The Talnikov Family

by Avdotya Panaeva, Fiona Bell (translator)

In the Talnikov household, violence is in the air. Natasha grows up in a chaotic and abusive family, surrounded by screaming relatives and scurrying cockroaches. Her father whips his children but dotes on his pets. Her aunts and governess take a grim satisfaction in doling out discipline—in between primping and preening for suitors. Amid this bleakness, Natasha and her siblings conspire to steal stray moments of childhood joy.

Avdotya Panaeva’s The Talnikov Family portrays a tumultuous upbringing in 1820s St. Petersburg with equal parts wit and rage. Modeled on the author’s own life before her marriage to a nobleman writer, this sensational novel joined nineteenth-century Russia’s intense debates about gender, sexuality, and revolution. It was swiftly suppressed after its original appearance in 1848, the censor calling it “cynical” and “undermining of parental power.” Panaeva published a number of iconic Russian writers; her own novel anticipates Dostoevsky’s frenetic quarrels and heightened tone as well as Chernyshevsky’s sweeping radicalism. Unlike many of her contemporaries, however, Panaeva considers the experiences of servants and workers, and she offers a critique of the family as ruthless as any other in literature. In Fiona Bell’s vivid translation, The Talnikov Family offers readers a new perspective on nineteenth-century Russian literature and the society that shaped it.

Genres: Russian Literature, Classics, Fiction, Russia

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2013

About the author

Avdotya Yakovlevna Panaeva (Russian: Авдотья Яковлевна Панаева ), née Bryanskaya, (August 12 [O.S. July 31] 1820 – April 11 [O.S. March 30] 1893), was a Russian novelist, short story writer, memoirist and literary salon holder. She published much of her work under the pseudonym V. Stanitsky.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Nastja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Брикет-концентрат классической русской литературы, состоящий из младенческих смертей, жестоких наказаний, лишения еды на неделю, страшного трупа бабушки, могильных червей, непременного вора в овчинной шубе, злой гувернантки с плечами-говядинами, жениха с лицом рака, темных комнат, перешитых ватных салопчиков, пощечин, выволочек и розог, и внезапно, врасплох оканчивающийся свадьбой юной героини с полузнакомым Аркадием Петровичем, которая описывается примерно как побег из карцера - окна были усеяны головами, Трезор с веревкой на шее провожал карету, etc.

[Suchona Hasnat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading the book at a time when we were all under a fascist(we still are) regime locking us inside of our home, cutting every access to internet(they ‘allowed’ us access to internet yesterday) and outside world. In a way, reading this book at that time is some kind of poetic and contributed to my ever growing restlessness.

Reading this book reminded me of my first time reading Anne Frank’s Diary. They are different in all the way possible but the similarities are they both felt like written by a young child, at best teenager. While Anne still manages to give us a peek inside of her inner world, psyche, this book somehow misses that point altogether.

This is a memoir or at least this is based on the writers personal life. Growing up in 1820s St Pittsburg, Avdotya (the writer) faced abuse, neglect, hunger all her childhood. Narcissistic Parents busy in their dilly dallies, being whipped by care takers and often surrounded by self centred aunts, she grew up in a chaotic environment, crowded by her endless number of siblings. She based Natasha, the storyteller and the main protagonist, after herself and told a fictional story that is very close to the reality she experienced as a child.

In the beginning, it truly captured my attention with the description of daily activities, ever careless guardians and dramatic events unfolding every other day. But soon it got repetitive. After a point the endless list of household activities was not enough and it was clear there was not much underneath it. You start noticing, even after spending all these pages with all these characters you know close to nothing about them, their mentalscape, what they are going through inside of their mind.

So when it ends, it doesn’t make you feel anything. Confusion? That could be it but other than that, it felt like a missed opportunity having all the components of a decent book and missing the target anyway.

Thanks to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for sending me a eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Revell Cozzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Russian Lit class - I honestly loved this book!
Very interesting and very, very Russian (so yes it contained a fair amount of misery).

