Dee's Reviews > The Summer Garden

0 Star

I read this book a long time ago and I'm going to jump headfirst into this review. This is a rant. You can be damn well sure, this has spoilers.



Let us start with the 180 Alexander did in this book. I did not like many, many things in the first book, but I accepted them. They were part of the story and he did not have control over a lot of them. But what he did in this book?? Those were damn well his choices .

He emotionally abused Tatiana the entire time. And of course,the reason was given as him being emotionally damaged due to war.
Reason : Acceptable
His decision to not change his behavior : Not acceptable



He disrespected Tatiana by not listening to her opinion. He worked with a bunch of lewd, harassing and disrespecting men who made Tatiana uncomfortable at every instance possible. So she asks him to consider changing his job . But of course why will he listen to her? He is the man of the house and is making good money.
Reason : Not respecting your wife's opinion for money? NEVER acceptable
Letting Tatiana live in misery : Oh hell no

He disregarded Tatiana's request to not go to a bachelor party. She felt uncomfortable with the idea of her husband going to a bachelor party where there would be strippers. Now please take into account that they both are from Russia in that time where this is not a custom. So her discomfort is justified. But what does Alexander do? Oh obviously he goes to the party as his friend needed something from the place and stays there till 4 in the morning because he or his friend was drunk or something.
Reason : Staying there for WHATEVER reason when his wife is up at home worried. NOT ACCEPTABLE

Oh and did I mention he came home smelling like women's perfume. But that was just because some woman came and rubbed herself over him. And he being 6 feet tall and so strong, couldn't push her away ,right ?



He physically abuses his wife multiple times.
Reason : Doesn't matter. Abuse is wrong.
his behavior : If you find it acceptable, I PITY YOU.

The the prize worthy thing he did......guess what??

HE CHEATED ON HER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT SHE DIDN'T LOVE HIM ANYMORE. He sees his wife laughing and talking with a co-worker and assumes she doesn't love him. So he lets another woman give him a blow job and touches her boobs and SCHEDULES a time, place and day to fuck her. Great guy huh ?? But of course as at the end moment he gets a conscience, we readers are supposed to ignore the aforementioned BJ and touching right ?
Reason : His assumption is totally invalid . No man with INTEGRITY AND BACKBONE , no matter what the reason cheats on his wife. So his reasons are not acceptable.
His actions : Those of you who have given this book good ratings, I sincerely hope you do not consider such behavior ideal in real life.

And when he suddenly realizes what he has done to her all these years is wrong, what does he do? Does he make up for it? Not that he can make up for decades worth abuse. But does he even try? NO. You know what he does?? HE CRIES. Yeah you read that right. He cries. And as far as I remember, it was written that he cries for the first time since his teenage years. Guess what.



I don't care whether he cries or commits suicide. Tatiana had to bear this egoistical, arrogant, disrespectful, abusive, piece of shit's behavior all because she loved him?? Because she forgived him time and again ?

I only have one thing to say about Tatiana. That strong, independent, free spirited girl we met in the first 2 books now resembles what we call a DOORMAT.

And the cherry on the top ?? They solved ALL of the above mentioned things (add hundred's of arguments and jealously and pain to it) with sex . All of those who gave this book 4 and 5 stars are way more optimistic and forgiving than I am. I wish someone would have burnt this book before publishing it. Harsh? Yeah well, its nothing compared to the torture of reading it is.