Friedrich Gorenstein is the author of the novel Chok-Chok. Reviews on the work of this writer is an extensive topic. In the sixties of the last century, one of the works of Gorenstein caused a resonance in intellectual circles. Not surprisingly, after all, this writer said something about which in Soviet times it was not customary to speak out loud. And Gorenstein’s narrative style was different from the manner inherent in his fellow writers.
“Chok-Chok”, reviews of which are the subject of this article, evokes approval, indignation, admiration and other conflicting emotions even among modern readers. And they, unlike the sixties, surprise something difficult. So what is this novel about?
about the author
Friedrich Gorenstein was born in 1932 in Kiev. He graduated from the Mining Institute. For several years he worked as an engineer in Dnepropetrovsk. Then he graduated from script courses in Moscow. His work was appreciated by such directors as Konchalovsky, Tarkovsky.
Gorenstein is the author of the scripts for the films "Solaris", "Slave of Love." Chok-Chok, reviews of which are presented below, was published in the early eighties. The most famous works of this author: “Atonement”, “House with a turret”, “Place”. Many critical articles have been written about these and other books of Gorenstein. But literary scholars for some reason did not pay attention to the novel "Chok-Chok."
Summary
The main character of the novel is Sergey Sukovaty. At the beginning of the story he is nine years old. Seryozha’s father is a gynecologist. Serezha spends a lot of time on the street. His friends are teenagers who do not inspire confidence in his father. And therefore the Sukovaty-senior decides to introduce his offspring to the daughter of his mistress. The name is Bel's girl. And it is with her that Sergey gains the first sexual experience. It is worth saying a few words about the title of the book.
Fairy tale "Chok-Chok"
Reviews about the work of Gorenstein are rather disapproving. Readers believe that the images in the book are fuzzy, the characters are poorly spelled. So, Squirrel - a young lover of Sergei - at a certain moment disappears without a trace. After describing the frank scene, she no longer appears in the narrative. Her attitude to the protagonist remains a mystery.
It is known that in childhood Belochka's mother read a few books, because she believed that not all of them had a positive effect on the development of the child. Favorite work in this family was the fairy tale "Chok-Chok." What this book is about is not so important. But it is important that the name of this fairy tale is associated with Sergey with sexual experience, which is not always successful, and rather rarely has a connection with the world of feelings and thoughts.
Kira
The physical side in the relationship between a man and a woman Sergey was studied thanks to the books of his gynecologist. Intimate life attracts and scares him with equal strength. Sometimes relationships with a woman are disgusting.
Chok-Chok is a book written in the philosophical and erotic genre. The author constantly draws parallels between physiological processes and changes in the mental world of the hero. Naturalistic details abound in the book. A rather detailed depiction of Sergei's acquaintance with Kira. This woman lives nearby and among the peers of the protagonist of the novel is known as a person trouble-free in a sense.
Garrison
Sergei enters a medical school, but does not have time to finish it. He is called up for service. In a provincial town, he spends about two years. By this time, his attitude towards women was becoming more even. Intimate life does not excite his imagination, but also does not repel him as before. In the garrison, he begins an easy relationship with an employee of the local library. Sergey works in a hospital, in his free time reads the works of great philosophers and meets this young woman. The love affair leaves no trace in his soul. Is he capable of deep feeling?
Caroline
It turns out capable. Upon returning to Moscow, Sergei enters a medical institute, draws close with one of his classmates. Alex (this is the name of a new friend) introduces him to his family. And once in a classmate’s house, Sergei met Carolina, a ballerina from the Czech Republic. This woman speaks with a Czech accent. Her wrong Russian evokes erotic fantasies in Sergey. The hero of the novel begins to haunt the ballet dancer. He understands that he has known true love.
Finally his dream comes true. Carolina comes to him ... But after two hours she leaves the apartment. And three days later, Sergei receives a letter in which the girl writes that she does not love him, and their meeting will not be repeated. Sergey is trying to commit suicide.
At the end of the novel, the author briefly describes the last years of Sergey. The hero of the work married, but did not like his wife. His character has changed not for the better. After his death, the wife did not grieve. Six months after the funeral, she remarried. But before, she went over the documents and books of her late husband. Among them was a photo in which young Seryozha was sitting next to a chubby girl, the same Bela, who so loved to listen to the fairy tale "Chok-Chok."
Book Reviews
The work is written in good literary language. This is the opinion of readers agree. However, most reviews of this book contain indignation over the large number of epithets and metaphors with which the author gives male and female intimate parts of the body. As one reader put it, "the idea was conveyed vividly, but with an unpleasant aftertaste."