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A review by antiauk
Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison
3.0
Note: Advance Reader Copy provided by Netgalley.
Enchantments is the story of Rasputin's oldest daughter Masha and how she copes after his death. Although there are vignettes and flashback including Rasputin, and Masha's relationship with him, ultimately it is about her ability to cope with having had a father who was perceived as a madman and great healer both. Masha's own perceptions of her father are included and at times she admits uncomfortable truths about her father's lack of hygiene and sexual proclivities (the latter in far greater detail than you would expect of any daughter). Yet at the same time she includes this information to proclaim that she is her father's daughter, even as she struggles with the fear of having her father's heightened sexual appetites.
Much of the story is told in elaborated stories as they were told to the tsarevich as entertainment. Because of this it is hard determine the facts from the fantasy, but one can easily imagine that the point was to capture the feelings had about having Rasputin for a father and the tsarevich for a friend, only to have one murdered and the other exiled at a time when she was attempting to find her place in the world.
Enchantments is well written and most readers will enjoy Masha as a character and a story teller. Some may be disappointed that there isn't more about Rasputin, especially as an active character, but most will forgive this condition for Masha's charming stories and personality. There is a healthy dose of sexuality, which some may find graphic but was acceptable, if somewhat surprising, to the reviewer.
Enchantments is the story of Rasputin's oldest daughter Masha and how she copes after his death. Although there are vignettes and flashback including Rasputin, and Masha's relationship with him, ultimately it is about her ability to cope with having had a father who was perceived as a madman and great healer both. Masha's own perceptions of her father are included and at times she admits uncomfortable truths about her father's lack of hygiene and sexual proclivities (the latter in far greater detail than you would expect of any daughter). Yet at the same time she includes this information to proclaim that she is her father's daughter, even as she struggles with the fear of having her father's heightened sexual appetites.
Much of the story is told in elaborated stories as they were told to the tsarevich as entertainment. Because of this it is hard determine the facts from the fantasy, but one can easily imagine that the point was to capture the feelings had about having Rasputin for a father and the tsarevich for a friend, only to have one murdered and the other exiled at a time when she was attempting to find her place in the world.
Enchantments is well written and most readers will enjoy Masha as a character and a story teller. Some may be disappointed that there isn't more about Rasputin, especially as an active character, but most will forgive this condition for Masha's charming stories and personality. There is a healthy dose of sexuality, which some may find graphic but was acceptable, if somewhat surprising, to the reviewer.