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Mischa's papa had disappointed before. Opening to the prologue of Ivan and Mischa by Michael Alenyikov |
Ivan and Mischa by Michael Alenyikov explores the many forms of love between men. This includes gay men who love each other, certainly, but it also includes the love between fathers and sons, between brothers and between friends as well. Love takes many forms even when it does not cross between sexes.
Ivan and Mischa are fraternal twins, raised by their father after the death of their mother, they believe, in childbirth. Their father Louie takes them away from their Kiev birthplace as the Soviet Union is collapsing, choosing to raise them in New York City. As adults, Ivan is unable to make his dreams of wealth come true, but he finds satisfaction as a cab driver, when he has his bi-polar condition under control at least. Mischa lives with his much younger lover Smith; theirs is a difficult relationship that may not outlast the novel. The two brothers share the duty of caring for their aging father with their father's devoted friend Leo.
Mr. Alenyikov tells his tale through a series of interconnected shorty stories much like A Visit from the Goon Squad and Olive Kitteridge. Of late, this has become such a common device, inter-linked short stories, that it may end up a sort of sub-genre unto itself. It would be possible to read any of the stories in Ivan and Mischa disconnect from the rest, but through them a fully formed narrative emerges. When we find out in one story that what Louie has told his sons in another is not true, we fell the emotional impact doubly because we know how the lie has affected Ivan and Mischa in ways Louie does not. While the same effect could certainly be achieved in a traditional, linear narrative form, the use of short stories allows for a book with several points of emotional impact. Narratives typically have one big reveal in them at some point. A novel has one. A short story has one. A book of shorts stories has as many. Mr. Alenyikov uses this new form, the series of interconnected short stories, to deliver a series of emotional moments that would be difficult to do in a novel without reaching a point of critical overload.
It's become my habit the last few years to keep only books that I think I'll read again. The rest I give away. I'll be keeping my copy of Ivan and Mischa. I'm confident that it will end up on my list of top ten favorite reads this year, and I'm sure that I will read it again.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of Ivan and Mischa from the publishers.
Ivan and Mischa are fraternal twins, raised by their father after the death of their mother, they believe, in childbirth. Their father Louie takes them away from their Kiev birthplace as the Soviet Union is collapsing, choosing to raise them in New York City. As adults, Ivan is unable to make his dreams of wealth come true, but he finds satisfaction as a cab driver, when he has his bi-polar condition under control at least. Mischa lives with his much younger lover Smith; theirs is a difficult relationship that may not outlast the novel. The two brothers share the duty of caring for their aging father with their father's devoted friend Leo.
Mr. Alenyikov tells his tale through a series of interconnected shorty stories much like A Visit from the Goon Squad and Olive Kitteridge. Of late, this has become such a common device, inter-linked short stories, that it may end up a sort of sub-genre unto itself. It would be possible to read any of the stories in Ivan and Mischa disconnect from the rest, but through them a fully formed narrative emerges. When we find out in one story that what Louie has told his sons in another is not true, we fell the emotional impact doubly because we know how the lie has affected Ivan and Mischa in ways Louie does not. While the same effect could certainly be achieved in a traditional, linear narrative form, the use of short stories allows for a book with several points of emotional impact. Narratives typically have one big reveal in them at some point. A novel has one. A short story has one. A book of shorts stories has as many. Mr. Alenyikov uses this new form, the series of interconnected short stories, to deliver a series of emotional moments that would be difficult to do in a novel without reaching a point of critical overload.
It's become my habit the last few years to keep only books that I think I'll read again. The rest I give away. I'll be keeping my copy of Ivan and Mischa. I'm confident that it will end up on my list of top ten favorite reads this year, and I'm sure that I will read it again.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of Ivan and Mischa from the publishers.
8 comments:
I'm not huge on short stories - kind of picky about them - but I do love the type of short story collection which includes interconnected stories. Thanks for the recommendation.
These are the types of short stories I enjoy most -- those collected in one volume to create a larger narrative.
Good review.
I really enjoy interconnected stories...they always give me ah-ha moments that make me feel smart or something. Or like I am learning a secret. Lots of good reviews for this one.
Top ten for the year is definitely a great recommendation! I'm looking forward to reading this one myself - I hope I enjoy it as much as you did.
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I like how you mentioned all the kinds of 'male love' there are in your opening paragraph. I was very moved by the twins relationship to their father, that being my favorite part of the book, as well as to each other.
I'm also intrigued by the idea of inter-connected chapters comprising the novel. I own Goon Squad, but haven't read it, same with Olive. (Hmmm, I wonder why I've never pulled them from the shelves.) Anyway, it does seem to be a 'ploy' used quite frequently in today's writing.
I'm glad you posted your thoughts so openly and honestly. This was a very tender, beautiful book, and even from my perspective as a midwestern female I found it quite touching.
I think you are on to something with this new genre. I would add "Let the Great World Spin" to this genre as well.
This books sounds good, and I'm very intrigued by it. Adding it to my epically long wish list!
The author contacted me about this book after he read my review(s) of The Master and Margarita. I didn't know at first this is a novel of interconnected stories. I am delighted that you have singled it out to be a favorite, I'm feeling more justified to approach this book.
I also am interested in the idea of interconnected stories that form a novel or book. Thanks for letting us in on it.
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