[SamB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avdotya Panaeva's The Talnikov Family is an interesting and worthwhile addition to the Russian literary canon, and it's really pleasing to see something like this translated into English for the first time. The introduction describes how the book was banned in Russia for its unflinching and, at the time, deeply controversial depiction of family life. The narrator describes a family in chaos, falling apart at the seams, with parents both physically and emotionally abusive to their children, and an environment in which the family home is not a sanctuary, rather something to escape from. These days, we'd describe this family as 'toxic'.

I appreciated the hyper-realism of the novel, coupled with the emotiveness of the narrator and the rest of her family. Some of the descriptions are really striking and I was interested to learn more about the society in which Natasha lived, both through the text itself and the footnotes scattered throughout providing much-needed context. The translation really brings out these details too, making it feel contemporary enough for the modern reader without seeming out of place.

However, the novel does have its flaws. The author's style is unpolished, and the narrator is frequently repetitive and there are sections that are suddenly quite unclear. I found it very difficult to keep track of all the characters, and while in some chapters the narrator is very clearly drawn, in others she's more representing the collective 'we' of the family's numerous children. In addition, until the concluding chapters, there's little real narrative propelling the book forward, and it's more of a collection of vignettes, which I found didn't really compel me to pick up the novel at any point.

Certainly a literary curio, and one worth reading, especially for those with an interest in Russian or 19th Century literature.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Pam a Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

My only regret in reading Panaeva's The Talnikov Family is that it is too brief, and, its author having long passed away, there is no possibility of reading any more. The Talnikov Family recounts the girlhood of the fictional Natalya, who shares many qualities with the boisterous, irreverent, clever, and untameable Panaeva, herself, and struggles to find peace in a dysfunctional household. As a novel, The Talnikov Family is gripping, emotional, and sobering. I'm left with deep sadness for its characters. Panaeva is an artful writer with a gift for clever imagery; Fiona Bell, in her translation, renders her well. Likewise, Bell's introduction and notes are helpful to the reader and sufficient in providing historical context. I would recommend the book to others on these merits alone. However, it is also a valuable piece of social criticism of its times, offered by a perspective seldom heard from in 19th century Russian writers.

In short, the book problematizes the structure of the 19th century Russian household — the way in which all members are ensnared, for better or for worse, within its trappings. For better or for worse, its adult men dictate the circumstances under which everyone lives. Children, the elderly, and unmarried adult women are subject to their total authority. Married adult women have only as much latitude as their husbands and adult sons allow. The novel underscores for readers the breadth of unhappiness and abuses a cruel man could inflict upon his family, along with the desperation other household members might feel in trying to escape him. We also see the way that household members weaponize power as currency in whatever ways they can.

Ultimately, I agree with the author's sentiment that this book is a worthwhile endeavour, if only for the introspection it will inspire in its readers — have they been so cruel? In their own lives, what have they done? I would recommend the Talnikov Family to readers interested in historical Russia, invested in narratives of girlhood, and those who enjoy untangling complicated family dynamics, as well as lovers of unbreakable heroines.

Thank you to Columbia University Press and Netgalley for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

[Sara! · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Talnikov Family” is just now being translated into English after many decades! How exciting to have Panaeva’s voice added to the chorus of 19th Century Russian Literature in translation. The novel can feel unpolished, but this gives it charm and makes it effective. Natasha’s plight is moving and sheds light on a topic that doesn’t often make it into the classic novels of the period. I’d be eager to read her Memoirs and learn more about the woman who was such a vital part of the salons and literary scene!

[Anna Klimowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Talnikov Family tells the story of young Natasha- and her family during 19th century Russia. The Talnikov family is described as very unhealthy by Natasha as she details her or her siblings abuse and mistreatment. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found it somewhat slow at times but I did think the perspective was interesting. I enjoyed that even though this family “existed” in the 1820s, there were some things that were even relatable today. Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This is a translation (by Fiona Bell) of a Russian novel first published in 1848.

Natasha, the narrator, grows up in the 1820s in St. Petersburg in a chaotic and abusive family surrounded by siblings, various other relatives, and cockroaches. Her mother is neglectful, her father mercilessly whips his children, and the aunts and governess administer daily punishments for all misdemeanors, however small. Going to bed hungry is routine: “I was so often left without tea, without dinner, and without supper for a whole month that I was quite accustomed to this sort of punishment.”

