Vladimir (mecha_yota) Altukhov’s Reviews > The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov > Status Update

Cloud, Castle, Lake - 3.5/5
Tyrants Destroyed - 3/5
The Visit to the Museum - 2.5/5
Lik - 3.5/5
Vasiliy Shishkov - 3/5
Ultima Thule - 4/5
Solus Rex - 3/5
Mademoiselle O - 3/5

10 stories remain, onto the English ones.

The Admiralty Spire - 3.5/5
The Leonardo - 3/5
The Circle - 3.5/5
Breaking the News - 3.5/5
In Memory of L. I. Shigaev - 3/5
A Russian Beauty - 3/5
Torpid Smoke - 2.5/5
Recruiting - 3/5
A Slice of Life - 3/5
Spring in Fialta - 3/5

18 stories left.

The Fight - 3/5
The Return of Chorb - 4/5
A Guide to Berlin - 3/5
Razor - 3/5
A Nursery Tale - 2.5/5
Terror - 5/5
The Passenger - 3.5/5
The Doorbell - 3.5/5
An Affair of Honor - 3/5
The Christmas Story - 2.5/5

38 stories left.

The Potato Elf - 3/5
Easter Rain - 3.5/5
Details of a Sunset - 3.5/5
The Thunderstorm - 2.5/5
Natasha - 3/5
La Veneziana - 3/5
Bachmann - 4/5
The Dragon - 2.5/5
Christmas - 4/5
A Letter That Never Reached Russia - 3.5/5

48 stories left.

Russian Spoken Here - 2/5
Sounds - 3.5/5
Gods - 4/5
The Wood-Sprite - 3/5
The Word - 3.5/5
Wingstroke - 4/5
Revenge - 2.5/5
Beneficence - 3.5/5
The Seaport - 3/5
A Matter of Chance - 3.5/5

Reached the part I stopped at last time.

Christmas

Yet another great story. My man, how can you call Russian inexpressive and dull after creating such emotional, touching masterpieces? I rarely cry after reading, but this tale managed to break me all right. Perhaps, due to it being too relatable.

Terror

Amazing depiction of the state of depersonalization/derealization. Didn't expect Nabokov to provide me with a resource material on that topic.

Revenge

Another revenge tale, but this time around, it's more grounded. Although it does slightly rely on supernatural element--ghosts.

I don't feel like this story has much to offer, especially compared to Wingstroke. As if it lacks something.

It was all right, I guess. Can't say it impressed me greatly. So, in terms of recommendation, it's a maybe.

Wingstroke

"Da fuck did I just read?"--the best way to summarize my first reaction.

Finally, a story to ponder on. What initially looked as a typical romance tale with the grain of suicidal motives, turned into a maddening, unexplainable mess, leaving me dumbfounded and speechless.

There's definitely some symbolism hidden, and for that reason, the story requires a second reading.

A recommendation.

The Wood-Sprite and The Word

They were alright. Nabokov once again touches upon the subject of "being evicted" from Russia and how Soviets are "bad uuuuu".

Not really a fan of that, but I did like the approach he chose: 1) with the fairy-tale fleeing the country alongside émigrés; 2) with the protagonist talking to angels about how to save the country (open ending included.)