The Aviator

by Yevgeniy Vodolazkin

Genres: Fiction

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second novel by Mr Vodolazkin turned out to be a fantastic experience. Much as I read some classics, I stayed away from modern Russian fiction, why I do not know really .. Probably I was unsure what books to choose, where to look for good authors. Fortunately, GR and Friends, gave me a hint and now I know that the author of Aviator is definitely worth following.
Innokenty P. Platonv wakes up in hospital, not remembering what happened. Gradually his memory returns and we are told a story of a man who survived the 1917 Revolution, and who suffered what millions of Russians suffered in the post-revolutionary period. His memories take Innokenty to his past but at the same time he receives signals of the world around him which he cannot comprehend. Step by step we learn about what really occurred to him, and we want Innokenty to succeed this time. To make up for the lost time ...
I loved everything about this novel, and I will definitely have another meeting with Innokenty ...

[songbird72 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started with such great promise. A man awakes, not knowing where he is, who he is, or even what year it is. Turns out he was a former Soviet prisoner who was chosen as a Lazarus--forcibly frozen. Now the year is 1999 and he has been "thawed". Like I said, such a great premise but there was a lot of time spent on his remembering things from his childhood and former life. Then when I got very interested to see what would happen, the book abruptly ends without knowing exactly what happens to him. Very disappointing.

[Iulia Bura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never written a review before so not even sure of how it should sound.
Do be honest I expected something else, not sure what. After reading Laurus, by the same author I guess I expected the same style.
Surprisingly, the style is completely different.
I did love the description of the long lost times of past centuries but other than that, the action is quite flat and it becomes repetitive at some point.
I guess it’s a kind of love it or hate it kind of book.

[Edgars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latviešu tulkojums. Ļoti laba grāmata, no kuras grūti atrauties. Interesants stils - kā dienasgrāmata. Sākumā likās, ka man varbūt ne pārāk patiks, jo galvenais varonis dzīvo Pēterburgā un apraksta savu dzīvi tajā pagājušā gadsimta sākumā. Taču autors to tik smalki un patiesi spējis attēlot, ka pilnīgi jābrīnās, cik interesanti ir to lasīt, īpaši jau tagad, kara laikā. Turklāt notikumi īstenībā risinās [gandrīz] mūsdienās...

Grāmata neapšaubāmi rosina domāt par to laiku, par mūsu pašu tautiešu likteni Padomju režīmā un par paralēlēm ar mūsdienām, kuras autoram neviļus izdevies novilkt ļoti precīzi. Interesanti paskatīties uz pagājušo gadsimtu no it kā cita skatu punkta - no pašā Padomju Savienībā un pēc tam Krievijā dzīvojoša cilvēka -, kas tomēr šajā gadījumā ir tik līdzīgs mūsējam. Bet stāstījumu caurvij tās sīkās sadzīves detaļas, kuras mēs ik dienas piedzīvojam un varbūt pat nepamanām, bet kas tomēr galu galā veido visu mūzu dzīvi. Par to jau laikam arī ir šī grāmata!

Uz beigām kaut kas atsauca atmiņā "Nakts vilcienu uz Lisabonu". Kas tas bija? Rakstības stils? Varbūt..

No grāmatas pēdējā vāka: `Ik brīdi cilvēkam ir jāizdara izvēle, kurā pusē nostāties. Un tā ir viena no pašām svarīgākajām idejām romānā "Aviators"`.