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awbookgirl 's review for:
Vladimir
by Julia May Jonas
This one is probably 3.5 stars from me, with Jonas’ writing giving it that extra half star. Though only 238 pages, the book felt more dense. The writing is crisp and incisive. I had to look up the meeting of a word or two. The style caught me from the first page.
Our main character, whose name we never learn, gives us a fascinating look into her psyche. She gives an alternate view on agency and power dynamics in relationships. She’s both confident and insecure; certain and confused. It’s almost like she’s an observer in her own life- a bit detached, despite us reading her innermost thoughts.
Each of the characters is prickly in their own way. As a character study, the book does well. But I found the plot of the last third of the book unwieldy. The same resolution could have been achieved in a more plausible way, I think.
And while there is resolution, I’m not sure if people are making the choices they really want, or settling for a mild contentment.
Our main character, whose name we never learn, gives us a fascinating look into her psyche. She gives an alternate view on agency and power dynamics in relationships. She’s both confident and insecure; certain and confused. It’s almost like she’s an observer in her own life- a bit detached, despite us reading her innermost thoughts.
Each of the characters is prickly in their own way. As a character study, the book does well. But I found the plot of the last third of the book unwieldy. The same resolution could have been achieved in a more plausible way, I think.
And while there is resolution, I’m not sure if people are making the choices they really want, or settling for a mild contentment.