This is not an easy read. To call it dark and depressing is almost an understatement. At least semi-autobiographical, it is full of relentless misery from which Natasha and her siblings find only fleeting moments of joyful escape. There is some humour in the way the unwed aunts fight for the attention of possible suitors, but even in these episodes there is sadness because the desperation of their situations is obvious.

The novel actually emphasizes the lack of women’s autonomy. The spinster aunts are totally dependent on relatives so they compete to curry favour. Natasha outlines their situation: “They, too, were deprived of life and freedom, and we often bore the consequences; disgruntled with our mother, our aunts took their anger out on us.” They all yearn for the escape that marriage would grant them, but of course there is no guarantee that their situations would much improve once they are wed. Certainly the marriages portrayed in the novel are less than ideal.

Of course children have even less autonomy. They receive little affection, education, food, and proper clothing. They are virtual prisoners; even their outdoor time is limited. What they are given is physical beatings and psychological abuse. Natasha is repeatedly told she is stupid, useless, and ugly. They long to escape the home, but when they are sent out into the world into the care of others, they often receive more mistreatment. That’s actually a problem: there is little to differentiate among the adults who are almost equally deplorable.

For me, the mother is the most despicable of the characters. A total narcissist, she is totally indifferent to the welfare of her children. Even the death of a child is met with indifference; she sheds no tears. When Mama witnesses another woman crying over the death of her child, Mama says, “’What a fool! What is she crying about? . . . Must be her first! I’ve got plenty to spare.’” She wants to be the centre of attention and becomes angry and envious when anyone else steals her limelight.

I did not find the style inviting. There are long paragraphs of exposition with limited dialogue. The lack of a plot and the presence of repetition makes reading somewhat tiresome. In a lengthy introduction, the translator admits, “Readers today may be put off by Panaeva’s frequent repetition and non-sequiturs. The novel often reads like its author’s breathless attempt to recount every impression and every wrongdoing, sometimes at the expense of literary style.”

I believe this is the first Russian novel I’ve read that was written by a woman. Written from the perspective of a young woman, it describes a totally dysfunctional family. I can understand why the book was suppressed in Russia, “the censor blocking publication by calling the novel ‘cynical’ and ‘undermining parental power.’” For modern readers, it certainly sheds light on family dynamics in the early 19th century in Russia.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,100 of my book reviews.

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.

This is nineteenth century Russian literature, and it is brutal by today’s standards. It is so hard not to judge the ways of people and society of times gone by because the way we live today is entirely different. At least, we hope it isn’t this bleak. The hardest part to digest is the child abuse which runs rampant here. This is dark, depressing literature my friends. In the introduction, we come to understand that Avdotya Panaeva was living in the time of revolutionary upheaval, but she turned her fierce focus on the institution of family. This novel was suppressed, of course, as it dealt a blow to parental authority. It was too raw an exposure, even more unwelcome written by a woman. The differences in sex is evident throughout, and it is said to be based on the author’s own upbringing. Read the introduction, it is incredibly informative. The lightness and causality with which a child’s death is handled at the beginning is shocking. No different in eliciting shock and sympathy is everything that follows, bullying of children, pitting them against each other, the maliciousness of the parents, extended family, the governess herself is monstrous. In fact, grandparents are not spared abuse here. Love serves as an escape hatch, but even if our little heroine, Natasha, succeeds in the end with marriage, looking at her parent’s union it likely is no blessing. Marrying for love was rare, and so it seems just as rare- love of one’s children.

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This is a house where children’s laughter goes to die amid the bugs. The aunts in the family ‘guard the governess like watch dogs,’ for even the help cannot escape unscathed. It is tyranny at its finest here. Somehow there is humor, the foolishness of spinsters trying to win love, or curry favor, securing their place in the house and with the family. Rascally brothers plotting revenge against the aunts, not every child is easily tamed. A coming of age in 1820’s St. Petersburg, in a house that is chaos and often punishing, going to bed hungry night after night, being dismissed for her affinity to her brothers and her lack of girlishness it’s amazing she makes it out alive. A mother who rarely shows affection and a father who beats his children mercilessly, this is not a read for the faint of heart.

