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Соловьев и Ларионов
Solovyov, a young scholar born into obscurity, arrives in St Petersburg to have his thesis topic handed to him: the story of General Larionov. Dismissive at first, his subject soon intrigues the young scholar, even obsesses him: this is no ordinary General. Not only did Larionov fight for the monarchist Whites during the Civil War, he did so with bloody distinction. So how did he manage to live unharmed in the Soviet Union, on a Soviet pension, cutting an imposing figure on the Yalta beaches, leaving behind a son and a volume of memoirs? The budding young historian sets off to Crimea to look for some lost pages from the General’s diary, and on his journey discovers many surprises, not least the charming Zoya, who works at Yalta’s Chekhov Museum.
With wry humour, philosophical seriousness and a ground-breaking narrative style, Solovyov and Larionov is a genre-defying historical detective novel that explores a fascinating period of Russian history.
With wry humour, philosophical seriousness and a ground-breaking narrative style, Solovyov and Larionov is a genre-defying historical detective novel that explores a fascinating period of Russian history.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
104 people are currently reading
804 people want to read
About the author
Eugene Vodolazkin
22 books473 followersAlternate spellings: Evgenij Vodolazkin, Evgheni Vodolazkin, Jevgenij Vodolazkin
Eugene Vodolazkin is a Russian scholar and author. He has worked at Russian Academy of Sciences and been awarded fellowships from the Toepfer Foundation and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He has written for First Things. He lives with his family in St. Petersburg.
Eugene Vodolazkin is a Russian scholar and author. He has worked at Russian Academy of Sciences and been awarded fellowships from the Toepfer Foundation and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He has written for First Things. He lives with his family in St. Petersburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 20, 2019
First things first. A big thank-you to my GR Friend, Kinga, whose enthusiasm for Mr Vodolazkin encouraged me to pick up this novel even thoug I had not even read a single review of his books. Thanks to Kinga I have now a Russian author whom I will follow for the years to come.
The novel has two protagonists, separated by decades, a scholar, Solovyov, and a general, Lavrionov, who having served with the White Army, managed to avoid the fate that was unavoidable for the Whites after the 1917 Revolution.
The plot is intriguing, detective-like, however, what I loved about the novel was the descriptions of Tzar Russia, Soviet Russia and modern Russia through the events in which both gentlemen participate. Only a Russian author can tell a story in which you feel the Russian soul.
A fascinating novel which prompted me to purchase 'Aviator' and 'Laurus'. This is fiction which I call Fiction ...
The novel has two protagonists, separated by decades, a scholar, Solovyov, and a general, Lavrionov, who having served with the White Army, managed to avoid the fate that was unavoidable for the Whites after the 1917 Revolution.
The plot is intriguing, detective-like, however, what I loved about the novel was the descriptions of Tzar Russia, Soviet Russia and modern Russia through the events in which both gentlemen participate. Only a Russian author can tell a story in which you feel the Russian soul.
A fascinating novel which prompted me to purchase 'Aviator' and 'Laurus'. This is fiction which I call Fiction ...
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December 31, 2019Solovyov and Larionov.
Two names that each have eight letters and end in 'ov'.
Perhaps they are distorted mirror images of each other?
solovyov : vonoiral
larionov : voyvolos
Hmm. Perhaps not.
But the notion of mirror images is hard to ignore when thinking about this book—and the reflected image of a man walking along a train track on the cover of the book is only one of the reasons. Actually, when I look more closely at the book cover, I see that the reflection, like the names, is not a mirror image. The main picture shows a man striding forward, while the reflection shows him standing still, leaning on a cane. We'd be tempted to think the man is young in one image and older in the other. And it's true that this book offers a glimpse of one of the main characters as both a young man and an older one, and train tracks were significant in his, Larionov's, life.
The other main character, Solovyov, has many associations with trains too, but he also has strong connections to Larionov because the White Army General is the subject of the history thesis Solovyov is researching. So the cover image could show Solovyov walking along thinking about General Larionov who himself is thinking back on his life since his memoirs feature significantly in the story.
As you have probably gathered, I found the structure of this novel very clever and interesting. There were times however when I thought of abandoning it because, like a thesis, it contained enormous amounts of material. And I don't mean the history parts—I loved those. I mean all the secondary characters and the details of their stories. It was difficult to maintain interest in such a 'baggy' novel especially when the translation made the writing feel stodgy. If I kept on reading, it was because the author mentioned so many Russian writers and so many areas of Russia that have become familiar to me during the last three months—which I spent revelling in the writings of Sasha Sokolov, Mikhail Lermontov, Alexandr Pushkin, Nikolai Leskov, Lev Tolstoy, Andrei Bely, Yuri Tynyanov, Anton Chekhov and Nicolai Gogol. Because of them, I remained patient with Evgenij Vololazkin, and he rewarded me in the end. The final section was riveting!
I hear he has two further books that sound as if they've been better edited. I may read them.
Two names that each have eight letters and end in 'ov'.
Perhaps they are distorted mirror images of each other?
solovyov : vonoiral
larionov : voyvolos
Hmm. Perhaps not.
But the notion of mirror images is hard to ignore when thinking about this book—and the reflected image of a man walking along a train track on the cover of the book is only one of the reasons. Actually, when I look more closely at the book cover, I see that the reflection, like the names, is not a mirror image. The main picture shows a man striding forward, while the reflection shows him standing still, leaning on a cane. We'd be tempted to think the man is young in one image and older in the other. And it's true that this book offers a glimpse of one of the main characters as both a young man and an older one, and train tracks were significant in his, Larionov's, life.
The other main character, Solovyov, has many associations with trains too, but he also has strong connections to Larionov because the White Army General is the subject of the history thesis Solovyov is researching. So the cover image could show Solovyov walking along thinking about General Larionov who himself is thinking back on his life since his memoirs feature significantly in the story.
As you have probably gathered, I found the structure of this novel very clever and interesting. There were times however when I thought of abandoning it because, like a thesis, it contained enormous amounts of material. And I don't mean the history parts—I loved those. I mean all the secondary characters and the details of their stories. It was difficult to maintain interest in such a 'baggy' novel especially when the translation made the writing feel stodgy. If I kept on reading, it was because the author mentioned so many Russian writers and so many areas of Russia that have become familiar to me during the last three months—which I spent revelling in the writings of Sasha Sokolov, Mikhail Lermontov, Alexandr Pushkin, Nikolai Leskov, Lev Tolstoy, Andrei Bely, Yuri Tynyanov, Anton Chekhov and Nicolai Gogol. Because of them, I remained patient with Evgenij Vololazkin, and he rewarded me in the end. The final section was riveting!
I hear he has two further books that sound as if they've been better edited. I may read them.
June 15, 2019
Reading this novel is something like watching the most talented pastry chef ever born as he meticulously gathers the most exquisite, delicious, expensive ingredients ever--and here you are, thinking that he’s about to make the world’s most perfect dessert--but instead he throws all the ingredients into a big bowl and walks away.
