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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This story started out with lots of potential, but it fell pretty flat toward the end. It was super short, and normally that short length can ruin a story in the hands of a less talented author. The pacing usually feels rushed. But in Kissing Tolstoy the pace of the relationship felt about right. It was headed toward being a pretty good romantic short story. I loved all the discussion about Russian literature. Sadly, I've really only read Anna Karenina, the book that the main character, Anna, lists as one of the worst Russian novels. This story made me want to read a lot more good Russian lit, even though I am not really a fan of romantic stories with too much tragedy or unhappy endings. Even without knowing all the intricacies of Russian literature, I still found it fascinating to read about Anna and Luca debate the themes and characters in those stories. I really loved Anna, the main character of this story. She was witty and smart and relatively strong in almost every way. Her dialogue was engaging and fun, and Fiona Fischer did a pretty good job as narrator in this audio book of capturing the essence of Anna's character. But Fiona had some plain weird ways of pronouncing some words ... and they weren't weird words where you might be able to understand poor pronunciation. They were common words like "reverently." How did some audio production company let her get away with such egregious mistakes? It wasn't so often that it ruined her narration, but it was odd.
And then there was Luca. At first Luca seemed like he would be a pretty cool hero for this story. Witty himself, he seemed like a good match for Anna. And then, to top it off, he was a Russian lit professor. Girls who love literature love the idea of men who love literature. Wouldn't it be cool to be in a relationship with a guy who could debate literature with us? Sure, he had some angst due to the ethical issues involving a potential relationship with his student. But that is to be expected in a story with this plot line, so it wasn't that big of a deal. I liked him ... but then he turned into a giant caricature. He started talking to Anna in quotations. He would wax eloquently in the most unrealistic manner possible. He didn't seem like a real person at all. He seemed like Penny Reid's wish fulfillment. It didn't leave me happy in the end. It left me feeling let down. It was disappointing because I thought that he had tons of potential at the beginning of the story. And to top it off Stephen Dexter's narration of Luca's point of view was atrocious. Simply awful. He spoke soooooo slow. I normally listen at 1.25 speed, and even at that speed I was impatient for him to speed things up. I sped it up to 1.5 speed, and that helped a little, but it still felt off. Luckily, Luca's point of view only happens in three chapters, so I didn't have to endure that narration much.
I wish I would have liked this more. I do enjoy Penny Reid's writing style, and I felt her fun way of telling stories through Anna's personality. This one didn't quite hit the mark, but I do look forward to reading the next book in the series. This one gets three stars. I liked it.
And then there was Luca. At first Luca seemed like he would be a pretty cool hero for this story. Witty himself, he seemed like a good match for Anna. And then, to top it off, he was a Russian lit professor. Girls who love literature love the idea of men who love literature. Wouldn't it be cool to be in a relationship with a guy who could debate literature with us? Sure, he had some angst due to the ethical issues involving a potential relationship with his student. But that is to be expected in a story with this plot line, so it wasn't that big of a deal. I liked him ... but then he turned into a giant caricature. He started talking to Anna in quotations. He would wax eloquently in the most unrealistic manner possible. He didn't seem like a real person at all. He seemed like Penny Reid's wish fulfillment. It didn't leave me happy in the end. It left me feeling let down. It was disappointing because I thought that he had tons of potential at the beginning of the story. And to top it off Stephen Dexter's narration of Luca's point of view was atrocious. Simply awful. He spoke soooooo slow. I normally listen at 1.25 speed, and even at that speed I was impatient for him to speed things up. I sped it up to 1.5 speed, and that helped a little, but it still felt off. Luckily, Luca's point of view only happens in three chapters, so I didn't have to endure that narration much.
I wish I would have liked this more. I do enjoy Penny Reid's writing style, and I felt her fun way of telling stories through Anna's personality. This one didn't quite hit the mark, but I do look forward to reading the next book in the series. This one gets three stars. I liked it.
