Aestas Book Blog's Reviews > The Summer Garden
The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)
by
10++ stars
WOW!! Once again, I am writing this review through my tears (happy tears). What a beautiful book and wonderful conclusion to one of the greatest love stories ever told!!!!
The first part of this book is about healing. Healing from all the traumas WW2 has left on their bodies and souls. About finding a way to emotionally find their way back to the peace of Lazarevo. Their memories haunt them like scars - unforgettable souvenirs of a war neither of them wanted to fight as they struggle to build a new life in the States with their son.
I really viewed books 1 & 2 as one story. The first ended on a cliffhanger and the story bled right into the second which ended in a way that wrapped up that part of the story. That first story really defines LOVE . Falling in love, being in love, the extremes to which a person will fight for their love.... In book 1, Tania is 17 years old while Alexander is 22, and by the end of book 2, Tania is 22 and Alexander is 27.
But book 3 is different. By the end of it, Alexander is about 85 and Tania is 80. This book is about LIFE . Its about the realities of married life based on true, all consuming love. Tania and Alexander make good decisions and some bad decisions as they struggle to find balance in their lives and to heal from the war... but through it all, it always comes back to their endlessly deep LOVE for each other. It feels like a very realistic and true story - no fairy tale here. Its gritty and INTENSELY, EXHAUSTINGLY, DEEPLY emotional .... and it all comes back to that one day, in Lenningrad, where a young officer in the Red Army crossed the street for a beautiful blond girl sitting on the bench at the bus stop eating her ice cream <3
Especially after having read books 1&2, I felt SO deeply emotionally connected to the characters that when ever they would have memories or would mention the names of people/places that had memories attached to them, I found myself bursting into tears even without realizing it. This series really makes you FEEL more strongly than any other I have ever read.
The ending is beautiful and perfect. I sobbed through the last 10 pages. Their story comes full circle with no questions left unanswered. I read this book SO slowly, savoring every word, never wanting the story to end.
Paullina Simmons is a truly gifted author. She has a way with words that I won't even try to do justice to with my own but I really think everyone should, at least once in their lives read this trilogy. I know I will definitely be rereading for the rest of my life.
Alexander and Tatiana's story through all 3 books is by leaps and bounds my absolute favorite story I have ever read... Nothing else even touches it. I have NO idea how to move on from these books...
I don't know what else to say, except if you haven't read book 1, The Bronze Hoseman, you should all really bump it to the very top of your to-read pile.
My review of Book #1: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
My review of Book #2: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
CASTING: see above
****************************
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✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
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by
10++ stars
WOW!! Once again, I am writing this review through my tears (happy tears). What a beautiful book and wonderful conclusion to one of the greatest love stories ever told!!!!
The first part of this book is about healing. Healing from all the traumas WW2 has left on their bodies and souls. About finding a way to emotionally find their way back to the peace of Lazarevo. Their memories haunt them like scars - unforgettable souvenirs of a war neither of them wanted to fight as they struggle to build a new life in the States with their son.
I really viewed books 1 & 2 as one story. The first ended on a cliffhanger and the story bled right into the second which ended in a way that wrapped up that part of the story. That first story really defines LOVE . Falling in love, being in love, the extremes to which a person will fight for their love.... In book 1, Tania is 17 years old while Alexander is 22, and by the end of book 2, Tania is 22 and Alexander is 27.
But book 3 is different. By the end of it, Alexander is about 85 and Tania is 80. This book is about LIFE . Its about the realities of married life based on true, all consuming love. Tania and Alexander make good decisions and some bad decisions as they struggle to find balance in their lives and to heal from the war... but through it all, it always comes back to their endlessly deep LOVE for each other. It feels like a very realistic and true story - no fairy tale here. Its gritty and INTENSELY, EXHAUSTINGLY, DEEPLY emotional .... and it all comes back to that one day, in Lenningrad, where a young officer in the Red Army crossed the street for a beautiful blond girl sitting on the bench at the bus stop eating her ice cream <3
Especially after having read books 1&2, I felt SO deeply emotionally connected to the characters that when ever they would have memories or would mention the names of people/places that had memories attached to them, I found myself bursting into tears even without realizing it. This series really makes you FEEL more strongly than any other I have ever read.
The ending is beautiful and perfect. I sobbed through the last 10 pages. Their story comes full circle with no questions left unanswered. I read this book SO slowly, savoring every word, never wanting the story to end.
Paullina Simmons is a truly gifted author. She has a way with words that I won't even try to do justice to with my own but I really think everyone should, at least once in their lives read this trilogy. I know I will definitely be rereading for the rest of my life.
Alexander and Tatiana's story through all 3 books is by leaps and bounds my absolute favorite story I have ever read... Nothing else even touches it. I have NO idea how to move on from these books...
I don't know what else to say, except if you haven't read book 1, The Bronze Hoseman, you should all really bump it to the very top of your to-read pile.