September 26, 2019
Eugene Vodolazkin is a modern-day Russian author who was born in Kiev and resides in St. Petersburg. He has written three novels. These three works have been released to the international world out of order. If you have heard of any of them, it was probably Laurus, which met with great acclaim and received several prestigious awards. However, Solovyov and Larionov is the first of the series, his freshman effort, and I mention this because I suspect it makes a difference.
I have, in the past, referred to Harold Bloom's assertion that criticism is a form of memoir. Vodolazkin twists this premise to contend that history, from the vantage of the historian, is also a form of memoir - that an examination of the past is an examination of the self and informs, in a very direct and intimate manner, the life of the historian. As his case in point he presents Solovyov, a young student who has chosen as his focus of study the famous General Larionov, head of the White Army at the close of the Russian Civil War.
We travel with Solovyov to Crimea, the last stand of the Whites at the tail-end of that war. It was here that so many boarded ships in defeat and left their homeland forever. In terms of poignancy, this exodus ranks second only to the execution of the Romanovs in the annals of this conflict and is deeply moving ground for any reader of history. One can only imagine how much more fully it moves the Russian soul.
Solovyov's journey to this final frontier is twined with that of General Larionov; present day and past interweaving at this nexus point of landscape. It is all too easy to slip from the life of boy to man as the landmarks are sighted and witnesses encountered. The puzzle here, and quite possibly the reason all are so intrigued by the mighty general, is that he did not die in battle, did not board a ship, and was not put to death by the Red Army. Instead, he was permitted to live out the rest of his life under a loose form of house arrest. All remain at a loss for the reason why.
This novel has all the weight of the work of the great Russian writers. Vodolazkin is a contender, there's no question about it. One of the scenes that locked this truth in for me took place at a train station. Our student is waiting for the local and polishing off his beer. He spots a peasant with a sack across the way. An itinerant woman approaches.
"May I have the bottle?"
Solovyov nodded. The lady swished what was left at the bottom of the bottle and pressed it to her mouth. She sat down on Solovyov's bench (the bottle was sent into the bag with a clink). Leaned against the back. Pulled a cigarette butt out of the bin and lit it with delight.
A piglet hopped out of the peasant's sack, squealed, and began running around the platform. It was afraid to jump down. The peasant (they are capable of this) caught the piglet without losing his dignity. Put it in the sack and tied it. Lit a cigarette.
"And that's the end of democracy," said the bottle collector.
Damn.
This said, there were seams in the overall course of this story. Certain transitions didn't sing the way one got the sense they'd been meant to. And I can assert this because a major, and rather earth-shattering connection occurred in the final stages of this tale that was nothing short of rhapsodic in its delivery. Again, I'm going to point to the fact that this was his freshman effort. I hold little doubt Vodolazkin has grown into his promise through those succeeding works.
Of course, I'll have to read them to see.
Lucky me.
I have, in the past, referred to Harold Bloom's assertion that criticism is a form of memoir. Vodolazkin twists this premise to contend that history, from the vantage of the historian, is also a form of memoir - that an examination of the past is an examination of the self and informs, in a very direct and intimate manner, the life of the historian. As his case in point he presents Solovyov, a young student who has chosen as his focus of study the famous General Larionov, head of the White Army at the close of the Russian Civil War.
We travel with Solovyov to Crimea, the last stand of the Whites at the tail-end of that war. It was here that so many boarded ships in defeat and left their homeland forever. In terms of poignancy, this exodus ranks second only to the execution of the Romanovs in the annals of this conflict and is deeply moving ground for any reader of history. One can only imagine how much more fully it moves the Russian soul.
Solovyov's journey to this final frontier is twined with that of General Larionov; present day and past interweaving at this nexus point of landscape. It is all too easy to slip from the life of boy to man as the landmarks are sighted and witnesses encountered. The puzzle here, and quite possibly the reason all are so intrigued by the mighty general, is that he did not die in battle, did not board a ship, and was not put to death by the Red Army. Instead, he was permitted to live out the rest of his life under a loose form of house arrest. All remain at a loss for the reason why.
This novel has all the weight of the work of the great Russian writers. Vodolazkin is a contender, there's no question about it. One of the scenes that locked this truth in for me took place at a train station. Our student is waiting for the local and polishing off his beer. He spots a peasant with a sack across the way. An itinerant woman approaches.
"May I have the bottle?"
Solovyov nodded. The lady swished what was left at the bottom of the bottle and pressed it to her mouth. She sat down on Solovyov's bench (the bottle was sent into the bag with a clink). Leaned against the back. Pulled a cigarette butt out of the bin and lit it with delight.
A piglet hopped out of the peasant's sack, squealed, and began running around the platform. It was afraid to jump down. The peasant (they are capable of this) caught the piglet without losing his dignity. Put it in the sack and tied it. Lit a cigarette.
"And that's the end of democracy," said the bottle collector.
Damn.
This said, there were seams in the overall course of this story. Certain transitions didn't sing the way one got the sense they'd been meant to. And I can assert this because a major, and rather earth-shattering connection occurred in the final stages of this tale that was nothing short of rhapsodic in its delivery. Again, I'm going to point to the fact that this was his freshman effort. I hold little doubt Vodolazkin has grown into his promise through those succeeding works.
Of course, I'll have to read them to see.
Lucky me.
October 16, 2019
An interesting book - perhaps not the best starting point for anyone not new to Vodolazkin, as knowledge a lot of Russian history is assumed. It would be better to start with Laurus.
The two men mentioned in the title are Solovyov, a present day scholar from an obscure hamlett by a minor station on a railway line who has an academic post in St Petersburg, who is studying the life of the second, General Larionov, a late White Russian general who survived in mysterious circumstances despite being caught by the Red Army after his army's last stand in Crimea. These two stories intertwine to create a complex web of fact and speculation.
The two men mentioned in the title are Solovyov, a present day scholar from an obscure hamlett by a minor station on a railway line who has an academic post in St Petersburg, who is studying the life of the second, General Larionov, a late White Russian general who survived in mysterious circumstances despite being caught by the Red Army after his army's last stand in Crimea. These two stories intertwine to create a complex web of fact and speculation.
February 11, 2021
This is free for Audible-Plus members. I cannot highly recommend it though. I hope my review makes clear why.
Solovyov is a graduate student at St. Petersburg University. He is working on his dissertation about the famed White Army general Larionov (1882 – 1876) who led the last stand against the Bolsheviks in Crimea in 1920. Solovyov and Larionov are the novel’s two central protagonists. They are fictional, but one cannot help but compare Larionov to Pyotr Wrangel (1879 – 1928), the actual commanding general of the anti-Bolshevik White Army in Southern Russia during the last stages of the Russian Civil War. Similarities and differences are to be found in the choices made by the fictional versus non-fictional man. Solovyov has been awarded a stipend and travels to Kerch in the Crimea to take part in a conference on Larionov, the very man he is studying! Professor Dupont, a French academic and considered the leading expert on the late general, admires Solovyov’s work and she helps him get the stipend. The year is 1996. He is off to the conference and will at the same time search for documents that are missing.
