I finished Vita Nostra by Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko last night and I can't stop thinking about it
Hey!
I've been influenced by BookTook to start the audiobook of the Russian-language, Ukranian-authored fantasy (maybe sci-fi?) YA novel Vita Nostra by Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko.
As a disclaimer, I quickly need to say I am severely not the target audience for this book. I am double the age of the main chararcter at the beginning of the novel, and even at 16 I found YA a cheesy genre. And yet!
Since I've been quite busy with work, I decided to go for the audiobook, and in hindsight that was quite a happy coincidence.
Let's start by saying, and maybe that's a credit to the translation (I don't speak Russian unfortunately), that the writing is literary, in a beautiful prose, and absolutely stunning in descriptions and historical/cultural context scoping. I don't know much about Eastern Europe in the 90s, and still I consistently found myself immersed in the landscapes, the little-town vibe descriptions, the post-sovietic dark academia. And that's just half of the world building the authors have achieved here.
The other 50% of the world building is the most original feature in this novel. If you've read and appreciated Babel by RF Kuang, you will probably enjoy Vita Nostra's Weltanschauung. The core idea that >!the universe we inhabit is a narrative one, and words (and signs!) have creative capabilities!<, is something I've always dreamt of seeing explored in non-fiction as a philosopher of language, and the literary choice of exploring it through a coming-of-age story is somehow enticing in the end.
You're forced by the world-building and the main character's arc to learn how Vita Nostra's universe works step by step, little by little, consistently being swept away by its complexity alongside a main character that, through the messy confused lens of a growing girl's eyes, is at the same time attracted and repulsed by the almost >!Lovecraftian!< discoveries on her academic path of transformation.
The ending, >!although open,!< was incredibly well written. I've been looking at reviews online, and I've found some readers have found it confusing. I think the main plot point which might have been missed by some could be >!the direct quote of John 1:1, the definition of λόγος, and the Chomskian theoretical/semiotic infrastructure of the world the novel ultimately offers!<. I am not entirely confident some nouances of the plot can be accessible to non-specialists, and especially young adult non-specialists. So maybe that's the question I'm asking here: do people who have read this book and know nothing or very little about philosophy of language, cognitive studies, and semiotics understand the ending?
Another issue I've found raised by other readers is the meaning of >!the early tests with Farit Kozhennikov!<, which according to some has not been fully explained. I think the authors did a great job at positioning it in the wider structure of the plot, instead:>!the tests were aimed at testing Sasha's endurance, and her discipline, and her ability to compromise on her ethical stances and habits for a higher purpose. Basically, her faith !<.
The book overall is a great exploration of magical thinking, of growing out of your roots and family of origin, of getting consumed by a worldview, and of the concept that every choice demands a renounciation. It's also a strong agrument for free will, which I did not expect to find so elegantly depicted through >!time travel/loops!< of all things.
On Reddit I've found a thread I can locate any longer where someone mentioned the novel might make an argument on simulation theory as well. I don't find that to be correct. From my understanding of the plot, >!reality really is influenced by "speech", and the technologies to overwrite reality are only available because reality is affected directly by them.!<
In any case, Vita Nostra is a great book. The only thing I've found icky is the oversexualization of young women, and sometimes the language around this topic sounded quite harsh, but... Hey, what can I say, this book came out 20 years ago. Maybe it was different times. Maybe. Let me know what you think.