The Talnikov Family by Avdotya Panaeva

An admirable young girl named Natalya takes us on a compelling, heartbreaking and gut wrenching story of old fashioned injustices in Russia in the 19th Century.

In a time where children should be seen and not heard, they could be disposed of just as quickly as they could be replaced by another poor innocent soul.

A time where parents cared more about themselves and their reputations rather than the children they have brought into the world.

This story of physical and psychological abuse which was deemed normality, even necessity was a very tough read and an eye opener to this injustices of a time not so long ago.

Thank you to NetGalley, Columbia University Press and the author Avdotya Panaeva for this free ARC in return for an honest opinion

The Talnikov Family offers a raw and gripping look at Natasha's chaotic upbringing in 1820s St. Petersburg. Amidst violence and abuse, Natasha and her siblings find moments of joy. Based on Panaeva's own life, the novel dives into family dysfunction with wit and intensity. Though brief, it’s a powerful read that captures the harsh realities of the time. Fiona Bell's translation brings out the vivid details, making it a must-read for fans of Russian literature and family sagas.

The Talnikov Family tells the story of young Natasha- and her family during 19th century Russia. The Talnikov family is described as very unhealthy by Natasha as she details her or her siblings abuse and mistreatment. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found it somewhat slow at times but I did think the perspective was interesting. I enjoyed that even though this family “existed” in the 1820s, there were some things that were even relatable today. Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I loved this book. Reading about the siblings and their interactions was good because seeing how that develops them as characters was interesting. I highly recommend this for people who are fans of Russian literature and history

We are plunged into the life of an unhappy family, immediate as the story begins. Our narrator is one of the daughters in a family of numerous children, and describes her life from her earliest memories to her leaving the house at around 17 years of age. The setting is sometime in the mid 19th century, and we experience Russian families of the time in a way that at least I have not seen previously (having read most of Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Turgenev, Leskov, Gogol, and many others). The author doesn't dwell on big ideas or calamities, but rather explores the horror of a loveless childhood, and the mechanisms for survival.

I loved the book - it's perhaps among the most poignant works of fiction coming from Russia, especially from that period, that I've read. It's significantly ahead of its time in choosing to describe reality as it might have been for many children during that period - abuse, violence, dejection, and emotional angst. There is no redemption here, and no higher cause. It is literary realism par excellence, written by a woman, who was clearly an exceptionally courageous talent at her time (and today!). Mind you - this is not feminist literature, nor is it about the empowerment of women. It's about families and their toxicity as evidence in the minutiae of the day to day.

The writing is dynamic and energetic - the story grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go. Something always happens, and the emotional connection to the protagonist is profound. She comes across as a multi dimensional character, who comes to life in every single sentence she writes and action she takes.

I highly recommend to any fan of Russian literature - it's a lesser known gem that needs much more recognition, as it completes a complex picture of reality during that time. I also recommend it to anyone who is interested in family sagas.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was a short but interesting read. I greatly enjoyed the relationship between the siblings, and the way they managed to find some happiness despite their unpleasant upbringing was really sweet. I could tell it was modelled on the author's life. In this way it lacked a bit of structure at times, which makes sense if it was based on real events. I'd recommend this to someone who already enjoys some Russian literature.

this was a super interesting read! brief but intense, i feel as though it makes for a superb discussion alongside the greater russian classics of the nineteenth century — i’d definitely recommend this one to those into russian history, culture & literature.

‘The Talnikov Family’ written by Avdotya Panaeva and translated by Fiona Bell shares the lives of the highly dysfunctional, abusive, and often violent Talkinov family. The novel primarily follows daughter Natasha and her many siblings. As their story unfolds, we see how harsh their upbringing is. However, even as cruel and horrible as the adults in their lives are to them, they find little ways to find joy within their tragic lives. This novel has moments of despair, pain, and cruelty but also wit, strength, and courage. This was a fantastic read and I devoured it within a days time, highly recommend.
Thank you Columbia University Press and Netgally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.