The more one knows of Russian history, the more a reader will get out of the book. At the start, I looked up name after name and found them all to be fictional. I got fed up and stopped looking. Names are changed; one must have adequate knowledge to know who in real life is being referred to and what the author is saying by altering actual events. Pyotr Wrangel is never once mentioned!
There is humor in the lines—but again, I don’t think I got all of that is implied, only the most obvious jabs. There is a joke about Yeltsin and the speed of the mail in Dostoyevky’s time compared to current mail delivery times. The humor is satirical. Academia, historical analyses, Russian ways and politics bear the brunt of the humor. The satire is blatant, it is the one message the book makes perfectly clear.
The telling flips between different time periods and places. The lives of both Solovyov and Larionov are covered in flashbacks. In this way we view and compare Russian life in Tzarist, Soviet and contemporary times. Irony pushes readers to ask what has improved. Movement and the passage of time rather than an end position is a repeated theme. Railroads figure prominently. I am not sure what the author wants said! The hopping back and forth is confusing, and numerous sidetracks disrupt the forward flow of the tale. The end is left open.
The writing style is not consistent. It varies from dry academic accounts of military details and battles, to melancholic meanderings concerning life and death, to both tame and more piquant, risqué sexual encounters meant to add excitement. That the mood switches so dramatically makes the reading experience choppy.
The book is translated by Lisa C. Hayden. We are told that she wove the content of the original Russian edition’s numerous footnotes into the central text in the English edition. This could be why sections are tedious.
Women are not portrayed in a nuanced fashion. They are willing partners to whatever their counterparts wish.
On the positive side, the book pushed me to seek out information on what actually happened with the fall of the White Army. My research led me to Pyotr Wrangel, about whom I knew nothing before. Although the story told is different from reality on several points, it does give one a feel for the events that unrolled in 1920 in the Crimea.
Stefan Rudnicki reads the audiobook clearly and distinctly. I like the narration, but it was no “wow experience”. His narration I have given three stars.
Solovyov is a graduate student at St. Petersburg University. He is working on his dissertation about the famed White Army general Larionov (1882 – 1876) who led the last stand against the Bolsheviks in Crimea in 1920. Solovyov and Larionov are the novel’s two central protagonists. They are fictional, but one cannot help but compare Larionov to Pyotr Wrangel (1879 – 1928), the actual commanding general of the anti-Bolshevik White Army in Southern Russia during the last stages of the Russian Civil War. Similarities and differences are to be found in the choices made by the fictional versus non-fictional man. Solovyov has been awarded a stipend and travels to Kerch in the Crimea to take part in a conference on Larionov, the very man he is studying! Professor Dupont, a French academic and considered the leading expert on the late general, admires Solovyov’s work and she helps him get the stipend. The year is 1996. He is off to the conference and will at the same time search for documents that are missing.
The more one knows of Russian history, the more a reader will get out of the book. At the start, I looked up name after name and found them all to be fictional. I got fed up and stopped looking. Names are changed; one must have adequate knowledge to know who in real life is being referred to and what the author is saying by altering actual events. Pyotr Wrangel is never once mentioned!
There is humor in the lines—but again, I don’t think I got all of that is implied, only the most obvious jabs. There is a joke about Yeltsin and the speed of the mail in Dostoyevky’s time compared to current mail delivery times. The humor is satirical. Academia, historical analyses, Russian ways and politics bear the brunt of the humor. The satire is blatant, it is the one message the book makes perfectly clear.
The telling flips between different time periods and places. The lives of both Solovyov and Larionov are covered in flashbacks. In this way we view and compare Russian life in Tzarist, Soviet and contemporary times. Irony pushes readers to ask what has improved. Movement and the passage of time rather than an end position is a repeated theme. Railroads figure prominently. I am not sure what the author wants said! The hopping back and forth is confusing, and numerous sidetracks disrupt the forward flow of the tale. The end is left open.
The writing style is not consistent. It varies from dry academic accounts of military details and battles, to melancholic meanderings concerning life and death, to both tame and more piquant, risqué sexual encounters meant to add excitement. That the mood switches so dramatically makes the reading experience choppy.
The book is translated by Lisa C. Hayden. We are told that she wove the content of the original Russian edition’s numerous footnotes into the central text in the English edition. This could be why sections are tedious.
Women are not portrayed in a nuanced fashion. They are willing partners to whatever their counterparts wish.
On the positive side, the book pushed me to seek out information on what actually happened with the fall of the White Army. My research led me to Pyotr Wrangel, about whom I knew nothing before. Although the story told is different from reality on several points, it does give one a feel for the events that unrolled in 1920 in the Crimea.
Stefan Rudnicki reads the audiobook clearly and distinctly. I like the narration, but it was no “wow experience”. His narration I have given three stars.
August 25, 2023
Solovyov is a young historian writing his thesis on General Larionov, who somehow had avoided execution and lived to old age, despite supporting the losing side in the Russian Revolution. Solovyov travels to Crimea to research Larionov’s life. Along the way he meets a variety of eccentric characters. This book is a combination of mystery, historical fiction, and coming-of-age. It is densely written in a literary style and contains subtle humor. It takes a while to get moving. It switches back and forth in time, and the passage of time is one of its themes. The flow is a bit uneven. Sometimes it is a dry recitation of details about military battles, other times it ventures into philosophical musings about life and death, and all this is interspersed with the sexual antics of young Solovyov. It is not a particularly satisfying mystery, so I would not read it to find out exactly what happened. This was Vodolazkin’s debut. I liked it well enough, but I much prefer his later books, Laurus and A History of the Island.
October 18, 2015
Spicuiri din recenzia finala care se gaseste pe blogul meu
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E clar pentru mine că Vodolazkin încă nu și-a găsit drumul în Soloviov și Larionov și că este în căutarea poveștii și a unor personaje strălucitoare care să-l ajute în a-și evidenția scriitura și talentul. În același timp, date fiind anumite evenimente ușor absurde, ca să nu spun idioate din carte, tind să cred că unele fragmente din viața lui Arseni s-ar putea să fi fost pur și simplu nimerite din greșeală și nu datorită unui talent fenomenal sau unei inteligențe artistice geniale… Pur și simplu Vodolazkin nu se înțelege deloc cu simbolistica în această carte. Or exagerează prea mult, or nu finalizează ideea, or o expune cu o nonșalantă puerilitate și o lasă să atârne de ochiul cititorului să facă acesta ce vrea cu ea.
În fine, nu cred că sunt mulți cititori care să ducă la bun sfârșit această carte și sunt sigur că cei care citesc mai întâi Soloviov și Larionov nu vor fi curioși de Laur. Poate că era mai bine să nu se traducă acest volum…
De ce 2 stele: pentru că e greoaie, anevoioasă, plictisitoare, incompletă, nefinisată și cu personaje părăsite de suflet și caracter. Păcat. Inițial i-am dat 3 stele însă doar pentru că-mi este foarte drag Vodolazkin ca și autor de Laur. Din păcate cartea asta nu merită 3 stele.
