Crime Of Olga Arbyelina [Import] [Hardcover]

Andrei Makine (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1ST edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340728140
• ISBN-13: 978-0340728147
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing., October 15, 1999

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Crime of Olga Arbyelina (Hardcover)

Makine is an extraordinary writer with many wonderful gifts and great accomplishments. In this book, however, the gifts seem to be wasted--or at least used for dubious effect. The tale of Olga Arbyelina is beautifully crafted and presented, but the actions which give impetus to the story are repulsive--incest with her son, initially done while she was drugged and unconscious, but eventually continued, justified to herself, and even welcomed. Olga is only marginally a sympathetic character. She seems so sick and seems to learn so little that one wonders why this book was written. The universal themes one would expect to see used to try to justify the subject matter seem missing here, though Pauline Melville uses similar subject matter in The Ventriloquist's Tale to great and even positive effect. The denouement and Olga's madness seemed to me neither sad nor unexpected. Ultimately, I found myself wondering why the author chose to write this story, a romanticized, melodramatic, and unsatisfying journey into darkness.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Crime of Olga Arbyelina, July 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crime of Olga Arbyelina (Paperback)

This is a beautifully written book. Makine truly has a talent with language -- some passages are so poetic, it's hard to believe that one is reading prose. You have to read the book in increments and savor the scenes. The writing is often very challenging and the whole plot is intellectually stimulating. This is definitely not a book where the plot moves quickly and everything is apparent from the beginning. Although the novel contains several taboo topics (incest, abortion, politics), it is possible to identify oneself with Olga. Makine's meticulous descriptions and his ability to communicate Olga's feelings has made this book a joy to read.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madness, Madness!!!, September 6, 1999

By 

Tom Kuntz (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crime of Olga Arbyelina (Hardcover)

Excellent. What else can I write. Andrei Makine is one of the great writers of our time. As a reader you will descend into madness with the princess and feel as if you are holding her hand and can do nothing to stop it. An excellent addition to an already outstanding body of work. Highly recommended.