Loved this book! So different from what I've read of this author - can't wait for the next book in the series.
A new Penny Reid series! If Kissing Tolstoy is any indication, the Dear Professor series is going to be awesome. This short-ish nugget of lovely begins with a laugh-out-loud scene that drew me in fast, and I kept reading because … Penny Reid. Her seamlessly constructed plots, and her witty, slightly dinged-up characters are so much fun!
Anna is a leather pants wearing, delightfully goofy, endearing, uber-intelligent engineering student. Luca is a leather pants wearing, motorcycle riding, Russian literature professor bad boy, who has perfected the art of sexy brooding. Leather pants brought them together, they bonded over Russian literature and the rest is intense and steamy!
Ms. Reid never fails to offer up brilliantly written, smart romance, bursting with luscious vocabulary you’ll want to roll around in and savor for as long as possible!
Anna is a leather pants wearing, delightfully goofy, endearing, uber-intelligent engineering student. Luca is a leather pants wearing, motorcycle riding, Russian literature professor bad boy, who has perfected the art of sexy brooding. Leather pants brought them together, they bonded over Russian literature and the rest is intense and steamy!
Ms. Reid never fails to offer up brilliantly written, smart romance, bursting with luscious vocabulary you’ll want to roll around in and savor for as long as possible!
This is the only book that I will ever call "sexy" and don't ask me to repeat it.
It's short, it's simple, and it's amazing.
Sure, one can argue that they don't really know each other that well and that is 100% true. This book is not the happily ever after, no. It's the once upon a time. It's a quick story that focuses on the beginning of a relationship between a professor and a student. Sounds weird, I know, just trust me.
In Reid we Trust.
It's short, it's simple, and it's amazing.
Sure, one can argue that they don't really know each other that well and that is 100% true. This book is not the happily ever after, no. It's the once upon a time. It's a quick story that focuses on the beginning of a relationship between a professor and a student. Sounds weird, I know, just trust me.
In Reid we Trust.
Luca and Anna. Russian Lit professor and a student.
Anna is set up by a friend on a blind date. She emails her date, and a man in leather pants walk in. Turns out, she emailed the wrong guy, but he showed up anyways.
Anna is set up by a friend on a blind date. She emails her date, and a man in leather pants walk in. Turns out, she emailed the wrong guy, but he showed up anyways.
2.25/5 stars.
I don't really do serials. I just don't enjoy the format.
But when I found out that this was now a book, I was excited to read it.
First off: If you want to buy this book, do it this month because then your money will go to charity - which is awesome.
The book itself... wasn't a complete book at all.
The build up is nice. However as a non-fan of Russian Literature it was at times quite boring to read. I also didn't really enjoy how a lot of the story was designed to just show off how smart they are. Or like the author did so much research that she wanted to stuff al the information in somehow. As someone who is from a non-native english speaking country, we were never forced to read these type of classics (as we have our own 'classics') and honestly, it was a little difficult to maintain my concentration at the stuffy parts.
But that is more a personal preference. The most annoying thing to me was that even though this is supposed to be a finished book. It's nowhere near complete.
It leaves gaping holes where his family is concerned. Where there is a lot of time for the built up.. you barely even see them together. The epilogue was not enough. I wanted to see his sister react, I wanted to know what the hell was going on with his father. etc etc.
The last 25% or something kind of ruined the rest of the book for me. It's still pretty much a novella, with a quicky ending en a lot of boring Russian literature talk in between.
This is my opinion and what troubled me, might not trouble you. The writing is perfectly fine.
Considering the next book is also going to be a serial, I think I'm going to tap out of this series.
I don't really do serials. I just don't enjoy the format.
But when I found out that this was now a book, I was excited to read it.
First off: If you want to buy this book, do it this month because then your money will go to charity - which is awesome.
The book itself... wasn't a complete book at all.