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E clar pentru mine că Vodolazkin încă nu și-a găsit drumul în Soloviov și Larionov și că este în căutarea poveștii și a unor personaje strălucitoare care să-l ajute în a-și evidenția scriitura și talentul. În același timp, date fiind anumite evenimente ușor absurde, ca să nu spun idioate din carte, tind să cred că unele fragmente din viața lui Arseni s-ar putea să fi fost pur și simplu nimerite din greșeală și nu datorită unui talent fenomenal sau unei inteligențe artistice geniale… Pur și simplu Vodolazkin nu se înțelege deloc cu simbolistica în această carte. Or exagerează prea mult, or nu finalizează ideea, or o expune cu o nonșalantă puerilitate și o lasă să atârne de ochiul cititorului să facă acesta ce vrea cu ea.
În fine, nu cred că sunt mulți cititori care să ducă la bun sfârșit această carte și sunt sigur că cei care citesc mai întâi Soloviov și Larionov nu vor fi curioși de Laur. Poate că era mai bine să nu se traducă acest volum…
De ce 2 stele: pentru că e greoaie, anevoioasă, plictisitoare, incompletă, nefinisată și cu personaje părăsite de suflet și caracter. Păcat. Inițial i-am dat 3 stele însă doar pentru că-mi este foarte drag Vodolazkin ca și autor de Laur. Din păcate cartea asta nu merită 3 stele.
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March 28, 2022
Odată cu noul context geopolitic, am reluat romanul lui Vodolazkin, întrerupt dupa aproximativ o sută de pagini acum doi ani, în ideea de a căuta farmecul întâmplărilor de război ale generalului Larionov. Ei bine, tot nu l-am găsit, dar în schimb am reușit să-l termin și chiar să rămân cu această secvență de dialog a lui Soloviov cu dirigintele postei:
„Când dirigintele poștei apăru, Soloviov îi arată în tăcere ștampila cu data expedierii.
-O lună, spuse dirigintele. Se intâmplă și mai rău. Se-ntâmplă chiar să nu ajungă.
-Scrisorile lui Dostoievski făceau din Germania cinci zile, își informă Soloviov interlocutorul.
-Dostoievski era un geniu, replică dirigintele.”
„Când dirigintele poștei apăru, Soloviov îi arată în tăcere ștampila cu data expedierii.
-O lună, spuse dirigintele. Se intâmplă și mai rău. Se-ntâmplă chiar să nu ajungă.
-Scrisorile lui Dostoievski făceau din Germania cinci zile, își informă Soloviov interlocutorul.
-Dostoievski era un geniu, replică dirigintele.”
May 7, 2019
Solovyov is a naïve young scholor who has been given the topic of General Larionov for his thesis. General Larionov was a commander in the White Russian Army during the Russian Civil War. The mystery surrounding him is why Larionov was allowed to live the remainder of his life following the war in the new Soviet Union. He was even given a pension by the soviets. Solovyov goes to Yalta where Larionov last lived to find some lost wages of Larionov’s memoir in an effort to solve this mystery. Along the way, he meets a host of unique characters.
This book is a very unique blend of literary genres. The author has a dry wit and I enjoyed his humorous satire. I’m sure I missed some of the satirical references due to not being Russian but there were quite a few that I understood. The military history could be somewhat dry at times and sometimes quite interesting. Solovyov is a very likeable character and I enjoyed the romantic parts of the book and the fun that Vodolazkin poked at his main character. It was a bit slow taking off but once it did, I became captivated by this Russian tale with all of its stories within a story. This is a true Russian novel with all the complications that Russian novels entail.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
This book is a very unique blend of literary genres. The author has a dry wit and I enjoyed his humorous satire. I’m sure I missed some of the satirical references due to not being Russian but there were quite a few that I understood. The military history could be somewhat dry at times and sometimes quite interesting. Solovyov is a very likeable character and I enjoyed the romantic parts of the book and the fun that Vodolazkin poked at his main character. It was a bit slow taking off but once it did, I became captivated by this Russian tale with all of its stories within a story. This is a true Russian novel with all the complications that Russian novels entail.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
October 13, 2019
Vodolazkin is one of my favorite authors (via Lisa Hayden's translation), so a warnng that this isn't a Vodolazkin starter book. Read the brilliant Laurus and the excellent The Aviator first, and then if you love what you read there, you'll be prepared to fight or skim through the tedious sections to find the gold. One of the best parts of Vodolazkin's writing for me is the way he buries slapstick scenes in a writing style that is otherwise very considered and contemplative. It reminds me of Eddie Izzard's description of Monty Python's humor as "intellectual silliness".
March 4, 2018
This remarkable novel is centered around the idea that the research process is inevitably a journey towards discovering one's self. A bit slow in the beginning, but captivating towards the end, the novel tackles profound themes, developing on multiple levels, all connected by the thread of a young historian's research endeavor.
April 7, 2022
Vodolazkin rămâne extraordinar la cât de bine documentate sunt datele cărților sale, iar aceasta nu face excepție.
Soloviov îi cercetează, într-o lucrare științifică, viața generalului Larionov, care conducea armata albă din timpul războiului civil in Rusia. Am fost surprinsă să văd cât de ușor schimbau rușii taberele pentru un câștig puțin mai mare și cât de sarcastic este Vodolaskin privind acest caracter de mercenar.
Povestea se construiește în două planuri, cel din perspectiva lui Soloviov, care amestecă acțiunea sa puțin detectivistică cu iubirea (în special pentru Lisa, pe care o suspectează a fi rudă cu Larionov) și planul cu povestea generalului.
Totuși, cred că este cartea care mi-a plăcut cel mai puțin dintre cărțile sale. Dacă ar fi fost prima carte citita, nu știu dacă aș fi făcut pasiunea pe care o am azi pentru Evgheni Vodolaskin. Poate pentru că e prea mult detaliu istoric, ca intr-o carte SF, iar detaliile, cronologia sacadată, mi-au distrus focusul. Parcă nu am reușit să portretizez foarte bine personajele în imaginația mea. "Maybe is me".
Soloviov îi cercetează, într-o lucrare științifică, viața generalului Larionov, care conducea armata albă din timpul războiului civil in Rusia. Am fost surprinsă să văd cât de ușor schimbau rușii taberele pentru un câștig puțin mai mare și cât de sarcastic este Vodolaskin privind acest caracter de mercenar.
Povestea se construiește în două planuri, cel din perspectiva lui Soloviov, care amestecă acțiunea sa puțin detectivistică cu iubirea (în special pentru Lisa, pe care o suspectează a fi rudă cu Larionov) și planul cu povestea generalului.
Totuși, cred că este cartea care mi-a plăcut cel mai puțin dintre cărțile sale. Dacă ar fi fost prima carte citita, nu știu dacă aș fi făcut pasiunea pe care o am azi pentru Evgheni Vodolaskin. Poate pentru că e prea mult detaliu istoric, ca intr-o carte SF, iar detaliile, cronologia sacadată, mi-au distrus focusul. Parcă nu am reușit să portretizez foarte bine personajele în imaginația mea. "Maybe is me".
