Reviews

Natasha and Other Stories by David Bezmozgis

egoertzen's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

robintinani's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

baasanka's review against another edition

4.0

As with most anthologies, the writing style and quality ebb and flow throughout the book. My rating changed from 3 stars to 4, then 5, settling back in the middle as I moved along.

A great unexpected find. Not all stories left an impression, but the couple that did make fantastic hidden gems.

dina_b's review against another edition

4.0

Pequenas estórias passadas em diferentes épocas da vida de Mark Berman, filho de emigrantes russos no Canadá. Episódios que marcaram a sua vida, episódios de perda, descoberta, realidade dura, um tom cinzento sem felicidade que nos arrasta para um sentimento de melancolia.

hanntastic's review against another edition

4.0

Global Read 97: Latvia

I'm a big fan of David Bezmozgis and this is my favorite of his works. The short stories are linked, but it is definitely a book of short stories rather than short stories attempting to be a novel.

bookerage's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The short stories are small episodes from the authors childhood in chronological order, which makes the reading experience feel like a coming-of-age story or memoir. Some stories were better than others, but overall an interesting read!

scottishben's review against another edition

3.0

Other than this book of short stories all being about people coming from Latvia to Canada and settling in as 1st and 2nd generation immigrants much of the stories felt very much in the style and way of what has come before. Well written, effective but nothing much really new. Happy to have read but I generally want something that either really grabs me or that has a bit more freshness to it. Wouldnt rule out reading something by the author in the future but wouldnt rush unless the story sounded compelling or the reviews were amazing.

yanulya's review against another edition

4.0

This is a charming book of semi-autobiographical short stories by a new young author, a Russian from Latvia now living in Toronto. I absolutely adored the first story, "Tapka," which i will remember for a long time, as well as the story about the Strongman. However, the stories did become slightly less enchanting as the book went on. I suppose this is because the stories follow episodes from the protagonist's life, in chronological order, from childhood through adulthood, and I guess its much more fun to read about the world through the childish wonder of a 9-year old's eyes than to read about a cocky slavic teenager masturbating in his basement. Oh well. Still worth the purchase for the first few stories alone.

biglibraryenergy's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn't sure about this book at first, but the feeling and emotion in the stories captured me. I was amazed that this is the author's first book. A quick and excellent read.

stephenl's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5