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the_eggelstone's review
4.0
A literary professor is lusting after her younger, attractive colleague, while simultaneously navigating her personal and professional life during accusations against her husband of having had indecent relationships with students.
What follows is a biting, interesting and dark inner monologue, that spirals towards an seemingly interesting climax - that just doesn’t really come. The last twenty pages or so feel like a rushed afterthought and left me somewhat disappointed. The writing is flawless and I enjoyed reading the book but it’s a shame the author didn’t manage to really stick the landing here. Curious to read what she comes up with next!
What follows is a biting, interesting and dark inner monologue, that spirals towards an seemingly interesting climax - that just doesn’t really come. The last twenty pages or so feel like a rushed afterthought and left me somewhat disappointed. The writing is flawless and I enjoyed reading the book but it’s a shame the author didn’t manage to really stick the landing here. Curious to read what she comes up with next!
katieleabx's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found a copy of this book at a Free Little Library and I was very excited to see what it was about.
"Vladimir" follows an unnamed female English professor during a highly turbulent time in her life. The professor's husband, also a professor, is about to face a trial because several women have come together to formally speak out against sexual advances made by him and his abuse of his position of power. Vladimir, a new professor to the university, has befriended him and our female protagonist has become enamored with Vladimir.
This story took me completely by surprise, and I really enjoyed every moment of it. There are definitely some difficult moments to read, but that is what made it all the more interesting to me.
There is a lot of commentary around the "me-too" movement because of the trial that is occurring in the story. The professor does not believe her husband did anything overtly wrong, which causes a lot of tension for her internally as well as between her and other characters. He may not have raped these women in the traditional sense, but he did use his position of power to get sexual favors. This consensus that this too is considered rape is difficult for the professor to understand because in her day that is not what rape was. Additionally, she knew about these relationships, and in some ways encouraged her husband to cheat, so she is really struggling to understand why this is such a big deal. I think this novel brings to light how older generations struggle with the "me-too" movement because to them, some of these cases are completely normalized. It does not make them right, but I think it helps us to approach this topic with more empathy.
The protagonist's infatuation with Vladimir is obsessive and a great parallel to what is occurring off the page with her husband. She objectifies Vladimir and stalks him. She becomes completely obsessed with him and wants to encourage an affair between the two of them to occur. It was unsettling, but a great reminder that women too can be just as inappropriate in their pursuits.
As a character, the protagonist was flawed deeply, but so interesting. I felt like most of the story was written as an inner monologue in her head, which differed greatly from what was happening off the page. Her perceptions about what people were doing and saying seemed so different from what we were actually reading on the page. She is unlikable, but almost relatable.
This novel remains in the gray area for the majority of the story, because the main point of view is very much in a gray area. This gave the novel an interesting blend of conflict and peace. The entire reading experience felt like we were moments away from a life-altering climax.
I do think the story ends up going off the rails a little bit at the end. It was entertaining to read, but it felt almost comical what events transpired. This also led to a resolution amongst the characters I am not sure I loved.
I am very excited to see what Julia May Jonas writes next.
"Vladimir" follows an unnamed female English professor during a highly turbulent time in her life. The professor's husband, also a professor, is about to face a trial because several women have come together to formally speak out against sexual advances made by him and his abuse of his position of power. Vladimir, a new professor to the university, has befriended him and our female protagonist has become enamored with Vladimir.
This story took me completely by surprise, and I really enjoyed every moment of it. There are definitely some difficult moments to read, but that is what made it all the more interesting to me.
There is a lot of commentary around the "me-too" movement because of the trial that is occurring in the story. The professor does not believe her husband did anything overtly wrong, which causes a lot of tension for her internally as well as between her and other characters. He may not have raped these women in the traditional sense, but he did use his position of power to get sexual favors. This consensus that this too is considered rape is difficult for the professor to understand because in her day that is not what rape was. Additionally, she knew about these relationships, and in some ways encouraged her husband to cheat, so she is really struggling to understand why this is such a big deal. I think this novel brings to light how older generations struggle with the "me-too" movement because to them, some of these cases are completely normalized. It does not make them right, but I think it helps us to approach this topic with more empathy.
The protagonist's infatuation with Vladimir is obsessive and a great parallel to what is occurring off the page with her husband. She objectifies Vladimir and stalks him. She becomes completely obsessed with him and wants to encourage an affair between the two of them to occur. It was unsettling, but a great reminder that women too can be just as inappropriate in their pursuits.
As a character, the protagonist was flawed deeply, but so interesting. I felt like most of the story was written as an inner monologue in her head, which differed greatly from what was happening off the page. Her perceptions about what people were doing and saying seemed so different from what we were actually reading on the page. She is unlikable, but almost relatable.
This novel remains in the gray area for the majority of the story, because the main point of view is very much in a gray area. This gave the novel an interesting blend of conflict and peace. The entire reading experience felt like we were moments away from a life-altering climax.