March 16, 2021
O carte surprinzatoare, o demonstratie a faptului ca istoria este subiectiva, o critica amuzanta a lumii academice care se lupta la zeci de ani dupa evenimente, cu argumentele notelor de subsol, in articole de specialitate sau in conferinte care frizeaza absurdul, in timp ce viata a fost si va fi in alta parte, poate pe malul marii, poate in amintirile dintr-un satuc cu sase case, poate intr-o act sexual desfasurat pe fuga intr-un muzeu...
Nicio poveste nu este spusa pana la capat, nici cea a tanarului istoric Soloviov, contemporan cititorului, nici cea a generalului Larionov, a carui aura fascineaza inca. Pentru ca, daca ar fi elucidata vreo poveste, nu ar mai exista istorici...
Nicio poveste nu este spusa pana la capat, nici cea a tanarului istoric Soloviov, contemporan cititorului, nici cea a generalului Larionov, a carui aura fascineaza inca. Pentru ca, daca ar fi elucidata vreo poveste, nu ar mai exista istorici...
October 13, 2015
La pomul laudat...sa nu te duci cu sacul
Era cat pe ce sa ii acord trei stele, dar numai pentru ca era sa confund usurarea datorata faptului ca am reusit s-o termin si inca in deplinatatea facultatilor mintale :D (exagerez, dar numai putin) cu o oarecare placere a lecturii. Nu e cazul. E adevarat ca partea finala (ultimele 20 de pagini sa zicem), precum si unele pasaje in care se incearca sa se filosofeze pe tema mortii nu sunt cu totul rele, ba chiar reusite intrucatva, dar notele astea disparate intr-un haos total nu reusesc sa salveze mare lucru.
Am tot stat si m-am intrebat cum a putut cineva care a creat minunea de "Laur" sa scrie asa ceva. Totusi, cunosc destui oameni (si eu sunt unul din ei) care reusesc sa aiba comportamente complet tampe uneori, iar alterori sunt sclipitori. Asa ca...asta e.
Revenind la o oarecare argumentatie logica-desi impresiile mele sunt pur subiective-,de unde avalansa asta de dezamagire?...
In primul rand prima si a doua parte par complet rupte una de alta (prima parte terminandu-se in opinia mea odata cu plecarea lui Soloviov din Ialta), parca ar fi doua povesti diferite. Personajele apar si dispar fara nici o noima si/sau explicatie: ce rol a avut Zoia (in afara de a fi protagonista unor scene erotice de o calitate foarte proasta), de ce nu se mai spune nimic de ea, desi mare parte din prima parte a romanului abunda in descrieri amanuntite ale ei si ale trairilor ei, mi-a fost peste putinta sa pricep. Dunia, la fel. Dispare efectiv ca magarul in ceata, iar rolul ei e si mai neclar. Eventual sa interpretez ca cele doua au avut darul de a-l face pe blegomanul de Soloviov sa intelega ca o iubeste pe Liza? Nu reiese.
Liza, la randul ei, e o iluzie. Finalul romanului nu confirma nimic, asa incat e si ea pe acolo ca sa fie, iar nu pricep de ce, o prima femeie clar a existat in viata fiecarui barbat, dar asta nu e suficient pentru a face din ea protagonista unei iubiri de roman. Ca mi-am adus aminte. Tot romanul m-a bantuit amintirea Larei si a lui Doctor Jivago...ei, la ceva de genul asta ma asteptam...:P Cine a citit isi aminteste cu siguranta momentele acelea incredibile cand cei doi locuiesc in palatul inghetat si descrierea gandurilor si trairilor lor. Avand eu asa ceva in minte va dati seama de unde am cazut citind scenele cu Zoia sau amintirile fade despre Liza....
Deci personajele apar si dispar. Imi notasem si cateva scene ca nuca in perete, care frizeaza absurdul. Aia cu pitigoiul care da cu capul de toti peretii (la propriu) si apoi e lasat sa zboare afara, in plina ninsoare (!!!) e cea mai cea. N-am reusit sa-i gasesc nici o logica sau simbolistica.
Apoi, in ciuda firului narativ complex si a informatiilor istorice care abunda, cartea asta e ca berea fara alcool sau cafeaua fara cofeina s.a. Ii lipseste ceva, nu are nerv. Cred ca ii lipseste viata. E drept ca e o carte (si) despre moarte. Dar si "Laur" e si nu ajungi epuizat la finalul lecturii :)) Din contra...
De Soloviov n-am nimic de bine de zis. Acest personaj, pe care autorul il vrea barbat fatal am impresia, mi-a parut complet amorf, inert. Nu mi-a creat nici o traire, sentiment, instinct, orice, ceva acolo...in afara de o plictiseala colosala. Inutil sa spun ca Arseni/Laur mi-a placut din copilarie pana la moarte...
Un ultim avertisment temerarilor care vor dori s-o citeasca: cartea curge, curge, cuuuuurge monotooooon, egal, parca mergi cu dricul spre cimitir :D Cumplit. Bine c-am ispravit-o. Nu gasesc o piesa muzicala potrivita. Daca n-o aveam cu autograf, scapam rapid de ea. Doua stele pentru pasajul de final. Atat.
Era cat pe ce sa ii acord trei stele, dar numai pentru ca era sa confund usurarea datorata faptului ca am reusit s-o termin si inca in deplinatatea facultatilor mintale :D (exagerez, dar numai putin) cu o oarecare placere a lecturii. Nu e cazul. E adevarat ca partea finala (ultimele 20 de pagini sa zicem), precum si unele pasaje in care se incearca sa se filosofeze pe tema mortii nu sunt cu totul rele, ba chiar reusite intrucatva, dar notele astea disparate intr-un haos total nu reusesc sa salveze mare lucru.
Am tot stat si m-am intrebat cum a putut cineva care a creat minunea de "Laur" sa scrie asa ceva. Totusi, cunosc destui oameni (si eu sunt unul din ei) care reusesc sa aiba comportamente complet tampe uneori, iar alterori sunt sclipitori. Asa ca...asta e.
Revenind la o oarecare argumentatie logica-desi impresiile mele sunt pur subiective-,de unde avalansa asta de dezamagire?...
In primul rand prima si a doua parte par complet rupte una de alta (prima parte terminandu-se in opinia mea odata cu plecarea lui Soloviov din Ialta), parca ar fi doua povesti diferite. Personajele apar si dispar fara nici o noima si/sau explicatie: ce rol a avut Zoia (in afara de a fi protagonista unor scene erotice de o calitate foarte proasta), de ce nu se mai spune nimic de ea, desi mare parte din prima parte a romanului abunda in descrieri amanuntite ale ei si ale trairilor ei, mi-a fost peste putinta sa pricep. Dunia, la fel. Dispare efectiv ca magarul in ceata, iar rolul ei e si mai neclar. Eventual sa interpretez ca cele doua au avut darul de a-l face pe blegomanul de Soloviov sa intelega ca o iubeste pe Liza? Nu reiese.
