I’ve been drawn to these Eastern European reads on a quest to assuage my own curiosity. This is one of Russia and its devastatingly brutal culture. ThI’ve been drawn to these Eastern European reads on a quest to assuage my own curiosity. This is one of Russia and its devastatingly brutal culture. This culture that centres on the state, collectively. Individuality and its freedoms have no place in this land.
A story told in dual timelines. Inga, an Austrian, marries and relocates to Moscow, 1955; Anya, a student, has had the opportunity to go abroad and is now back in Moscow working for the state, 1980.
Dual identities developed to survive in a communist regime. To serve only the state. A country known for its violence as a solution to nonconformists. No democracy; no freedoms. To live there is to either accept the defeat of reality or rise up and risk your life.
A compelling story of intrigue, betrayals, loyalties and espionage. The west vs the east. CIA. KGB. Strong female characters who hid in their own shadows for fear of being caught for their own treachery. As much as this is fiction, I believe there is much truth within these pages.
5⭐️
PSA- Yesterday, Alexei Navalny, a courageous opponent of Putin’s, passed away in the Arctic Circle jail in Russsia. He fought for democracy and freedoms and challenged Putin and the current regime. If you haven’t watched his documentary, I highly recommend. May his fight & hope live on for a better Russia....more
There isn’t much written about Hitler’s war entering the Soviet Union. This was another path of destruction where the Nazis formed a blockade around LThere isn’t much written about Hitler’s war entering the Soviet Union. This was another path of destruction where the Nazis formed a blockade around Leningrad and kept its citizens in a noose-thereby cutting them off from food and other supplies, killing almost a million civilians. This was known as the siege on Leningrad and it lasted nearly 900 days. Starvation, cannibalism, disease, frigid temperatures. Wretched circumstances.
This is the story of 2 women. Sofia, who is a violinist, and her granddaughter, Lena. It is their journey of survival. Brutal day and nights. Brave women. Under the oppression of Stalin only to be at the mercy of Hitler.
What I enjoyed about this story is it provided a perspective that little is written about. The 2 female characters were strong and I could connect with Sofia. What I didn’t like so much, a couple of editing errors; a love story at the beginning that was juvenile but did mature so I got over that. But, there was a huge gap from 1942 to the end of the war. The struggle I’m sure didn’t stop but the focus of the story was on the 1st year of the siege. There were another 2 years - how did these years differ from the 1st? What happened?
Overall, 4.25⭐️
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the current situation in Ukraine. With Putin raging this war against helpless civilians. One would hope that the erroneous decisions made by Hitler in WW2 wouldn’t transpire again. I guess Putin didn’t get that history lesson....more
I devour these stories of Russia. I need to understand how these people can live in the stifling conditions they do, imprisoned in a culture of communI devour these stories of Russia. I need to understand how these people can live in the stifling conditions they do, imprisoned in a culture of communism and political corruption. How their world is grey. The housing, the education, the poverty for the bulk of the population, the weather. The brightness of youth and curiosity quickly squeezed out. Hope and dreams savagely flattened. Their world as they know it.
This is a story about 4 teenagers and the friendship they brought to each other’s lives in the 1980’s. The dreams of travelling; of leaving the country and seeing the rest of the world in colour. The hope the country would evolve to be a better place. The joy they found in being together; debating, conversing and having fun as limited as that was with the political suffocation they endured. But life happened and brought tragedy. The grief of loss weighing them down forever. The grief of a country that never really changed. This history carried on the backs of an entire population.
The terrain is harsh and extreme. The hardships families faced. The story of these teens whose lives tragically never played out with what we take for granted in the West.
The writing is beautiful but heavy. It is slow but worth the investment. The author herself has based this story on her own youth and experiences growing up in Moscow. 4⭐️...more
My appetite seems to grow with every story I read about Russia. Even in current moments, when they are shamefully attacking what was a peaceful nationMy appetite seems to grow with every story I read about Russia. Even in current moments, when they are shamefully attacking what was a peaceful nation, my curiosity continues to spike for this isolated country and its people.
This is a story told in tandem. One in 1991, with Rosie returning to Moscow after her mother defected and searching out her history of her Papa and sister being murdered. The historical one takes place during the Russian revolution; then the Leningrad siege; the gulag and the PTSD that accompanies survivors; a love story.
Interweaved are fairytales and porcelain Russian dolls that hold the key to history.
