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leahtylerthewriter 's review for:
Vladimir
by Julia May Jonas
I am sitting in duality over this book. I absolutely loved the writing. It's luscious and evocative and I cannot remember the last time I wanted to be folded into the narcissistic and self-indulgent essence of a character with such fervor.
The protagonist is an academic, a tenured professor at a university where her husband runs the English department. In the post #metoo climate of present day, multiple former students file sexual harassment claims against the husband for the consensual affairs they had with him years before. The professor and her husband have an open relationship, cheating isn't the issue here. Also, student-teacher relationships were not expressly prohibited at the time of the affairs.
What unfurls is a deep examination of power and sex and consent and the generational morphing of attitudes and mores as women claim greater ownership over their own sexual experiences.
I loved the intensity of the protagonist and thought the depictions of the morally bankrupt environment of intellectual academia were exceedingly well done. Jonas drills into her character's psyche with a skill reminiscent of Ferrante or Groff and I was overwhelmingly here for it.
The protagonist develops an infatuation with a hot younger professor, Vladímír, who is probably going to get the husband's job once he is condemned for his sexually forward behavior. It is the manifestation of her obsession where the book flew off the rails for me.
So basically I didn't like the end. However, the deep rooting around into the interior of this character was exceptionally well done. If complex and layered women are your thing, don't miss this one. This is quality writing.
The protagonist is an academic, a tenured professor at a university where her husband runs the English department. In the post #metoo climate of present day, multiple former students file sexual harassment claims against the husband for the consensual affairs they had with him years before. The professor and her husband have an open relationship, cheating isn't the issue here. Also, student-teacher relationships were not expressly prohibited at the time of the affairs.
What unfurls is a deep examination of power and sex and consent and the generational morphing of attitudes and mores as women claim greater ownership over their own sexual experiences.
I loved the intensity of the protagonist and thought the depictions of the morally bankrupt environment of intellectual academia were exceedingly well done. Jonas drills into her character's psyche with a skill reminiscent of Ferrante or Groff and I was overwhelmingly here for it.
The protagonist develops an infatuation with a hot younger professor, Vladímír, who is probably going to get the husband's job once he is condemned for his sexually forward behavior. It is the manifestation of her obsession where the book flew off the rails for me.
So basically I didn't like the end. However, the deep rooting around into the interior of this character was exceptionally well done. If complex and layered women are your thing, don't miss this one. This is quality writing.