Despite her deep despair at the novel’s beginning, grieving deeply over the death of a sister for whom no one else had cried, Natasha is a clever little thing who the reader will root for. A person who finds joy in a house of horrors. Yes, read it, it is surprisingly engaging!

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Columbia University Press

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a discovery this one is! As a life-long reader and student of Russian literature, I have often wondered why there are so few women writers from the great age of the Russian novel. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Turgenev – they are all household names. But where are the women writers? Women were no more oppressed in Russia than they were anywhere else. In fact, they were quite liberated by the standards of the era. They were active in politics and social issues. They were often well educated. But no novels? Well, it appears there were some women novelists. Avdotya Panaeva was one of them, and her novel has now been expertly translated into English for the first time. I don’t claim that The Tanikov Family is a literary masterpiece, far from it. But it is a fascinating read and well worth it, not least for its place in literary history. Written in 1848 it was suppressed by the censors due to its controversial subject matter – a dysfunctional family to beat all dysfunctional families – and wasn't published until 1927 when the Soviets decided it usefully showed up the iniquities of the past. It tells the story of a middle-class family in St Petersburg and is narrated by young Natasha, who chronicles a life of neglect, astonishing cruelty and violence. Set in the 1820s, the parents care little for their offspring and the opening scene is harrowing indeed. Natasha’s 6-month old sister has died, an event which causes no grief, or even interest. What follows is a description of daily life, a life of beatings, deprivation of food, few clothes, little education and no love, expect between the siblings. Semi-autobiographical, it makes for grim reading. The family is privileged but financially unstable, but keeps having babies which they then resent for increasing the family expenses. Overlooked in her time, and in ours, Panaeva was in fact a member of the intelligentsia and with Nekrasov edited the leading literary journal The Contemporary. Overly dramatic at times, and somewhat repetitive, it nevertheless rattles along at a good pace with a blunt and direct style that captures the reader’s attention from the first page. A literary curiosity maybe, but an engaging one.

[Dima · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are plunged into the life of an unhappy family, immediate as the story begins. Our narrator is one of the daughters in a family of numerous children, and describes her life from her earliest memories to her leaving the house at around 17 years of age. The setting is sometime in the mid 19th century, and we experience Russian families of the time in a way that at least I have not seen previously (having read most of Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Turgenev, Leskov, Gogol, and many others). The author doesn't dwell on big ideas or calamities, but rather explores the horror of a loveless childhood, and the mechanisms for survival.

I loved the book - it's perhaps among the most poignant works of fiction coming from Russia, especially from that period, that I've read. It's significantly ahead of its time in choosing to describe reality as it might have been for many children during that period - abuse, violence, dejection, and emotional angst. There is no redemption here, and no higher cause. It is literary realism par excellence, written by a woman, who was clearly an exceptionally courageous talent at her time (and today!). Mind you - this is not feminist literature, nor is it about the empowerment of women. It's about families and their toxicity as evidence in the minutiae of the day to day.

The writing is dynamic and energetic - the story grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go. Something always happens, and the emotional connection to the protagonist is profound. She comes across as a multi dimensional character, who comes to life in every single sentence she writes and action she takes.

I highly recommend to any fan of Russian literature - it's a lesser known gem that needs much more recognition, as it completes a complex picture of reality during that time. I also recommend it to anyone who is interested in family sagas.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Nightwitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of romance novels lately - something about the predictability of the happy ending is very soothing - and this is, in many respects, the polar opposite of the romance novel while being aimed at (and effectively hitting) many of the same emotional buttons. This isn't a happy narrative - this is an unhappy narrative. It's an old-fashioned melodrama: there's essentially no happiness or optimism in Natasha's life, the horrific events just keep coming. Even the loving grandmother is an alcoholic, and the only aunt with any kindness has very little time for the children; even the children turn on each other at times. At the same time, the narrative is so matter-of-fact that it feels, quite simply, normal. To Natasha, as a child, all of this is normal - being starved, being beaten, being ignored or berated - and Panaeva presents it as straightforwardly as that. The reader (and Panaeva) knows that this is all horrifically awful, but Panaeva isn't wallowing in it. She's writing it as sincerely and openly as her narrator lives it. It feels like a nonfiction memoir, and when I closed the book (well, file) I found myself wanting to rush to Wikipedia to discover what happens next to her characters - only to remember that it's (at least nominally) fiction.