I do think the story ends up going off the rails a little bit at the end. It was entertaining to read, but it felt almost comical what events transpired. This also led to a resolution amongst the characters I am not sure I loved.
I am very excited to see what Julia May Jonas writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug use, Stalking, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pregnancy
livwestland's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Infidelity
Minor: Confinement, Eating disorder, and Stalking
hjfritz27's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
vegisupreme's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
buttercupita's review against another edition
4.0
Hate the cover, but maybe it's good to be unsettled going into this book as the narrator is not a person you can be entirely comfortable with. This is a college campus/academic politics drama that raises interesting questions about sex and desire (especially when older people desire younger ones!). It was a slow build, but the last third kept me turning pages and nothing was predictable.
lizflude's review against another edition
This is like Eileen but somehow less inside but same neurotic path. So curious about the sentence near the end about ease being freedom : like yes and also like what does that say about self soothing/being charged ?
annacameron's review against another edition
4.0
Ripped through this book. Great themes explored and questions raised. Characters were believable, and interesting - it did not rest on well-worn archetypes. A fresh way of viewing the mind of different generations in a way that validated multiple viewpoints. The plot was very fun, just when I thought it might get a bit silly, it was reigned back into the realm of clever. An enjoyable new take on exploring desire at all ages in the campus novel. I really liked it
natlbugz's review against another edition
4.0
A Dark Debut w/ a #METOO Gender Twist...
They say to never judge a book by its cover but I'll say that I was instantly curious & left with many questions about the alluring man in a green tracksuit. I wanted to know more about Mr. Vladimir.
CW: sexual assault, infidelity, suicide attempt, drugs, & alcohol
After finishing "Vladimir," I'm still unsure how I feel about it, lol. I rounded up and gave it 4 stars but would have been a 3.5 read, personally. I thinkkkkk I enjoyed it, but it left me with many unanswered questions and thoughts. That might have been Julia May Jonas' intention, as she mentioned in interviews that the novel is a commentary on sexuality, gender, and power.
The novel consistently intertwines these themes, especially through the unnamed main character's obsession with her appearance as a postmenopausal woman. As a college professor at a small liberal arts college, she views her sexuality and beauty as currency and power in her small-town world. She is highly egotistical and critical of her self-presentation, both at home and in public.
Jonas' decision to leave the main character unnamed adds to her sense of invisibility and powerlessness in a society focused on the beauty and potential of young women. The main character's pursuit of power and beauty through her obsession with a younger man underscores why her name isn't necessary; she feels utterly powerless on her own accord.
Without spoiling anything, the ending left me wondering if the main character had grown from her infatuation or if she was destined for another cycle of self-destructive behavior. The ending was intense, and I had to re-read it multiple times to gauge any character growth.
While I enjoyed "Vladimir," some aspects fell short. Much of the book centers around the trope of sexual & intimate relationships between professors and their students, with some uncomfy non-consensual sexual intent. Additionally, despite being a character study, the novel reveals little about the characters' backgrounds and motivations, making it hard to assess their diversity and intentions.
Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what's next for Jonas' & I have high hopes for her sophomore book.
They say to never judge a book by its cover but I'll say that I was instantly curious & left with many questions about the alluring man in a green tracksuit. I wanted to know more about Mr. Vladimir.
CW: sexual assault, infidelity, suicide attempt, drugs, & alcohol
After finishing "Vladimir," I'm still unsure how I feel about it, lol. I rounded up and gave it 4 stars but would have been a 3.5 read, personally. I thinkkkkk I enjoyed it, but it left me with many unanswered questions and thoughts. That might have been Julia May Jonas' intention, as she mentioned in interviews that the novel is a commentary on sexuality, gender, and power.
The novel consistently intertwines these themes, especially through the unnamed main character's obsession with her appearance as a postmenopausal woman. As a college professor at a small liberal arts college, she views her sexuality and beauty as currency and power in her small-town world. She is highly egotistical and critical of her self-presentation, both at home and in public.
Jonas' decision to leave the main character unnamed adds to her sense of invisibility and powerlessness in a society focused on the beauty and potential of young women. The main character's pursuit of power and beauty through her obsession with a younger man underscores why her name isn't necessary; she feels utterly powerless on her own accord.
Without spoiling anything, the ending left me wondering if the main character had grown from her infatuation or if she was destined for another cycle of self-destructive behavior. The ending was intense, and I had to re-read it multiple times to gauge any character growth.
While I enjoyed "Vladimir," some aspects fell short. Much of the book centers around the trope of sexual & intimate relationships between professors and their students, with some uncomfy non-consensual sexual intent. Additionally, despite being a character study, the novel reveals little about the characters' backgrounds and motivations, making it hard to assess their diversity and intentions.
Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what's next for Jonas' & I have high hopes for her sophomore book.