The build up is nice. However as a non-fan of Russian Literature it was at times quite boring to read. I also didn't really enjoy how a lot of the story was designed to just show off how smart they are. Or like the author did so much research that she wanted to stuff al the information in somehow. As someone who is from a non-native english speaking country, we were never forced to read these type of classics (as we have our own 'classics') and honestly, it was a little difficult to maintain my concentration at the stuffy parts.
But that is more a personal preference. The most annoying thing to me was that even though this is supposed to be a finished book. It's nowhere near complete.
It leaves gaping holes where his family is concerned. Where there is a lot of time for the built up.. you barely even see them together. The epilogue was not enough. I wanted to see his sister react, I wanted to know what the hell was going on with his father. etc etc.
The last 25% or something kind of ruined the rest of the book for me. It's still pretty much a novella, with a quicky ending en a lot of boring Russian literature talk in between.
This is my opinion and what troubled me, might not trouble you. The writing is perfectly fine.
Considering the next book is also going to be a serial, I think I'm going to tap out of this series.
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
Here's a little secret about me — I am AWFUL at following along with serial stories. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE how authors offer these up in their newsletters or on their websites or wherever, but no matter how into a story I am, I fail to stick with it to the end. I'm more of an instant gratification type of girl, I suppose. Though I am subscribed to Penny's newsletter, I never did actually start Nobody Looks Good in Leather Pants. I'm a little sad knowing what I missed out on now, but to be honest, I'm mostly glad I waited so I could read it all in one fell swoop in Kissing Tolstoy.
This novella had a very different vibe than any of Penny's other books — more literary, I suppose. As someone who has never read any of the Russian novels and was never very "into" the majority of classics, I wondered if I could get into this one. I seriously shouldn't have doubted Penny. At all. I love a good student/teacher romance and when you mix in a delicious slow burn like Luca and Anna had, I'm all over it. Kissing Tolstoy was a quick read and one that just flat-out made me happy. I'm ridiculously excited because it's kicking off a new series and I can't wait for the next book!
FAVORITE QUOTES
Yes, I felt shabby and small, but that's okay. I was shabby and small. There's nothing wrong with being shabby and small. Hobbits are shabby and small and look how badass they are. Plus, second breakfasts for the win.
"You infect me, body and soul, with primitive thoughts of claiming and conquering. I do not know how I am when I touch you. I am no longer civilized, I am blood and heat and lust. I barely recognize myself."
Here's a little secret about me — I am AWFUL at following along with serial stories. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE how authors offer these up in their newsletters or on their websites or wherever, but no matter how into a story I am, I fail to stick with it to the end. I'm more of an instant gratification type of girl, I suppose. Though I am subscribed to Penny's newsletter, I never did actually start Nobody Looks Good in Leather Pants. I'm a little sad knowing what I missed out on now, but to be honest, I'm mostly glad I waited so I could read it all in one fell swoop in Kissing Tolstoy.
This novella had a very different vibe than any of Penny's other books — more literary, I suppose. As someone who has never read any of the Russian novels and was never very "into" the majority of classics, I wondered if I could get into this one. I seriously shouldn't have doubted Penny. At all. I love a good student/teacher romance and when you mix in a delicious slow burn like Luca and Anna had, I'm all over it. Kissing Tolstoy was a quick read and one that just flat-out made me happy. I'm ridiculously excited because it's kicking off a new series and I can't wait for the next book!
FAVORITE QUOTES
Yes, I felt shabby and small, but that's okay. I was shabby and small. There's nothing wrong with being shabby and small. Hobbits are shabby and small and look how badass they are. Plus, second breakfasts for the win.
"You infect me, body and soul, with primitive thoughts of claiming and conquering. I do not know how I am when I touch you. I am no longer civilized, I am blood and heat and lust. I barely recognize myself."
How does she do it? Put you through a wringer of emotional highs and lows?
I'v never been so jealous of any character as I am of Annabecause she has someone like Luca in her life, dammit!
I'v never been so jealous of any character as I am of Anna