Perhaps above all else, "Vladimir" is gorgeously written. I mean, gorgeously. Driven by profound, emotionally-reflective prose and robust vocabulary, I found this to be more of a slow-burning character study than anything else.
It's set against an academia backdrop I always love--and while there certainly is a plot-line as a female professor navigates her place and identity on-campus while her professor husband finds himself at the epicenter of a MeToo scandal, it's the inner dialogue of our protagonist and how she wrestles with enormous topics of sexual agency, female aging, white male privilege, and social transformations in higher education that sets this title apart.
If you're looking for a past-paced, plot-driven story of dark academia scandals, this isn't that. If you know that from the start, your reading experience will be so much better. Rather, this is a poetic and thought-provoking story of a woman baring her soul through reflective narration as she navigates the unpredictability and disappointments of life. A little unnerving but mostly melancholy, "Vladimir" is perfect for readers who need something cerebral and unique in their hands.
Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Details: Out Now, Avid Reader Press
Huge thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing my review copy!