My review of Book #1: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
My review of Book #2: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
CASTING: see above
****************************
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
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Quotes Aestas Book Blog Liked
“I love you. I'm blind for you, wild for you. Sick with you. I told you that our first night together when I asked you to marry me, I am telling you now. Everything that's happened to us, everything, is because I crossed the street for you. I worship you. You know that through and through...”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“Alexander, you broke my heart. But for carrying me on your back, for pulling my dying sled, for giving me your last bread, for the body you destroyed for me, for the son you have given me, for the twenty-nine days we lived like Red Birds of Paradise, for all our Naples sands and Napa wines, for all the days you have been my first and last breath, for Orbeli- I will forgive you. ”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“He is lying on dirty straw. He has been beaten so many times, his body is one bloodied bruise; he is filthy, he is hideous, he is a sinner and he is utterly unloved. At any moment, at any instant, he will be put on a train in his shackles and taken through Cerberus's mouth to Hades for the rest of his wretched life. And it is at that precise moment that the light shines from the door of his dark cell #7, and in front of him Tatiana stands, tiny, determined, disbelieving, having returned for him. Having abandoned the infant boy who needs her most to go find the broken beast who needs her most. She stands mutely in front of him and doesn't see the blood, doesn't see the filth, sees only the man, and then he knows; he is not cast out. He is loved.”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“All grimy and sweaty, Alexander drew her to him, his palms on her back, and bending to her and tilting his head, whispered into her mouth, "Tatiasha, I know you won't believe this, but if I'm looking at the sheets when I'm making love to you, we've got a bigger problem than what damn color they are.”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“Tatiana fretted over him before he left as if he were a five-year-old on his first day of school.
Shura, don't forget to wear your helmet wherever you go, even if it's just down the trail to the river.
Don't forget to bring extra magazines. Look at this combat vest. You can fit more than five hundred rounds. It's unbelievable. Load yourself up with ammo. Bring a few extra cartridges. You don't want to run out.
Don't forget to clean your M-16 every day. You don't want your rifle to jam."
Tatia, this is the third generation of the M-16. It doesn't jam anymore. The gunpowder doesn't burn as much. The rifle is self-cleaning."
When you attach the rocket bandolier, don't tighten it too close to your belt, the friction from bending will chafe you, and then irritation follows, and then infection...
...Bring at least two warning flares for the helicopters. Maybe a smoke bomb, too?"
Gee, I hadn't thought of that."
Bring your Colt - that's your lucky weapon - bring it, as well as the standard -issue Ruger. Oh, and I have personally organized your medical supplies: lots of bandages, four complete emergency kits, two QuickClots - no I decided three. They're light. I got Helena at PMH to write a prescription for morphine, for penicillin, for -"
Alexander put his hand over her mouth. "Tania," he said, "do you want to just go yourself?"
When he took the hand away, she said, "Yes."
He kissed her.
She said, "Spam. Three cans. And keep your canteen always filled with water, in case you can't get to the plasma. It'll help."
Yes, Tania"
And this cross, right around your neck. Do you remember the prayer of the heart?"
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Good. And the wedding band. Right around your finger. Do you remember the wedding prayer?"
Gloria in Excelsis, please just a little more."
Very good. Never take off the steel helmet, ever. Promise?"
You said that already. But yes, Tania."
Do you remember what the most important thing is?"
To always wear a condom."
She smacked his chest.
To stop the bleeding," he said, hugging her.
Yes. To stop the bleeding. Everything else they can fix."
Yes, Tania.”
― The Summer Garden
Shura, don't forget to wear your helmet wherever you go, even if it's just down the trail to the river.
Don't forget to bring extra magazines. Look at this combat vest. You can fit more than five hundred rounds. It's unbelievable. Load yourself up with ammo. Bring a few extra cartridges. You don't want to run out.
Don't forget to clean your M-16 every day. You don't want your rifle to jam."
Tatia, this is the third generation of the M-16. It doesn't jam anymore. The gunpowder doesn't burn as much. The rifle is self-cleaning."
When you attach the rocket bandolier, don't tighten it too close to your belt, the friction from bending will chafe you, and then irritation follows, and then infection...
...Bring at least two warning flares for the helicopters. Maybe a smoke bomb, too?"
Gee, I hadn't thought of that."
Bring your Colt - that's your lucky weapon - bring it, as well as the standard -issue Ruger. Oh, and I have personally organized your medical supplies: lots of bandages, four complete emergency kits, two QuickClots - no I decided three. They're light. I got Helena at PMH to write a prescription for morphine, for penicillin, for -"
Alexander put his hand over her mouth. "Tania," he said, "do you want to just go yourself?"
When he took the hand away, she said, "Yes."
He kissed her.
She said, "Spam. Three cans. And keep your canteen always filled with water, in case you can't get to the plasma. It'll help."
Yes, Tania"
And this cross, right around your neck. Do you remember the prayer of the heart?"
