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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-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
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the beginning was the Word
Science, or more specifically - the school of magic - is a trope that's used a lot in fantasy literature. Not surprising. If done well it’s a joy to read. Have Diachenko’s succeeded?
Short answer - yes.
Vita Nostra twists the trope in most unexpected ways. It’s strange, thoughtful and dark tale about metamorphosis (both physical and metaphysical) that contains coming of age elements.
Sasha is a regular, high-school student who spends her holidays at the seaside. She enjoys the sun, fresh morning breeze, chill and happy atmosphere. Things change when a strange man with dark glasses approaches her and asks her to get up at 4 AM, go to the beach and swim naked to the buoy and back. Every single day.
In the beginning, Sasha wants to ignore the lunatic, but it turns out that she just can’t. For many reasons. When she finally agrees and does her first 4 AM swim a bizarre thing happens – she vomits golden coins. She does it every day after her morning training. Things develop a bit from here, and soon she finds herself forced to enter the Institute of Special Technologies in Torpa. It’s an Institute in the middle of nowhere. Students aren’t told what’s the purpose of their studies. However, a failure in school isn’t an option. When it happens, a students’ loved ones pay the price.
The students' fate remains unknown to them, but it seems they’ll change in significant and unexpected ways. For example, some of them will grow wings. Temporarily. And if you think it’s bizarre, you know nothing about bizarre. Happily, Dyachenko’s will educate you in a mind-blowing way.
Students at the University are regular (at least in the beginning) teenagers anxious about growing up. They drink, smoke and have sex. They were selected for this school for reasons they don’t understand, forced to come to Torpa and pursue impossible and incomprehensible classes that will allow them to gain a degree they know nothing about.
As a reader, you’re not in a better situation than students. Lack of information or at least some hints about studies' goal may be frustrating. We learn fast that students play with the fabric of the reality but how is a question I asked myself multiple times. Is it magic? What are they becoming? On the other hand, it's also one of the reasons why this novel is so fascinating and immersive. It's told in a way that allowed me to enter the world smoothly and imagine and experience impossible things. Occasional flashes of humor surface from time to time, but it’s not a joyful tale. Characters have few choices, and their existence serves a higher purpose known only be their mysterious and severe teachers.
The storytelling is influenced by modernism, and magical realism works. The story happens in the modern era - telephones and cell phones exist in this place but aren't as readily available as in real life. Torpa is in the middle of nowhere, and its inhabitants are just sketched. They don't play any significant role in the story.
Dyachenko's focus on their characters' psychology and inner metamorphosis. They touch philosophical and metaphysical questions with finesse and skill that made me reread the ending five times.
Why is being human so vital to you? Isn't it because you don't know anything else?
This book crafts wholly new vision of the world and the laws that govern it. As the story progresses, Dyachenko's share some insights into the world metaphysics and if you've ever been fascinated with the language and power of the words, you'll be satisfied with some of the discoveries.
I could go on, but I won't. Instead, I'll tell you this - it's one of the best books I've ever read. It combines fascinating adventure with philosophical depth, impossible metamorphosis with profound psychological insights. It's strange. It's amazing. It's brilliant.
Side note: I read Polish translation of the book. It seems there used to be an English version, but it's no longer available. Good news is that Tor will release a professional translation of Vita Nostra in November 2018.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
I didn't really get what was going on by the end but the vibe was immaculate
What did I just read? This felt like a fever dream but in a good way. It is full of body horror, coming of age drama, mothers and daughters, and what does it mean to be human. I really enjoyed it. Knocking off a star just because of all the patriarchy surrounding our main character (would she have blossomed if her mentors/authority figures were women?).
One of my all time favorite books, loved rereading it in preparation to read the second book. Beyond excited to stretch my brain through the next one, too.
i will learn russian to read the next book if that says anything about how much i liked vita nostra
UPDATE it’s been 2 years and i still think about this book … I don’t even need an english translation for the other books at this point i’ll take a small recap
UPDATE OF MY UPDATE - vita nostra 2 in march!!!!
UPDATE it’s been 2 years and i still think about this book … I don’t even need an english translation for the other books at this point i’ll take a small recap
UPDATE OF MY UPDATE - vita nostra 2 in march!!!!
It’s been a long time since I read something this original and strange and compelling. A must-read if you love high-concept bullshit, poetic & ambiguous prose, or intensely weird fantasy.