Vladimir won’t be for everyone, but it absolutely worked for me. I have seen some people decrying the book as centring on a “rape apologist” and I can’t help but wonder if we read the same novel. As with all the capital D discourse that surrounded PTA’s recent film Licorice Pizza it can be a helpful reminder that depiction isn’t endorsement, and well-written complicated characters do not easily fit into knee-jerk reactive boxes.

All this being said, our 58 year old narrator in Vladimir is not a person you root for or easily empathize with, but she grapples with all too familiar struggles experienced by women on a daily basis. She is caught up in her own internalized misogyny, gender norms and ageism in part as a reflection of how she views her place in a patriarchal world. Her career as an academic further compounds her experiences with power imbalances across gender and generational gaps. She feels inadequate, her writing career a disappointment, her body not the paragon of youth and svelte “perfection” she longs for. She sees other women through her own obscured filter, remarking on the shapely legs of a new, younger adjunct colleague or the trim waist of a teenager she observes from her office window.

As the novel progresses the narrator’s skewed world view leads her down a path from erotic fantasy to causing very real harm through despicable acts with very real consequences. The ending, while arguably too cute and neat (at least for my taste) traffics in karmic retribution to condemn the narrator’s refusal to keep separate fiction and reality.

I was enthralled start to finish and am bowled over in particular by Jonas’ prose, so fully embodying the unique voice of the central protagonist who is deeply vain and insecure, yet immensely intelligent. I read that this started out as a two-person play, and while I would be curious to see a stage adaptation one day, I am thankful to have had a chance to read this work of deeply internal fiction, so cogent and clear in voice.

I loved being inside of the brain of this protagonist. She was equal parts fascinating and problematic, providing the readers with a brainy, toothy telling of her innermost thoughts. For myself, the plot faltered and fell a few paces behind the strength of the narration, and I wish I could have stayed inside the thorny thoughts of our protagonist rather than having to address the titular ideal, Vladimir.

I recommend for those who like reading about academia, complicated characters, and finding literature within literature.

Was happy to include this novel in February’s Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction. (In Zoomer magazine’s Zed Book Club section.)

Vladimir was a much anticipated read of 2022 for me. Based on the synopsis I expected a dark fictional tale of morally ambiguous characters making cringey choices that’ll make you hate them in that way that you become obsessed with seeing how everything around them falls apart.

For the first 2/3 of the book this was the case and I found myself deeply invested in our main character’s story, forever anticipating the natural story arch where our title character Vladimir becomes more than just the quick mention of her desire, alas, the final 3rd of the book is a bit of a disappointment, though the ride getting there does become unexpectedly wild.

To explain any further would ruin the plot so I’ll say this: this book is not for everyone. Some people are going to hate the at times pretentious story telling and the characters, especially the women who are (intentionally or not) all painted as anti feminist, judgmental, and enabling as they excuse the abusive behaviours of men who use their power and position to the advantage of young, impressionable women.

Also, some readers may be disappointed to know that Vladimir plays a truly small role in this book and the story appears more to be about a middle aged woman facing the reality that for most women their aging makes them invisible unlike their male counterparts who become more desirable as they age by way of money, power, and position.

This was an interesting novel though I’m not sure how I feel even days after finishing the book. It’s nothing groundbreaking or memorable though so I think a middle of the road rating is appropriate. ☆☆☆

Im not even sure if I liked this book or not! I don’t love being in a characters head for so long and yet I thought it was actually pretty successful!

It was also interesting to see the world through the eyes of someone so very different than myself, from a purely moral standing.

At times you think the book is going to go in a different direction. Darker perhaps, more dramatic and then it turns in a different way. It’s weird that I kind of wanted it to go darker!

This book is definitely going to appeal to a certain kind of reader more than readers in general but I’d say it’s worth figuring out if you’re the right kind of reader.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy in exchange of an honest review.

A provocative, razor-sharp, and timely debut novel about a beloved English professor facing a slew of accusations against her professor husband by former students—a situation that becomes more complicated when she herself develops an obsession of her own...

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I don't know what is was about this one, but I could not put it down. It was such a different read than I typically pick up, yet I was totally sucked into the raw, unflinching narrative. VLADIMIR is told old almost entirely through a character study monologue of a 58 year old college professor - who (I personally think) is a "functioning" psychopath. Or at least someone with psychopathic tendencies. This made for an entertaining, yet dark commentary on female ageism, sex, morality and the multifaceted reality of relationships.

(I also really, really enjoyed the ending!)

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc copy. VLADIMIR is out on Feb 1st!

Couldn’t put it down. Very entertaining while having a calculated dark edge to it. The narrator is extremely cunning and I loved being immersed in all of her relationship dynamics.