review against another edition
3.0
Three tangentially related stories-- enjoyable, but... I think I must be missing something, so will put Sevastopol Sketches by Tolstoy on my reading list.
namakurhea's review against another edition
3.75
If you want to challenge the way you examine a text, this is the book to pick up.. Let’s cut to the chase: there are three distinct stories in this book. In “December”, we meet mountainclimber Lena who recalled how her life is transformed when she decided to climb a mountain, and after a tragedy that happened. In “May”, we meet innkeeper Nilo who is remembering a conversation he had with his guest who has been missing for 48 hours. In “August”, we meet playwright Nadia who is recruited to work on a play about a soldier and a painter. Reading these stories on their own is uite touching, though not particularly memorable. BUT. THE BIG BUT…The genius of this book is when you take a step back and see the story these stories are trying to tell.
.
John Self of “The Critic” hits the nail right on the head when he said that the author “is interested not in the reality of things but its representation”. There’s this blurring of lines between the narrator and the subject that we can see in all three stories. There is also this sense of loss and hope and before you know it, you agree with the author when he said “stories are all one and the same”.
.
If we talk about the style, “Sevastopol” is a gem. The sentences a little bit a part. Blank spaces in between paragraphs as if to let the last sentence sink in. The prose is dream-like; stream of consciousness style if you will. For anyone who wants more than just a story, this is a book you will enjoy.
.
.
John Self of “The Critic” hits the nail right on the head when he said that the author “is interested not in the reality of things but its representation”. There’s this blurring of lines between the narrator and the subject that we can see in all three stories. There is also this sense of loss and hope and before you know it, you agree with the author when he said “stories are all one and the same”.
.
If we talk about the style, “Sevastopol” is a gem. The sentences a little bit a part. Blank spaces in between paragraphs as if to let the last sentence sink in. The prose is dream-like; stream of consciousness style if you will. For anyone who wants more than just a story, this is a book you will enjoy.
.
ben_t_g's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I loved stories 1 and 3 - the mountain climber and the Russian painter play. Story 2 was a bit too nesting doll for my taste. But super-engaging throughout. I didn’t see much connection among the stories, but don’t think that affected my enjoyment.
lbird's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0