The Unreal Life of Sergey Nabokov: A Novel
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by zzz from Rakovica / Раковица, City of Belgrade Serbia on Tuesday, February 3, 2015
"'Beauty plus pity' Vladimir Nabokov's famous definition of art, perfectly describes this moving, artful novel. Intimate and epic, gorgeously written, divinely detailed, "The Unreal Life of Sergey Nabokov" is an ingenious hybrid of a book, powerful, troubling, exciting." -- Sigrid Nunez
This is a story of the "other" Nabokov. Nope, me neither. I didn't have a clue Vladimir had a brother. He was pretty much everything his famous brother wasn't (or maybe it would be more appropriate to say this but in reverse) and maybe because of that his story is even more interesting. From the very first day (long before Vladimir became what he is) he lived in his brother's shadow. He was quite ignored by their parents, relatives, he stuttered, he was gay and because all of that he was pretty much on his own.
Material for this book is stunningly good researched so one is a bit puzzled if this is actually biography. It is a novel told by Sergey shifting between his childhood, youth and adulthood masterfully changing scenery: from the lifestyle of Imperial Russia's aristocracy, through Bolshevik Revolution, through lives of Russian emigres across the Europe, till Nazi Germany. It is an exquisite piece of historical fiction and the word from the title "unreal" quite often pops up: What an image of the lives of leading artists of the avant-garde Europe of that time! No wonder you'll find so often comparison with Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" because that was what I was thinking about as well; so many small delicacies involving many immortals you'll find here: Jean Cocteau; Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas; Diaghiliev; Stravinsky; Picasso; Coco Chanel; Nijinsky; Juan Gris; Nureyev ... and they all have touched Sergey's life. Every now and then you'll stumble upon anecdote like:
" ... one of the ladies complimented her needlework, and asked where she had found the pattern. "It seems so unusual" she said.
"Picasso designed it for me," Miss Toklas told her matter-of-factly, without glancing up from her work."
Or the one where Mrs. Cole Porter looking for someone who'll help her husband to make more profound music.
And then the story goes on like nothing unusual happened
The language. The language is beautiful; elegant; fluid and above all, immensely rich. I was really surprised (I've read Russell before and the style was not nearly like it is here). Characterisations is brave because all of them are historical personalities. Sometimes they look a bit aggressive but then they were described from Sergey's perspective and he, being shy must have seen them that way. This is a love story or more, story about searching love in one very strangely and not that obvious way. So many things are happening during that quest. But above all this is story about beauty. About being in love with beauty. About not eating today and save the money to go an see Ballets Russes. After reading this I so wish Sergey Nabokov became a writer like his brother.
This is a story of the "other" Nabokov. Nope, me neither. I didn't have a clue Vladimir had a brother. He was pretty much everything his famous brother wasn't (or maybe it would be more appropriate to say this but in reverse) and maybe because of that his story is even more interesting. From the very first day (long before Vladimir became what he is) he lived in his brother's shadow. He was quite ignored by their parents, relatives, he stuttered, he was gay and because all of that he was pretty much on his own.
Material for this book is stunningly good researched so one is a bit puzzled if this is actually biography. It is a novel told by Sergey shifting between his childhood, youth and adulthood masterfully changing scenery: from the lifestyle of Imperial Russia's aristocracy, through Bolshevik Revolution, through lives of Russian emigres across the Europe, till Nazi Germany. It is an exquisite piece of historical fiction and the word from the title "unreal" quite often pops up: What an image of the lives of leading artists of the avant-garde Europe of that time! No wonder you'll find so often comparison with Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" because that was what I was thinking about as well; so many small delicacies involving many immortals you'll find here: Jean Cocteau; Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas; Diaghiliev; Stravinsky; Picasso; Coco Chanel; Nijinsky; Juan Gris; Nureyev ... and they all have touched Sergey's life. Every now and then you'll stumble upon anecdote like:
" ... one of the ladies complimented her needlework, and asked where she had found the pattern. "It seems so unusual" she said.
"Picasso designed it for me," Miss Toklas told her matter-of-factly, without glancing up from her work."
Or the one where Mrs. Cole Porter looking for someone who'll help her husband to make more profound music.
And then the story goes on like nothing unusual happened
The language. The language is beautiful; elegant; fluid and above all, immensely rich. I was really surprised (I've read Russell before and the style was not nearly like it is here). Characterisations is brave because all of them are historical personalities. Sometimes they look a bit aggressive but then they were described from Sergey's perspective and he, being shy must have seen them that way. This is a love story or more, story about searching love in one very strangely and not that obvious way. So many things are happening during that quest. But above all this is story about beauty. About being in love with beauty. About not eating today and save the money to go an see Ballets Russes. After reading this I so wish Sergey Nabokov became a writer like his brother.
Released 9 yrs ago (2/3/2015 UTC) at Rakovica / Раковица, City of Belgrade Serbia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Replacement copy for Kiri who took it from Best Of 2012 Book Swap at bookobsessed.comI hope this one will reach you and that you'll like it as much as I did :)
Finally journaled ;) and on the TBR mountain. Thanks Zzz!