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Good. And the wedding band. Right around your finger. Do you remember the wedding prayer?"
Gloria in Excelsis, please just a little more."
Very good. Never take off the steel helmet, ever. Promise?"
You said that already. But yes, Tania."
Do you remember what the most important thing is?"
To always wear a condom."
She smacked his chest.
To stop the bleeding," he said, hugging her.
Yes. To stop the bleeding. Everything else they can fix."
Yes, Tania.”
― The Summer Garden
“....and when Tatiana lifted her glistening eyes to him, Alexander was looking down at her with his I’ll-get-on-the-bus-for-you-anytime face.”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“Everything comes at a price. Everthing in your life. The question you have to ask yourself is, what price are you willing to pay?”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“This is days and days and months and years and all the minutes in between, just you me.”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
“This Zippo read, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.. for I'm the baddest motherfucker in the valley.”
― The Summer Garden
― The Summer Garden
Reading Progress
Finished Reading
March 9, 2012
– Shelved
March 9, 2012
–
0.13%
"Im so so so excited to start the conclusion to this EPIC LOVE story!!!!! I just can't get enough of Alexander and Tatiana"
page
1
March 10, 2012
–
16.09%
"Yet again, this series has kept me up till 5am reading. It's so wonderful seeing Shura and Tania slowly healing after the war and learning to live again :)"
page
121
March 10, 2012
–
25.53%
"I love that feeling when you are reading a book and you just can't wipe the big silly grin off your face :D"
page
192
March 11, 2012
–
31.91%
"Oh this book!!! *sigh* *swoon* one minute it can have me crying my eyes out, and the next minute grinning like an idiot. Love love love it!!"
page
240
March 11, 2012
–
38.43%
"I want to keep reading till the sun comes up but I have to get up early tomorrow. Why can't there be a full time job as a reader??"
page
289
March 12, 2012
–
46.41%
"Hah! This book should be sold with sold mild sedatives... I'm exhausted but i can't stop reading"
page
349
March 12, 2012
–
51.6%
"Lazarevo. How can one single word never fail to bring happy tears to my eyes??"
page
388
March 13, 2012
–
68.88%
"Well that was an intense section of the book. Literally balled my eyes out. Okay. On to happy times...."
page
518
March 13, 2012
– Shelved as:
6-star-books
March 13, 2012
– Shelved as:
favorites
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by
Kay
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 13, 2012 07:41PM
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You'll have to get Tatiana's Table: Tatiana And Alexander's Life Of Food And Love for Tatiana's recipes and little vignettes. :)
I did read an ebook recently where I absolutely feel in love with the H/h just like Tatiana and Shura. It's a debut book so it has its flaws technically but it's anxsty and totally "you and me against the world" which makes me think of T&A... it's Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold. If you have an ereader you should try it- its only $2.99. I cant pimp it enough because it tore me up!
My heart is being torn in two!!! They have just left Coconut Grove and are int he camper heading west.... Gosh when he recalls his time in the prisoner camp!!
I also feel so badly for Antman. Alexander doesn't have the capacity to Love him fully at this moment. But you can see that he would have been an amazing Dad! He grows into that when Pasha and Janie come along but it takes so long for him to truly heal.... I imagine you can never recover that horror!
I wish he didn't feel like such a failure at this point. I wish he could see that he has NEVER failed Tatiana, well up until Carmen anyway!
oops my comment wasn't attached to yours...
I feel like their memories became my memories. I have every page of this series imprinted so strongly in my mind. Even thinking about it makes me tear up. In a good way :)
Omg he is just delicious in this picture :)
Yes, exactly!!!
Awww I missed this comment but you are so welcome!! I'm so glad you fell in love with these books <3
Pinkcaramel wrote: "The most beautiful love story I have ever read!!! I just can't get enough, I wish it never ends!!!"
I absolutely agree!! incomparable
I just finished this series because of your recommendation. I am barely able to write through my tears. There is nothing I can say that will give this book or any of them in the series the justice they deserve. THANK YOU for the recommendation!!! These were AMAZING, beautiful, heart breaking, frustrating and just fantastic.
AWwwW *hug* !! You are SO welcome and I am sooo glad you loved these book! They are just totally above and beyond!
Thank you so much!!!
I read that first, before hearing about The Bronze Horseman. Both totally consuming series. My top 2 series.
Yes, Paullina is an amazing author, especially when it comes to historical romances. I'm SO excited for her new book, "Lone Star"'! The blurb sounds like it has the potential to be EPIC!!
Ps. I have to recommend "The Bridge to the Holy Cross" if you haven't read it yet. It's an absolute MUST if you love Alexander and Tatia. It has about 100 extra pages than "Tatiana and Alexander" with sooo many epic delated scenes from Shuras POV , like when he saw Tania for the first time, the hospital scene and when he meets Anthony, etc.
I think I'll have a book break for a week to let it all settle and then start with something light and happy to distract me. Moving on is usually the way to do it or re-read :)