The translation is excellent - the prose is extremely readable and smooth with none of the artificiality that I often associate with translated works. The foreword made me long for a biography of Panaeva herself, and I very much hope that more of her work will be translated as well. I'll be keeping a look out for Bell's other translations.

I read an ARC from NetGalley for free, but these are my honest opinions.

[Veerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a lot of male Russian writers, but (almost?) no female writers. It is time to change that. This novella by Avdotya Panaev, set in the 1820's is something you wouldn't expect at all. She portrays a struggling father and mother and the very abusive upbringing of their children. Basically everybody is mistreating Natasha and her siblings: not only their parents, but also their aunts and uncles, their governess. And they relish in it.

One of the things that struck me the most was the grandmother lamenting the fact that she created such monsters. Respect for the elders seems to be on the way back. The children however show resilience while trying to find joy. They still pull pranks and try to escape their life at home. They don't abandon hope.

Panaeva's writing style is brutal and direct and it doesn't feel outdated. The novel was based on her own upbringing and paints a portrait and criticism of family 'values' you don't find that often in literature. It's not your ordinary chewy Russian literature. She definitely shows and doesn't tell. It's straightforward and not as angry as one would expect.

It's bleak, yet not depressing. She captures the interhuman relationships in the most wonderful way. In between all the rage and negativity, there is space for humour: the jealousy of the aunts and all the woman yearning the attention of the men, the cuckolded music teacher, the pranks.... Her view on women is actually rather dark. Maybe because they reproach the main character for not being feminine enough? Not that the men are any better of course (apart from the grandparents).

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

[Jack the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic translation of an 1848 Russian text by a prominent literary figure in that place and time, The Talnikov Family is a precursor to latter day misery memoirs like A Child Called “It” (1995) as well as being an extraordinarily vivid Gothic novel.

The short novel is told in the first person by Natalya Talnikov, who lives with seven siblings in a middle-class home where they’re neglected and abused by their deeply dysfunctional parents. We meet various characters throughout the narrative, including an ignorant and cowardly grandfather obsessed with astrology, a relatively kind but alcoholic grandmother, various grotesque aunts vying past their prime for marriage, and a sadistic governess.

The book is extraordinary in how vividly it paints its settings and characters. One dream sequence involving a giant cockroach anticipates Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (1915) and burns itself into your brain. The plot is relatively structureless, revolving around scenes in its heroine’s life as family members and suitors come and go. As a portrait of an extremely dysfunctional family and the character types that go into it, it’s nigh on faultless; each person is so strongly drawn you can’t help but see them.

The mother is a delusional narcissist who thinks of herself as self-sacrificing even as her children are starved, forced to kneel for hours, and so on. The father is a truculent basket case prone to terrifying rages, who treats only his caged birds with solicitude. There are no badly drawn characters here, even as some are evoked with a lighter touch. Panaeva’s work is a forgotten gem.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of classic Russian literature and recently realised I was missing out on the work of Russian women. This is an engaging and haunting work about a dysfunctional family in 1800s Russia. This is one for the vibes not plot girls.

Set in St Petersburg we follow a family where the children go through abuse, neglect, childhood trauma whilst observing the bond between the siblings & the trajectory of their lives. Whilst not much “plot” happened it was an incredibly interesting look into the mindset of a 19th century Russian child in an environment I am unfamiliar with as a 21st century English adult. It was also kind of crazy to me to hear the author describe what happened to her as abusive & hurtful in a time where punishment and treatment of children seen here was somewhat normalised.

It did drag a little at times but who am I really to complain about the real life childhood of the author? I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to the publisher & netgalley!!!