Some murky mysteries, a communist culture and a risky romance. BUT, there is at least one mystery left unsolved and for that Loesch, I deduct a star. 4⭐️...more
Valery is a soviet prisoner who has been released from the gulag and placed in “city 40” to serve out the remainder of his sentence as a scientist. ItValery is a soviet prisoner who has been released from the gulag and placed in “city 40” to serve out the remainder of his sentence as a scientist. It’s 1963.
An odd city name, but more suspicious is the dead forest he has driven through. His specialization is in radiation. But much of his empirical data is driven by his moral compass which keeps him dangerously close to voicing his concerns. Which would mean death. Thousands of people who live there are unaware of the extreme amounts of radiation they are exposed to. The Russian motto: see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil or there will be deathly consequences. Paranoia. Those who turn against the Soviet regime are kidnapped for further scientific exposure.
An intimate friendship develops between Valery and a KGB officer, Shenkov, which becomes his lifeline. Great characters; an abundance of info on radiation - AND - Albert, the octopus.
The realism of this story is what is most disturbing. A threatened nuclear war and what Russia is willing to put their own people through to study the effects and uphold the illusion to the rest of the world they are the most powerful; even at the costs of their own human casualties.
Much of this story is true. Scientists kidnapped. This city does exist. And the radiation spiked again in 2018. Tick Tock....more
In my quest to learn more of Russian history, Winterland is another “story” that reflects life as the Russians knew it- or know it.
The pressures of beIn my quest to learn more of Russian history, Winterland is another “story” that reflects life as the Russians knew it- or know it.
The pressures of being loyal to the country. Sacrificing everything for the motherland. Being at the mercy of a system that only cares about how you can support it.
This takes place in Norilsk, the northernmost city of Siberia. Brrr. This story is of Anya, an 8 year old gymnast who must sacrifice everything she has to be the best. And win. The Soviet mentality: everything you do must be for the motherland. There must be no weakness. Her relationship with Vera, the 80 something year old neighbour, who survived her own horror in the gulag years earlier. Anya’s mother, a ballerina, Who went missing when she was 5. Likely taken because she had opposing views of the state.
The information and propaganda that shaped these people. Their inability to make their own decisions for what’s best for them but rather what’s best for Russia. Their restrictions being further hindered now by the war Putin has inflicted on the Ukraine. Their knowledge of the war and the world being limited to what is chosen for them by the media. And for those who know more, really what can they do? Protestors get arrested. There is no freedom of speech. Your neighbour can be your friend one day, and turn you in the next. Have things really changed over the decades? 4.25⭐️
Thank you Rae for writing this. I know we’ve been friends on GR for years but this is the first I’ve sampled of your talented writing. It won’t be the last!!!...more
I debated reading this. Thinking I would do my own self imposed sanction on Russia. But not all Russians are Putin supporters.
Sasha is a young girl wI debated reading this. Thinking I would do my own self imposed sanction on Russia. But not all Russians are Putin supporters.
Sasha is a young girl who dreams. Dreams themselves being a defiant act. She hopes of becoming an actress in post war Russia in Moscow. A dangerous proposition if you live under the oppressive regime. Dreams don’t exist here. Survival does. Dreams are a luxury for the elite. But after finding her uncle’s journal, an artist forced to become a soldier, she knows she must escape. But escape isn’t what we in the western world would think. Characters she portrays enable her to slip into another skin rather than living her own life under the lies and corruption of the regime.
Gorokhova delivers a poetic, impactful and authentic story of Sasha, her horrific family history & the brutal world in which she lives. Forbidden Love, disappointment, hopelessness- themes that are “unpatriotic” under the iron curtain.
What is happening in Ukraine are the unthinkable horrors that happened decades ago. The Russian people being fed lies by this regime and the proverb: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Add in believe no evil: Live strong. Keeping the population in a fog of fear by intimidation, ignorance and silence.
5⭐️
Interestingly enough, the author herself left Russia and resides in the U.S. now. Much of this story parallels her own plight out of the motherland....more
It took me some time to get through this one but not because it was a sludge, oh contraire. I was in France- with little luxury time for reading.
AnyonIt took me some time to get through this one but not because it was a sludge, oh contraire. I was in France- with little luxury time for reading.