Liza, la randul ei, e o iluzie. Finalul romanului nu confirma nimic, asa incat e si ea pe acolo ca sa fie, iar nu pricep de ce, o prima femeie clar a existat in viata fiecarui barbat, dar asta nu e suficient pentru a face din ea protagonista unei iubiri de roman. Ca mi-am adus aminte. Tot romanul m-a bantuit amintirea Larei si a lui Doctor Jivago...ei, la ceva de genul asta ma asteptam...:P Cine a citit isi aminteste cu siguranta momentele acelea incredibile cand cei doi locuiesc in palatul inghetat si descrierea gandurilor si trairilor lor. Avand eu asa ceva in minte va dati seama de unde am cazut citind scenele cu Zoia sau amintirile fade despre Liza....
Deci personajele apar si dispar. Imi notasem si cateva scene ca nuca in perete, care frizeaza absurdul. Aia cu pitigoiul care da cu capul de toti peretii (la propriu) si apoi e lasat sa zboare afara, in plina ninsoare (!!!) e cea mai cea. N-am reusit sa-i gasesc nici o logica sau simbolistica.
Apoi, in ciuda firului narativ complex si a informatiilor istorice care abunda, cartea asta e ca berea fara alcool sau cafeaua fara cofeina s.a. Ii lipseste ceva, nu are nerv. Cred ca ii lipseste viata. E drept ca e o carte (si) despre moarte. Dar si "Laur" e si nu ajungi epuizat la finalul lecturii :)) Din contra...
De Soloviov n-am nimic de bine de zis. Acest personaj, pe care autorul il vrea barbat fatal am impresia, mi-a parut complet amorf, inert. Nu mi-a creat nici o traire, sentiment, instinct, orice, ceva acolo...in afara de o plictiseala colosala. Inutil sa spun ca Arseni/Laur mi-a placut din copilarie pana la moarte...
Un ultim avertisment temerarilor care vor dori s-o citeasca: cartea curge, curge, cuuuuurge monotooooon, egal, parca mergi cu dricul spre cimitir :D Cumplit. Bine c-am ispravit-o. Nu gasesc o piesa muzicala potrivita. Daca n-o aveam cu autograf, scapam rapid de ea. Doua stele pentru pasajul de final. Atat.
July 1, 2023
Vodolazkin fuses coming of age, literary detective, and (my favorite bits) academic satire. He stresses the vagaries and limits of memory, history, facts.
December 31, 2018
Ever since reading Wolfgang Hildesheimer's fictitious biography Marbot, I have a weakness for biographies of fictional characters. This book tops them all: It is the biography of a fictional biographer of a fictional general.
Why? Two answers from the book itself:
"No matter what a person studies, above all he is studying himself."
"A person’s life is inexplicable. Only death is explicable."
So this book deals besides an expansive narrative covering a century of Russian history also with the development of two protagonists. This would usually be too much for me (and a fair amount of references to Russian history were certainly lost on me), but Vodolazkin tells his story with a good dose of (Russian) humor. The female cast is a little 1-dimensional, so this should cost 1/2 star, maybe.
Why? Two answers from the book itself:
"No matter what a person studies, above all he is studying himself."
"A person’s life is inexplicable. Only death is explicable."
So this book deals besides an expansive narrative covering a century of Russian history also with the development of two protagonists. This would usually be too much for me (and a fair amount of references to Russian history were certainly lost on me), but Vodolazkin tells his story with a good dose of (Russian) humor. The female cast is a little 1-dimensional, so this should cost 1/2 star, maybe.
July 26, 2020
Salturile in timp in romanele (citite) lui Vodolazkin, n-au doar menirea de naratiune "competitiva" ce pune fata in fata doua sau mai multe epoci, doua sau mai multe generatii. El "povesteste" TIMPUL - gradual, linear, treptat - sub orice forma, in dependenta de cum si-a imaginat el de data asta ca se desfasoara scurgerea lui... Am intalnit aspectul asta la alti doi scriitori si recunosc ca ma fascineaza.
Ideea romanului "Soloviov si Larionov" mi s-a parut tare faina -tine de cercetarile facute despre generalul Larionov, pentru publicarea unei lucrari stiintifice de catre istoricul Soloviov, participarea si asistarea lui la conferinte cu subiectul dat, intalniri neoficiale si deplasarea in Crimeea in acest scop, consultarea diferitor specialisti, toate astea impanzite cu glume din mediul academic, intrun decor caucazian fara egal (ce aminteste de vacantele copilariei), cu marea zbuciumata de la finele unui sezon estival ... Cu toate astea, are destule capitole cu descrierea in detalii a vietii lui Soloviov, a ideilor sale care vin si pleaca in acelasi moment, a parerilor lui asupra lucrurilor ce nu mi-au parut nici interesante, nici la tema si care m-au plictisit rau. Finalul lasat deschis denota ca acea realitate cunoscuta doar noua, se spulbera odata cu plecarea noastra in "alte lumi". Lucrurile nespuse, secretele lasate in urma pot avea orice interpretare postuma, dar niciodata nu vom sti care este cea adevarata.
Ideea romanului "Soloviov si Larionov" mi s-a parut tare faina -tine de cercetarile facute despre generalul Larionov, pentru publicarea unei lucrari stiintifice de catre istoricul Soloviov, participarea si asistarea lui la conferinte cu subiectul dat, intalniri neoficiale si deplasarea in Crimeea in acest scop, consultarea diferitor specialisti, toate astea impanzite cu glume din mediul academic, intrun decor caucazian fara egal (ce aminteste de vacantele copilariei), cu marea zbuciumata de la finele unui sezon estival ... Cu toate astea, are destule capitole cu descrierea in detalii a vietii lui Soloviov, a ideilor sale care vin si pleaca in acelasi moment, a parerilor lui asupra lucrurilor ce nu mi-au parut nici interesante, nici la tema si care m-au plictisit rau. Finalul lasat deschis denota ca acea realitate cunoscuta doar noua, se spulbera odata cu plecarea noastra in "alte lumi". Lucrurile nespuse, secretele lasate in urma pot avea orice interpretare postuma, dar niciodata nu vom sti care este cea adevarata.
July 30, 2020
3.5 stars. Sorry to be wishy-washy, but "really liked it" is a stretch and "liked it" understates my reaction.
I picked this book up because Laurus has been on my TBR list for several years but I've been scared to read it. This seemed like a good introduction to the author's work, and I think it was, even if it did feel like a first novel. I expected the good writing, having read several of Vodolazkin's essays, but his humor was surprising. Certainly parts of this book might infuriate some liberal arts academics, as the intense interest over critical details such as whether the White Russian third infantry comprised 720 or 840 soldiers (paraphrasing, I'm sure I have the details wrong) was played for dry humor to great effect. The author also used slapstick humor effectively.
