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kris_mccracken's reviews
2529 reviews
The Eye by Vladimir Nabokov
3.0
Vladimir Nabokov’s shortest novel. Set amongst the Russian émigré comunity in 1920s Berlin, it focuses on the enigmatic Russian Smurov. The action commences after the attempted (perhaps successful) suicide of the narrator. After this (potentially imaginary) death, his "eye" observes a group of Russian émigrés as he tries to ascertain their opinions of the mysterious character Smurov.
Largely about ‘identity’ – our own perceptions of self and the social construction of our identity both for and by others – Smurov exists as a hero, fraud, nobleman, crook, "sexual adventurer" and spy in the eyes of himself and others. The central narrator gathers these observations in the attempt to construct a coherent portrait of Smurov.
While the ‘twist’ alluded to in the author’s preface is not particularly surprising, this does not stop the novel from being enjoyable. The young Nabokov keeps the literary affectation to a minimum, and as such we’re left with essentially a metaphysical Russian detective novel.
The central point? We like to think of ourselves as a knowable collection of things, experiences and traits; but, really, we’re limitless, there is no single snapshot that will wholly capture anyone. Indeed, we are all fragmentary refractions of others’ glimpses of us, inherently unknowable, whose memory is reduced to the stories and opinions of our observers.
It’s a good ‘un, and you’ll zip through it in no time. Highly recommended!
Largely about ‘identity’ – our own perceptions of self and the social construction of our identity both for and by others – Smurov exists as a hero, fraud, nobleman, crook, "sexual adventurer" and spy in the eyes of himself and others. The central narrator gathers these observations in the attempt to construct a coherent portrait of Smurov.
While the ‘twist’ alluded to in the author’s preface is not particularly surprising, this does not stop the novel from being enjoyable. The young Nabokov keeps the literary affectation to a minimum, and as such we’re left with essentially a metaphysical Russian detective novel.
The central point? We like to think of ourselves as a knowable collection of things, experiences and traits; but, really, we’re limitless, there is no single snapshot that will wholly capture anyone. Indeed, we are all fragmentary refractions of others’ glimpses of us, inherently unknowable, whose memory is reduced to the stories and opinions of our observers.
It’s a good ‘un, and you’ll zip through it in no time. Highly recommended!
Up the Junction by Nell Dunn
3.0
Controversial at the time of its release in 1963, this book depicts contemporary life in the industrial slums of Battersea, in greater London.
The book is a riot of colloquial speech and half-complete vignettes. It captures a chaotic life of fights, petty thief, casual sex, illicit births, deaths, prostitution and back-street abortion provided a view of life in the UK that shocked many.
As I've hinted, this is not your traditional novelistic structure. Mostly a series of incomplete sketches in the lives of three young women, it captures the lot of a [type of] woman’s life in the early sixties to now. What makes it particularly interesting is that this way of life has very much been ignored in literary works then (and to a degree) now.
This captures the feeling of both a nascent freedom (not just in relation to sex) underneath a crushing oppression. This is indeed a long way from the traditionally-understood feminist narrative. In some respects this is a bleak book. No details are spared and the lives described are particularly grim. There is particularly jarring description of the realities of back street abortion.
As such it is a powerful document of the time. The chaos will put some off, but it is worth the effort. Recommended.
The book is a riot of colloquial speech and half-complete vignettes. It captures a chaotic life of fights, petty thief, casual sex, illicit births, deaths, prostitution and back-street abortion provided a view of life in the UK that shocked many.
As I've hinted, this is not your traditional novelistic structure. Mostly a series of incomplete sketches in the lives of three young women, it captures the lot of a [type of] woman’s life in the early sixties to now. What makes it particularly interesting is that this way of life has very much been ignored in literary works then (and to a degree) now.
This captures the feeling of both a nascent freedom (not just in relation to sex) underneath a crushing oppression. This is indeed a long way from the traditionally-understood feminist narrative. In some respects this is a bleak book. No details are spared and the lives described are particularly grim. There is particularly jarring description of the realities of back street abortion.
As such it is a powerful document of the time. The chaos will put some off, but it is worth the effort. Recommended.