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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I don't think you have to be Russian to have seen this story in action. It's a tale that's been on repeat since the start of the human race, and I'm sure it will continue well on into the future. The young, flirty girl, who enjoys having lots of men running around after her to inflate her ego, but an inability to connect with women, and will ultimately either die young or end up as some old hysterical woman everyone mocks behind her back (in this tale, her own mother).
It is also, as the title suggests, a tale of first love, and the obsession and the crushing unrealistic nature of it all. Vladimir Petrovich is a young 16 year old naive Russian boy of a well to do family. On his summer hols, a poverty stricken, aristocratic mother and daughter move in next door. He falls head over heels with the daughter, Princess Zinaida, and simpers and sobs over her and runs about after her like a little puppy dog. All rather pathetic, but I suppose we've all had our regretable moments in our teens. Zinaida emotionally feeds off this stuff, and plays with him and a selection of other men who come fawning to her every day and strut about like little roosters, trying to look like the best man of the group. And she has them all wrapped around her little finger, quite literally in Vladimir's case. There's this wonderful bit when she's in a temper and literally yanks a tuft of hair out of his head. "She carefully straightened the torn lock, curled it around her finger and twisted it into a little ring" (p 66).
She doesn't get on with women, as I guess they are competition and can't feed her ego in the way men can. She and Vladimir's mother never get on from the word go, his mother taking an immediate dislike, and the princess being little Miss Snooty-pants whenever she pops by. In consideration of what transpires, his mother has good reason not to like the girl.
I guess we all have to learn from our mistakes, and poor old Vladimir has to have his innocence shattered with the age old lesson 'love stinks', with a galling betrayal as Zinaida trots off after the man who isn't constantly playing court to her.
Marvellous short story/novella, but my, what a character to hate! (Me being female, I guess I was never going to get along with Zinaida =) )
It is also, as the title suggests, a tale of first love, and the obsession and the crushing unrealistic nature of it all. Vladimir Petrovich is a young 16 year old naive Russian boy of a well to do family. On his summer hols, a poverty stricken, aristocratic mother and daughter move in next door. He falls head over heels with the daughter, Princess Zinaida, and simpers and sobs over her and runs about after her like a little puppy dog. All rather pathetic, but I suppose we've all had our regretable moments in our teens. Zinaida emotionally feeds off this stuff, and plays with him and a selection of other men who come fawning to her every day and strut about like little roosters, trying to look like the best man of the group. And she has them all wrapped around her little finger, quite literally in Vladimir's case. There's this wonderful bit when she's in a temper and literally yanks a tuft of hair out of his head. "She carefully straightened the torn lock, curled it around her finger and twisted it into a little ring" (p 66).
She doesn't get on with women, as I guess they are competition and can't feed her ego in the way men can. She and Vladimir's mother never get on from the word go, his mother taking an immediate dislike, and the princess being little Miss Snooty-pants whenever she pops by. In consideration of what transpires, his mother has good reason not to like the girl.
I guess we all have to learn from our mistakes, and poor old Vladimir has to have his innocence shattered with the age old lesson 'love stinks', with a galling betrayal as Zinaida trots off after the man who isn't constantly playing court to her.
Marvellous short story/novella, but my, what a character to hate! (Me being female, I guess I was never going to get along with Zinaida =) )
3.75 stars i think — a story about the all consuming nature of your first love. i really did like the book, but i guess i just couldn’t find myself picking it up again.
an insightful novel about finding out ur first love is having sexy times with your father!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
لا أحب قصص الحب المأساويّة التي تكتب غالبََا من قبل الرجال، كثير من الأحداث سببت لي الحنق، لا أدري لا يوجد شيء مميز سوى الكتابة الرقيقة
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated