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First Love cover art

First Love

By: Ivan Turgenev
Narrated by: David Troughton
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Summary

At the end of a dinner party, the remaining guests drink wine and tell stories of their first love. For one of them, it will be a dark journey into his past, reawakening unbearable memories of his obsession with the beautiful Zinaida.
©2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about First Love

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bewitching story told with authority and charm.

Would you consider the audio edition of First Love to be better than the print version?

A strange question. Hopefully they would be identical. I haven't read the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of First Love?

A sequence of moments: the thrilling, excruciating games the heroine compels her suitors to play.

Have you listened to any of David Troughton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have heard Mr Troughton sing 'Blue Light Boogie' in 'Tales Of Sherwood Forest' , and I have seen his fabulous wiggly dance.

Masterful.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was entranced. And finally exasperated by the misjudged abruptness of the author's ending.

Any additional comments?

Turgenev's head was so large that when he died the medical authorities pickled his brain as a curiosity to amuse undergraduates.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fast read, Toxic idea of love

The story in itself reflects very much the time (still exists today but thank god there is so much more awareness/challenges surrounding unhealthy love and behavior) and gender performances/roles - eg. mania love, abuse, manipulation.

Reading it now, so much of it was disturbing and toxic.
The way the female character behaved with careless dominance and entertainment of the men who adored her, as well as the abuse later inflicted upon her (which is a very telling way of how this is not the first time it has occurred); all described with rose-tinted glasses and a lack of responsibility across the board.

This is a book filled was unkind humans framed by the idea of “love” being at its core.

I appreciate the writing but personally, it is not a story to be positively guided by for today. Or any vulnerable persons who might use the tactics in this book, mistaking the behaviors and actions exhibited as love/kind.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Lightweight and superficial

It is only a short story but it was a struggle to keep going. There is charm and authenticity in the depiction of the narrator's adolescent discovery of love, but the other characters are lightly penned. Zinaida - the object of his adoration - is 2 dimensional. The shallowness of her social life teasing a group of suitors may well be a reflection of mores but it is of minor interest. There is little of Turgenev's skillful juggling of various living and fascinating cast characters who all all important and fully human.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully narrated

I read this many years ago. I probably have less sympathy for the young girl now finding her shallow and coquettish. I also have less sympathy for the idea that real love must involve suffering.
The story is a compelling one though and is beautifully narrated

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

First Love

An exquisite story made even more exciting by the brilliant narration of David Troughton. I simply forgot all else !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the most beautiful Russian novels

One might say this is the Russian version of “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, however, Turgenev’s poetical and expressive style makes it much more impactful and interesting. I keep listening to some of the chapters again and again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A beautifully read classic

This was just the right length for a car journey today and so I was able to listen to it in one sitting. The reading is fantastic and really compelling. I have never read Turgenev before so it was a great introduction. As with all short stories I find myself wanting more but ended this one contenting myself with the knowledge that the writer achieved everything he intended. A gem.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intimate and intense

Turgenev seems to work perfectly for an audiobook. A narrators casual, intimate tone, precise language and characterisation, and an intensity of emotion, all come across through the reading.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

The perfect book to get out of a reading slump! Very much enjoyed it! Brilliant

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Troughton is outstanding

Fab recording of a great classic- Troughton is a true pro. Atmosphere & tension conveyed in minimalist scenes. Loved it!



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