Anyone who follows me knows I’ve been gobbling up Ukraine, and Soviet reads. This one takes places when Ukraine was still part of the USSR in 1942. Germany made the bold step to move into Soviet territory in their quest to take over Europe. Mila, is a sharp shooter whose skills make her a Soviet war heroine. But this story is also based on fact and her 309 noted kills. Also known as Lady Death, she was a graduate and historian. But even as that title harbours steel, this is the story of her relationships, single parenting, and the strong female in a time when women were shunned for holding high ranks. And the character development from being a child bride at 15. It’s also about the Soviet culture and how it’s communism is ingrained at an early age. Individualism is not. Everything is done for the motherland.
I haven’t read anything by Quinn before so I’m thrilled to know she has a few more out there waiting for me. If you get a chance to read a physical copy, it does include some great photos of her. The author's notes are excellent as well as her research to the her previous novel lead to the discovery of Mila. 5⭐️...more
A stunning and vivid account of children, who were WW2 survivors in Germany, and their journeys of survival emerging from the woods to go to LithuaniaA stunning and vivid account of children, who were WW2 survivors in Germany, and their journeys of survival emerging from the woods to go to Lithuania to try to bring food back to their starving families.
Another sad and courageous story of the impact of this violent and horrific war. 4⭐️...more
***UPDATE: Ewen MacGregor to star in this epic series****
I wanted to savour this one, word for word. Towles bestows on us a language to be treasured; ***UPDATE: Ewen MacGregor to star in this epic series****
I wanted to savour this one, word for word. Towles bestows on us a language to be treasured; a story to be remembered. This was a remarkably enchanting narrative with a charming character. A gentleman, Rostov, has been put under hotel arrest. For the next several years, as he serves his time, relationships are cultivated from employees to guests to the visitors he receives and to a young girl whom he becomes a guardian for. Very descriptive - I tasted almost every meal he ate - from the crisp and tartness of an apple; to the bitterness of his coffee. This is a man who truly separated himself from others in appreciating the simple things in life. A man who was duly present, authentic and honourable.
This is a story that should be read with a good bottle of brandy or simply with the purist adoration for a storyteller who can transcend time and magically entrance us. Bravo, Towles. Bravo. I bequeath a 5 star....more
Magnifico! This had me shaking my head in awe. Anyone who knows me knows I dislike the short stories - they usually leave me only wanting more, hence,Magnifico! This had me shaking my head in awe. Anyone who knows me knows I dislike the short stories - they usually leave me only wanting more, hence, I rarely pick them up. This one, having been purchased after I read the beloved,A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, I knew I had to get to as this author has talent.
Ah such raw talent. This is a collection of stories that weaves into it people depicted from a painting. It begins in the 1930's, in communist Russia, with a failed artist who now censors art but instead of erasing those dissidents one of whom is his brother, he adds him into every picture he touches leaving it as his signature. The stories are interconnected with this painting. We become witnesses to the atrocities of war, death, poverty, what one has to do in order to survive. The tragedies and violence suffered in an oppressed country during times of war and times of communist rule. The stories span decades and into the next century.
Such descriptive and atmospheric writing. From the shocking scenes of death and destruction to joyous moments of gratitude "like a sunny day swim in a chemical waste." The language extaordinaire.
Beautifully crafted -Marra remains a force of the written word in a world that we have so few stories attached to. 4.25⭐️...more
This is what happens during war: people will do anything to survive -from murder to stealing, to going on exhaustive food hunts. Absurdly as it soundsThis is what happens during war: people will do anything to survive -from murder to stealing, to going on exhaustive food hunts. Absurdly as it sounds, this becomes the cultural norm.
It's the Soviet Union 1942. Tension is thick with famine and war. The Germans are beginning their invasion. Two soviet thieves, Lev and Kolya are captured and thrown into the same cell. However, instead of death, they are given a 4 day reprieve with a mission to find a dozen eggs for a wedding cake for a colonel's daughter. This is their mission and the wild egg hunt they go on. Trudging through a landscape of death, evading nazis and cannibals, fighting their own fatigue and exhaustion, an unusual friendship begins. Well drawn out human characters: Lev, Jewish -shy and withdrawn; paralleling that of Kolya, a mild mannered fellow providing humour on this bleak trek.
From calculated neglect to constipation -this a story rich in all elements of character development. Writing so palatable and simplistic yet rich in texture, it was a pleasure to read. 5★ Thank you to my GR friends who pointed this one out as a must read. ...more
Canadian Jen
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