[Olga Zilberbourg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the short novel 176 years after its would-be publication in its first translation to English, I’m captivated by the story, charmed by the voice of a girl-narrator, astonished by how contemporary this voice sounds — no small feat by translator Fiona Bell — and deeply moved by the author’s courage in breaking the norms of her society and speaking out for the underdog.

My full review of this novel here: https://www.ronslate.com/on-the-talni...

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great example of classic Russian literature: depressing, sad family. Sometimes it was actually hard to read because of all the depictions of child abuse.

I wouldn't say there's anything extraordinary or unique about it but it was a good read and went by really quickly. The aunt were delightful side characters. I would definitely recommend if you're interested in Russia in translation.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Talnikov Family is an intimate look at provincial society in the 19th century Russian Empire, with all its brutality, stupidity, and the importance given to class and gender in that society. Told by a young girl--which is an innovation and fairly unique perspective--it provides the reader with a true picture of life in that time and place. The author had mostly been forgotten to history--hopefully, more works of hers will be translated into English.

[Megz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a little lukewarm about this book… Maybe Russian literature just isn’t for me. I will say I found it endlessly more fascinating when I found the end notes. Is that what the obsession is with Russian lit? Not just the content but the study of a culture, a history? It makes it a lot more understandable, then.

I found the subject matter… odd. Can a family really treat their children this badly? Again, it all makes a bit more sense when read along with the translator’s excellent foreword.

I wish I could give this a higher rating, but it’s just not really for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Columbia University Press for providing this eARC.

[Henna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Natasha and her siblings life. They live in an abusive household; their mother does not care about them one single bit and sometimes even forgets about them living there and their father the same and loves to hit them when possible. You would think other characters in this book would be different but they are the same: the aunts, the uncle, the governess.

I rated this book 3 stars because the positive aspect of reading this book is that it was a well written story about Natasha’s life however the negative aspect is that I found this book to be very dull. It was not my cup of tea and I was feeling very bored reading this, I just wanted it to be over. This could be because as it was mentioned in the introduction the author has written this as a “breathless attempt to recount every impression and every wrongdoing, sometimes at the expense of literary style”.

[Ido · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Talnikov Family is set in the 19th century Russia and is modelled on Panaeva’s own upbringing.

It is equal parts a fast/smoothly flowing and intense/tragic read.

Trigger warnings: abuse towards children and animals.

Despite the awful conditions of their childhood, Natasha, who is the protagonist and the main POV and her siblings cherish life.
The Talnikov Family is not plot-driven. I wouldn’t call it character driven either. It is more of a meditation and a commentary on stolen childhoods.
The aunts and uncles were rather interesting.

Panaeva’s craft and the translation are excellent.
4.5 stars.
Thank you, #netgalley and #columbiauniversitypress for an ARC. I appreciate the opportunity.

[Chapter Chirp (Jessica)]

‘The Talnikov Family’ written by Avdotya Panaeva and translated by Fiona Bell shares the lives of the highly dysfunctional, abusive, and often violent Talnikov family. The novel primarily follows daughter Natasha and her many siblings. As their story unfolds, we see how harsh their upbringing is. However, even as cruel and horrible as the adults in their lives are to them, they find little ways to find joy within their tragic lives. This novel has moments of despair, pain, and cruelty but also wit, strength, and courage. This was a fantastic read and I devoured it within a days time, highly recommend.
Thank you Columbia University Press and Netgally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[zain · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something so magical about novels that feels like you’re watching period-piece movie. The Talnikov Family by Avodyta Panaeva has this exact quality.

Set in 19th-century Russia, the book vividly captures the social dynamics, family tensions and class struggles of the era. Panaeva’s ability to depict the complexities of daily life and the emotional landscapes of her characters is truly remarkable and is what makes the novel feel alive.
Panaeva’s narrative focus often mirrors the zoom shot that is used in films: zooming in on Natasha’s intimate family moments and zooming out to reveal the broader societal forces at play. This balance of personal and historical detail is one of the novel’s main strengths.

Thank you NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the ARC