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Vita Nostra A Novel Sergey and Marina Dyachenko 9780062694591 Books

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Vita Nostra A Novel Sergey and Marina Dyachenko 9780062694591 Books

This book needs to be digested. Do not immediately write this book off because of off-putting bodily functions, like other reviewers of this book have. Persist, just like Sasha must, and be rewarded with one of modern fiction's best books. It is a testament to the original Russian text that this translation holds so much power.


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Vita Nostra A Novel Sergey and Marina Dyachenko 9780062694591 Books Reviews

I give it three stars because the writing isn't great to begin with. Add to that an amateurish translation and you've got a book that's difficult to read. But stick with it. The story is intriguing despite its lack of polish. I've picked it up and had trouble putting it down.
For once an adult wizard school novel and well written too. Dark at times, but so is real magic. For sure, don't try the visualizations in this book, you've been warned.
There was really no joy in this book. I guess it was trying to teach some sort of lesson. Maybe it was better in Russian.
A wonderful translation of a truly engrossing novel. It was a slow start with no apparent reasoning for the initial events but it became very interesting after a while. I finished it within a couple of days. I did have to shut the book to take a few deep breaths just to make sense of the rapid changes later on. I was left rattled in the end and so sad finish it. I hear it has two more parts to the book (series) and I hope they get translated soon.
This book is all about the wonders of communism.

Children are chosen to attend a strange academy according to their natural abilities .The admission exam consists of ridiculous and demeaning tasks . If the tasks are not completed to exact specifications there are severe consequences.

Once the children are accepted, they are isolated from society in a remote location and indoctrinated into a new way of thinking. They are deconstructed as humans and reconstructed as "words" in the big manuscript of life aka the collective. They are discouraged from retaining any human characteristics and eventually shed their humanity.

The methods used to encourage the students to study are inhumane.The main class is referred to as "speciality" where the kids learn to see things differently.

Enough about the plot. The characters are shallow. Situations occur and are never explained. The main character is whiny and annoying.

I should have stopped reading half way through but the reviews were very good and I kept thinking it would get better.

I am sorry I spent the time and money on this book.
Well written and compelling. More sophisticated than the typical fantasy fluff. The characters are vivid and complete without being overdone or tedious. There is also a distinct "Russian" flavor to the writing. Not the typical fantasy, but very good and I would definitely recommend it.
After I finished reading Vita Nostra I discovered that apparently it is the first of a loosely connected trilogy. Unfortunately, the next two volumes have yet to be translated. It is saying something that I then immediately bought the sequels in Russian. My Russian is nothing to boast of these days, and I'm generally quite lazy, but Vita Nostra is just that good.
I won't bore you by repeating what is said in the other positive reviews. I'd say the atmosphere of the novel owes something to Kafka-- seemingly arbitrary, bizarre rules enforced by remote, mysterious authorities. Darkly atmospheric, and generally pretty bleak, but quite compelling. Well drawn, believable characters with all the quirks and foibles of real humans. It most definitely does not offer the vicarious wish fulfillment of your typical "hero's journey" type fantasy, so if that's your thing look elsewhere. It does offer a unique and quite beautiful take on the nature of "magic". No wand waving and fake latin here-- I'd say it owes more to eastern mysticism and platonic philosophy, but also (maybe?) some traditions of Russian literary criticism. I had better leave it at that rather than risk spoiling what may be my favorite aspect of this lovely book.
I couldn't give it the fifth star on account of the ending, which was jarring, abrupt, and a bit confusing. I think the first two thirds of the book show consistently superior quality to the final third. That said, nine tenths of it still qualifies as "excellent".
This book needs to be digested. Do not immediately write this book off because of off-putting bodily functions, like other reviewers of this book have. Persist, just like Sasha must, and be rewarded with one of modern fiction's best books. It is a testament to the original Russian text that this translation holds so much power.