Senior English

Below please find a summary of "Natasha" by David Bezmozgis AND a copy of the text, itself. For homework, review your class notes on Natasha and read the summary. Don't have any notes? Reread the story to refresh yourself.

"Natasha" by David Bezmozgis tells the story of Berman, a 16 year-old social recluse growing up in a Russian-Jewish household in suburban Ontario. Berman's self-described "subterranean life" of smoking weed and masturbating in his basement is disrupted by the arrival of his uncle Fima's new wife Zina and her 14 year-old daughter Natasha, both having just arrived in Canada from a crumbling Soviet Union. Narrated by Berman, "Natasha" centers on the evolving relationship between the cousins-by-marriage. Berman is put in charge of orienting the Russian-speaking Natasha to Canadian life. Natasha is certainly different: she is sexually experienced, having acted in pornography back in Russia, and seems to hate her mother. Berman and Natasha grow closer, smoking weed at neighborhood dealer Rufus's house and eventually even having sex. The story's climax occurs when Natasha, hoping to escape the life Zinna has imposed on her, seduced Fima. Zina, outraged, insists on a move back to Russia. But Natasha has different plans: rather than escaping to Florida (her original intention), she begins working with Rufus. Upon discovering this, Berman leaves both behind, choosing to forget about them and return to his home and old life.

Natasha