Much of the book read like a detective story, as the modern-day history student Solovyov tried to figure out why the civil war general Larionov somehow escaped being shot at the end of the war. Surprising (to me at least), the author left this question unanswered but still managed to craft a satisfying and poetic ending.
I think I'm a little less fearful of starting Laurus, but I suspect I'll move on to The Aviator first.
I picked this book up because Laurus has been on my TBR list for several years but I've been scared to read it. This seemed like a good introduction to the author's work, and I think it was, even if it did feel like a first novel. I expected the good writing, having read several of Vodolazkin's essays, but his humor was surprising. Certainly parts of this book might infuriate some liberal arts academics, as the intense interest over critical details such as whether the White Russian third infantry comprised 720 or 840 soldiers (paraphrasing, I'm sure I have the details wrong) was played for dry humor to great effect. The author also used slapstick humor effectively.
Much of the book read like a detective story, as the modern-day history student Solovyov tried to figure out why the civil war general Larionov somehow escaped being shot at the end of the war. Surprising (to me at least), the author left this question unanswered but still managed to craft a satisfying and poetic ending.
I think I'm a little less fearful of starting Laurus, but I suspect I'll move on to The Aviator first.
March 27, 2021
A thoroughly engaging read full of understated, dry humour (often with a political or social point) and ideas. It's like reading one of the best Iris Murdoch novels done in a Russian accent and possibly with more compassion and heart. And very nicely written, which I presume also means very well translated. A number of reviewers have said this is not Vodolazkin's best. If he's written better, that's astonishing. Will have to look them up.
October 16, 2019
There was much to like here, clever ideas about the past dictating the present & insights into a chaotic period of Russian history. Unfortunately it was just too disjointed & I spent too much time reading it with a furrowed brow to try to grip all the ideas which didn’t seem hung on a particularly clear narrative.
March 3, 2020
Ну ничего себе, последние несколько рецензий на "Соловьева и Ларионова" - от читателей-иностранцев, и всем более-менее даже нравится, i'm shocked. Многие, кстати, пишут о том, что любовь к одной книге Водолазкина влечет за собой любовь к другим книгам Водолазкина; я тоже люблю про него так говорить, а еще, кстати, про Аствацатурова; тут бы подумать о том, что я могу сказать про других русских авторов, про других петербургских авторов и про авторов-филологов; совпадения могут быть как случайными, так и не очень. В общем, я-то точно не люблю Водолазкина, но не могу списывать со счетов "Лавр", потому что он совершенно особенный, эталонный роман филолога, роман, который вряд ли удастся повторить. "Авиатор" и "Брисбен" - just a беллетристика, ничего особенного. Это чувствуется, как мне кажется, и по тому, как эти тексты читаются: "Лавр" невозможно прям проглотить, а "Авиатор" и "Брисбен" - прям вещички для массового читателя. "Соловьев и Ларионов", как можно догадаться, отстоит от них. "Соловьев и Ларионов" явно вещь крайне важная для автора, но намного менее важная для читателей: "Соловьев и Ларионов" - это пародия на научный труд, на весь научный образ жизни, это возведение его в совершеннейший абсурд одновременно с преклонением перед гуманитарными науками, демонстрация того, как ученый сливается с объектом своего изучения, как изучение правой подмышки третьего рядового в строю второстепенного сражения какой-нибудь там войны может привести к выводам вселенского масштаба - вселенского хотя бы в пределах жизни одного конкретного человека.
Короче, Соловьев - это тот, кого у нас любят называть молодым ученым, историк. Он изучает жизнь белого генерала Ларионова, про которого непонятно, как он смог дожить до старости и не быть убитым большевиками, при этом не уезжая из России (потому что он великий человек, безусловно, а время, тем более историческое - очень ненадежная материя). У жизненных путей Соловьева и Ларионова есть удивительные пересечения, очень красивый фатализм. И все это укладывается в огромное количество мелких-мелких фактов, незначительных деталей, очаровательных и не очень красивостей, как будто не 350, а все 500 страниц.
И очень много всего по-доброму смешного (и по-доброму сексистского, увы, у Водолазкина, кажется, иначе никак; у него если похоть - то джентльменская; меня же от этого тошнит, давайте, чуваки, если похоть, то обычно, без вот этих вот реверансов и вздохов о женской природе). Моя любимая шутка - как он в незначительном каком-то вопросе ссылается сразу на все выпуски "Трудов по знаковым системами". Да и вообще сам прием вставки ссылок на научные выдуманные и невыдуманные труды прямо посреди художественного текста хороший. Топорный, может, но хороший.
Короче, Соловьев - это тот, кого у нас любят называть молодым ученым, историк. Он изучает жизнь белого генерала Ларионова, про которого непонятно, как он смог дожить до старости и не быть убитым большевиками, при этом не уезжая из России (потому что он великий человек, безусловно, а время, тем более историческое - очень ненадежная материя). У жизненных путей Соловьева и Ларионова есть удивительные пересечения, очень красивый фатализм. И все это укладывается в огромное количество мелких-мелких фактов, незначительных деталей, очаровательных и не очень красивостей, как будто не 350, а все 500 страниц.
И очень много всего по-доброму смешного (и по-доброму сексистского, увы, у Водолазкина, кажется, иначе никак; у него если похоть - то джентльменская; меня же от этого тошнит, давайте, чуваки, если похоть, то обычно, без вот этих вот реверансов и вздохов о женской природе). Моя любимая шутка - как он в незначительном каком-то вопросе ссылается сразу на все выпуски "Трудов по знаковым системами". Да и вообще сам прием вставки ссылок на научные выдуманные и невыдуманные труды прямо посреди художественного текста хороший. Топорный, может, но хороший.
January 28, 2020
I picked this up following a recommendation knowing nothing of the book or author and only vaguely recalling his novel Laurus being nominated for international booker so it was a joy to read a wonderfully told story about events in the civil war post 1917 Russian revolution from the perspective of one of the generals in the White Army.
The plot is based around a young historian Soloyov who studying in Petersburg army is preparing a paper to present on General Larionov, hero of the white army, who inflicts a defeat outside Yalta on the attacking Red Army and then organises an audacious escapee for his army from certain annihilation as his army then seeks to retreat. The first 50 to 100 pages take a little adjusting both to the style, the names and the history of both men Larionov being from a long line of generals and Soloyov having grown up living next to a remote train station before moving into academia.
On going to Yalta to present a paper in a symposium on Larionov he meets a woman called Zoya who introduces him to people with connections to the general through living in the apartment block where he had ended his days.
It is at this point that the book changes from a page turning adventure to find the generals missing journals with brilliant comic effect and characters and stories that are both funny and also reflective of the fragility of life in the post revolution state. The book gives us the generals history as Solovyov discovers fragments the generals life including childhood , the war and subsequent life whilst also telling of Soloyov' s history his loves and losses.
The book draws to a close with an account of the White army's final retreat with descriptions of war which vividly juxtapose against the at time farcical chapters that precede .
