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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.
sjfrancis's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
4.5
emilyjaco25's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sammyjogeara's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
”It was always that — a man could always make me feel worse than anything any woman could say to me. He cojld always make me despise myself, make me feel fundamentally self-conscious about my idotic femininity and my pathetic peevishness, make me jnderstand I was no match for the real power he possessed.” (72-73)
This book is unlike any I’ve read before. Dark. Cynical. Reflective. I’ve never read a book where I disliked the main character whilst still admiring her. It was uncomfortable, in the best was possible. The feminist reflections spread out throughout this read were interesting and quite true. The ending and the fire were however dispointment and took me out of it.
This book is unlike any I’ve read before. Dark. Cynical. Reflective. I’ve never read a book where I disliked the main character whilst still admiring her. It was uncomfortable, in the best was possible. The feminist reflections spread out throughout this read were interesting and quite true. The ending and the fire were however dispointment and took me out of it.