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mynameisava's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.75
alaynacyan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
grace_b_3's review against another edition
As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of either literary fiction or memoirs, I probably shouldn’t have picked this up. This combined the worst traits of both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Rape
flaminghomosexual's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
shereadstales's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
teekeita's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Homophobia
becca_2505's review against another edition
5.0
This book. This BOOK.
This book is deeply personal but reading it does not feel like an intrusion into Vasyakina’s life in the same way Ocean Voung’s “Time is a Mother” does (I compare them because they both are borne of the death of a mother) Vasyakina is explaining something very complex and impermanent to us which simultaneously exists only in her world and is applicable to all of ours. It is a book you want to savor but must devour. I would like to read it again and again. I am deeply impressed by Vasyakina’s ability to look at the deepest and darkest and most hidden parts of herself and wrestle with them ceaselessly. She is not afraid to deeply observe herself and her place in the world. I also admire her bravery in publishing a book which not only presents an honest, not good, version of herself, but which also discusses being lesbian in Russia.
That being said, I found the page on rape to be unsettling and perhaps under developed. Some sections with poetry and/or essays were beautiful, but others were clunky and less fluid and touching than her writing about her experience with her mother. Likely that is just a result of this being her personal way of understanding her mother’s death. Everything may not be for us to understand. Though these were some things I disliked about the book, I found her writing about her mother and her experiences with love and sexuality to be so touching and masterful that I give this book 5 stars nonetheless.
I think this is also the only piece of literature that has made me feel like I may be able to write something worthwhile (besides essays lol).
This book is deeply personal but reading it does not feel like an intrusion into Vasyakina’s life in the same way Ocean Voung’s “Time is a Mother” does (I compare them because they both are borne of the death of a mother) Vasyakina is explaining something very complex and impermanent to us which simultaneously exists only in her world and is applicable to all of ours. It is a book you want to savor but must devour. I would like to read it again and again. I am deeply impressed by Vasyakina’s ability to look at the deepest and darkest and most hidden parts of herself and wrestle with them ceaselessly. She is not afraid to deeply observe herself and her place in the world. I also admire her bravery in publishing a book which not only presents an honest, not good, version of herself, but which also discusses being lesbian in Russia.
That being said, I found the page on rape to be unsettling and perhaps under developed. Some sections with poetry and/or essays were beautiful, but others were clunky and less fluid and touching than her writing about her experience with her mother. Likely that is just a result of this being her personal way of understanding her mother’s death. Everything may not be for us to understand. Though these were some things I disliked about the book, I found her writing about her mother and her experiences with love and sexuality to be so touching and masterful that I give this book 5 stars nonetheless.
I think this is also the only piece of literature that has made me feel like I may be able to write something worthwhile (besides essays lol).
reed_with_read's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
Summary: A lesbian poet (these things are relevant) documents her travel as she takes her mother's ashes back to Siberia to be buried. Whilst on the journey, she also reflects on moments throughout her life; of memories of her and her mother, and also of pivotal moments where she had creative, artistic, or sexual awakenings. It is an autobiographical novel.
Review:
This one is weird.
I dont even know why it seemed so odd.
It's very literary and creatively reflective.
If you like the works of Deborah Levy - you will like this.
And whilst there was nothing really captivating happening - I felt a pulling to see it through, and to see what other memories are brought up for our protagonist. What odd observations she has made over the years.
Review:
This one is weird.
I dont even know why it seemed so odd.
It's very literary and creatively reflective.
If you like the works of Deborah Levy - you will like this.
And whilst there was nothing really captivating happening - I felt a pulling to see it through, and to see what other memories are brought up for our protagonist. What odd observations she has made over the years.