This was a book that I knew nothing about at the outset and had been unaware of so it was a joy to pick up a novel and be totally absorbed from beginning to end and with the readers dilemma where you do not want to finish the read but cannot stop turning the pages. I will definitely be hunting more by the author.
The plot is based around a young historian Soloyov who studying in Petersburg army is preparing a paper to present on General Larionov, hero of the white army, who inflicts a defeat outside Yalta on the attacking Red Army and then organises an audacious escapee for his army from certain annihilation as his army then seeks to retreat. The first 50 to 100 pages take a little adjusting both to the style, the names and the history of both men Larionov being from a long line of generals and Soloyov having grown up living next to a remote train station before moving into academia.
On going to Yalta to present a paper in a symposium on Larionov he meets a woman called Zoya who introduces him to people with connections to the general through living in the apartment block where he had ended his days.
It is at this point that the book changes from a page turning adventure to find the generals missing journals with brilliant comic effect and characters and stories that are both funny and also reflective of the fragility of life in the post revolution state. The book gives us the generals history as Solovyov discovers fragments the generals life including childhood , the war and subsequent life whilst also telling of Soloyov' s history his loves and losses.
The book draws to a close with an account of the White army's final retreat with descriptions of war which vividly juxtapose against the at time farcical chapters that precede .
This was a book that I knew nothing about at the outset and had been unaware of so it was a joy to pick up a novel and be totally absorbed from beginning to end and with the readers dilemma where you do not want to finish the read but cannot stop turning the pages. I will definitely be hunting more by the author.
December 30, 2018
SOLOVYOV AND LARIONOV
EUGENE VODOLAZKIN
by Eugene Vodolazkin (Author)
Great Storyline with Lots of Interesting Facts Inside. Great Efforts of Author To Create Such A Great Storyline.
This Is A Translation of Russian Novel And I Like The Way Book Written Straight Forward Concept
The Main Chracters in this book SOLOVYOV AND LARIONOV.
Larionov. A general of the Imperial Russian Army who mysteriously avoided execution by the Bolsheviks when they swept to power and went on to live a long life in Yalta, leaving behind a vast heritage of memoirs.& Solovyov. The young history student, who travels to Crimea, determined to find out how Larionov evaded capture after the 1917 revolution.
As Both Characters play An Important Role And The Characters Designed In A Way That Audience Stick With Book To Get A Climax.
As The Book Is Excellent For Reading And You feel To Stick While Turning The Pages of This Book As Each And Every Page Itself Contains A Facts And Journey To Reach The Destination In Terms of Reading. I Personally Enjoy Reading This Book And Strongly Recommend Other Readers To Read Once This Ultimate Novel By Russian Author, As With Difference With Others.
What I Like In The Book Is Selection of Characters And Attachment With The Storyline By The Author In A Most Disciplined Way And By Selection of Straightforward Storyline For The Readers So You Can Maximum Joy The Reading of This Book.
Also Book has A twist of Russian History Through The Characters of The Novel.
Final Verdict For This Book Is Great Book And Strong Recommendation To Read
EUGENE VODOLAZKIN
by Eugene Vodolazkin (Author)
Great Storyline with Lots of Interesting Facts Inside. Great Efforts of Author To Create Such A Great Storyline.
This Is A Translation of Russian Novel And I Like The Way Book Written Straight Forward Concept
The Main Chracters in this book SOLOVYOV AND LARIONOV.
Larionov. A general of the Imperial Russian Army who mysteriously avoided execution by the Bolsheviks when they swept to power and went on to live a long life in Yalta, leaving behind a vast heritage of memoirs.& Solovyov. The young history student, who travels to Crimea, determined to find out how Larionov evaded capture after the 1917 revolution.
As Both Characters play An Important Role And The Characters Designed In A Way That Audience Stick With Book To Get A Climax.
As The Book Is Excellent For Reading And You feel To Stick While Turning The Pages of This Book As Each And Every Page Itself Contains A Facts And Journey To Reach The Destination In Terms of Reading. I Personally Enjoy Reading This Book And Strongly Recommend Other Readers To Read Once This Ultimate Novel By Russian Author, As With Difference With Others.
What I Like In The Book Is Selection of Characters And Attachment With The Storyline By The Author In A Most Disciplined Way And By Selection of Straightforward Storyline For The Readers So You Can Maximum Joy The Reading of This Book.
Also Book has A twist of Russian History Through The Characters of The Novel.
Final Verdict For This Book Is Great Book And Strong Recommendation To Read
June 14, 2024
Call me a simpleton, but my enjoyment of Vodolazkin's books relates less to my appreciation of technique and stylization and more to if I can invest myself emotionally in the protagonist. I ultimately did invest in Solovyov and even related to him strongly at times (not always in a way that flattered either of us), but it took me a sec to get there. I do like works that "rhyme"/come full circle in a Dickensian way, and this one did so satisfyingly.
July 18, 2024
Очень неровный для меня Водолазкин. А может, он просто очень неровный? 🤔🤔🤔
January 23, 2025
Plaja era pentru general locul unde triumfa viața, așa cum câmpul de luptă era locul unde triumfa moartea. Nu este exclus ca dorința lui de a vedea plaja (fie și de departe) să-l fi adus ani de-a rândul pe dig - șezând picior peste picior în același scaun pliant, sub umbrela crem, legănată de vânt. La plajă se uita doar din când în când, cu corpul doar pe jumătate întors, dar asta îi procura o plăcere de nedescris. Bucuria generalului era întunecată doar de două lucruri.
Primul era venirea iernii, când, acoperită de zăpadă, plaja se transforma într-un loc pustiu, deși menirea ei dintâi era să fie plină de lume. Al doilea era faptul că muriseră de mult toți cei care îl însoțeau la mare.
Primul era venirea iernii, când, acoperită de zăpadă, plaja se transforma într-un loc pustiu, deși menirea ei dintâi era să fie plină de lume. Al doilea era faptul că muriseră de mult toți cei care îl însoțeau la mare.
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February 2, 2022Abandon grațios al lecturii 😠
July 31, 2024
I don’t think that a lot of historians would like to have it pointed out to them that what they do with historical documents can look an awful lot like what literary critics do with the fictional texts. That comparison came to mind over and over as I read Solovyov and Larionov, by Eugene Vodolazkin (translated by Lisa Hayden in fluid, erudite English). Graduate student Solovyov is working on his dissertation about a White Army general named Larionov. So far, he has only found a few discrepancies in the only biography of the general, but his work is promising. When Solovyov receives a stipend and permission to go to a Larionov conference in Kerch, he has the chance to answer the biggest question about the general’s life: how on earth did he manage to avoid execution by the Bolsheviks after the end of the Russian Civil War?
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
April 19, 2021
I think this was great. It reminded me a lot of Pnin and Pale Fire, engaged a lot in the mock academic style, which I love. It’s a lot like the Aviator in its themes, history, love/sex, and meaning. As far as Vodolazkin goes, I don’t think it comes close to Laurus, but it does show once again Lisa C. Hayden’s seamless translation skills. It never feels like you’re reading a translation.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
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