Sharp, witty and warm

After the bleak disappointment of Kairos, I decided I wouldn’t even begin Vladimir which is a reversal of Nabakov’s Lolita in that the female protagonist is an older woman (also in acadaemia) who falls for a younger colleague – Vladimir. With nothing else to read I gave it a try and am so glad because I found it really funny and entertaining. Both characters, while dealing with their own problematic marriages, manage to conduct their illicit affair with humour and an uncompromising honesty. The power dynamic between the two is complex and nuanced, and cleverly explored. I loved it