The Flight

Thank you Net Galley. My first read of Gazdanov and very enjoyable. I understand that this was his second novel. I found the writing excellent, the translator has done an excellent job too. I look forward to reading more of this wonderful Russian author.

"Happiness isn't deserved, Liza," said Seryozha's father curtly. "It is either given to you or it isn't."

What really hit me was the writing early on about Seryozha's parents, how damaged their marriage was- how much more his mother hungered for and his fathers cold love- that had once seemed so hot for her. The sadness of his mother's abandonment, her restlessness- his father's indifference- how does a child turn out normal in all that? Why this story gets four stars from me is the character driven writing. I loved these people, even the ones who disgusted me with their boorishness.

"Who's a fool, Liza?"
"Everyone, my little one," said Liza with a sigh. "Everyone. But without a certain foolishness it wouldn't be worth living. Don't you think?"

Liza too, surely they are all fools! It's hard to ignore the relationship between the two and know it's wrong for them to entertain an affair. If this isn't disturbing... well... just who seduced who?

"Far beyond these feelings, in the very depths and silence of her being, lurked the dark, seductive taste of something illicit. " Illicit indeed! An affair doomed from the start and not just because Liza is daddy's mistress. The writing though, the thoughts and feelings are the meaty one I dined on. While I felt disgusted by the very idea of Liza and Seryozha, the author's insight into human emotions and behavior was impressive. This is a Russian story indeed!

A family not quite any other: Sergej and Olga have long lost the connection between each other, they live their lives together apart. Also their son Seryozha only plays a random role in their life. The fourth member of this strange family is Liza, Olga’s sister who is not much older than Seryozha and has always been his confidant. When the parents move further apart – also geographically – the son suddenly finds himself on the French Riviera alone with his aunt and falls in love with her. This love is returned, but Liza secretly has had an affair for years which could be revived due to the separation of Seryozha’s parents.

Gazdanov presents a complicated Russian family and business construct which unfolds itself slowing during the novel. Yet, hidden affairs, a lot of secrets kept from each other for a long time find their way on the surface and put the character to difficult decisions. The basic human instincts can be found in Gazdanov’s characters, their greed, envy and pride lead them into the abyss, a positive ending is not offered for them. We do not have the highly complicated novel here with masses of characters as we find in other Russian writers which makes it a lot easier to follow the plot, nevertheless there are some side plots which give insight in how the Russian community all over Europe worked and stuck together.

Well written and lyrical!