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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
dark
informative
medium-paced
Although I think this book was definitely mistitled by implying that it is mainly about the sisters, I thought that it was a very interesting glimpse into the intensely private and strictly religious lives led by the Romanov family. I admittedly knew very little about this history (aside from the Anastasia cartoon and some wikipedia searching), so I definitely learned a lot about how slowly the tension in Russia was building, how involved the girls were in nursing and the war effort, and how long the family was in exile/house arrest after Nicholas abdicated and before they were actually murdered. I listened to the audio book, so at times it was difficult to distinguish members of their entourage and friends since many had similar names, but that might be easier to keep track of if you read the actual book.
(Reading Challenge 2016: Political Memoir)
(Reading Challenge 2016: Political Memoir)
While the first half of the book was easily digestible, the last half to last third (arguably what should've been the most engaging), was rather boring and made it difficult to maintain my attention level. There should've been some pruning to this last section, because there were many details that felt wholly unnecessary and utterly stalled the plot. From dress descriptions for all the girls, to letters upon letters that offered nothing more than general support to an argument or point already fairly well substantiated.
Audiobook, narrated by [a:Xe Sands|4497263|Xe Sands|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1452977844p2/4497263.jpg]: Wonderful, rich reading voice, Sands carried me through this book — even when the details weighed it down. She has a gentle wryness in her voice that added an intriguing layer to this mysterious royal family.
Audiobook, narrated by [a:Xe Sands|4497263|Xe Sands|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1452977844p2/4497263.jpg]: Wonderful, rich reading voice, Sands carried me through this book — even when the details weighed it down. She has a gentle wryness in her voice that added an intriguing layer to this mysterious royal family.
I am a lover of all things Romanov so I enjoyed this book. For someone without my kind of interest this book may come across a bit dry. This book did change my opinion of the life style I assumed these girls lived. Although they didn't want for much, they weren't the spoiled girls people have come to hate.
I've read several books about the Romanovs over the years. This one is purportedly a biography of OTMA (Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia), daughters of the last tsar of Russia, but it ended up dealing more with the family as a whole. The narrative is straightforward and there are copious quotes from letters and diaries, but the sisters never felt fully fleshed out. It seemed as though the author was pulling her punches at times, and sometimes just failing to connect the dots. For example, she presents quotes from people who saw Anastasia as the family clown, delightfully charming, and those from others who thought she was obnoxious and ill behaved. There's very little connective tissue to tie the quotes together and bring Anastasia's personality to life.
In the prologue, the author says she's already written a book about the Romanovs' deaths in Siberia and doesn't want to cover that ground again, so the execution is glossed over. I think that's understandable, but it seemed like she was really disinterested in everything the family went through once they were in exile. I've read other books that talked about Maria being considered boy crazy by the other grand duchesses and getting into trouble with her family for flirting with the guards when they were in Siberia. There's even a story that one of the guards brought her a birthday cake and Maria was later caught with him in a "compromising position." There is no word of this in the book--does the author have reason to believe it didn't happen? Why wouldn't you mention that, if that were the case? I think the best biographies put things into context for the reader. Given that the girls were living through turbulent times and factions on every side were prone to spreading rumors to support their own agendas, I think she does the reader a disservice by not presenting some of what has been said over the years and dismantling the falsehoods. Instead the last third of the book consists of letter after letter in which the grand duchesses write to their friends about how bored they are. Unfortunately, it's also quite boring to read.
I would recommend this as a good introduction to the Romanov family, but there's not much here to interest anyone who's familiar with their story. And readers who are hoping to have the grand duchesses come alive on the page will likely be disappointed.
In the prologue, the author says she's already written a book about the Romanovs' deaths in Siberia and doesn't want to cover that ground again, so the execution is glossed over. I think that's understandable, but it seemed like she was really disinterested in everything the family went through once they were in exile. I've read other books that talked about Maria being considered boy crazy by the other grand duchesses and getting into trouble with her family for flirting with the guards when they were in Siberia. There's even a story that one of the guards brought her a birthday cake and Maria was later caught with him in a "compromising position." There is no word of this in the book--does the author have reason to believe it didn't happen? Why wouldn't you mention that, if that were the case? I think the best biographies put things into context for the reader. Given that the girls were living through turbulent times and factions on every side were prone to spreading rumors to support their own agendas, I think she does the reader a disservice by not presenting some of what has been said over the years and dismantling the falsehoods. Instead the last third of the book consists of letter after letter in which the grand duchesses write to their friends about how bored they are. Unfortunately, it's also quite boring to read.
I would recommend this as a good introduction to the Romanov family, but there's not much here to interest anyone who's familiar with their story. And readers who are hoping to have the grand duchesses come alive on the page will likely be disappointed.
After reading a chapter every few months for 2+ years, I’ve finally finished
Wow. This book tells the story of the Romanov family well. I knew a lot, but I also learned a lot. This has only caused me to want to learn more about this period.
informative
sad
medium-paced
I really wanted to love this and was looking forward to the behind the curtain, so to speak, look at the sisters. Because this is pieced together, and meticulously I might add, researched, it's a bit dry. Hearing the girls' voices in their letters was nice, but this was more of a family profile, which, while perfectly valid, still didn't really flesh out who the Romanov sisters were.
Part of the problem, for me probably, is that this is truly an extremely well researched book based on fact and NOT historical fiction. While I applaud the lack of conjecture, it does not make for a scintillating read. The girls were largely cloistered with their parents in one venue or another, and extremely limited in their social interactions with the public at large, even those of their station. Marriage proposals were rejected. Balls were unattended. And when they were attended, the simplicity and awkwardness of the girls was, at times, palpable.
Due to their mother Alexandra's fervent religiosity and desire to keep the family together, AND the fact that the future tsar Alexey was so direly ill, the girls' personalities and abilities were marginalized to a great extent. They were there to serve their mother/brother in their illnesses and to, eventually, be nurses during the war.
Alexandra's parenting style would have benefited them considerably had they been in a democracy. We are so critical of our presidents when they spend conspicuously or go on vacation. These people seemingly lived modestly and simply, and they couldn't win no matter what! Such a double edged sword to have the aristocracy thinking you're acting below your station, and the peasants actually wanting you to act more like royalty and be separate. Alexandra's actions to actually help people - actually nursing people and have her daughters do the same, was highly commendable. I really felt like they were the right family in the wrong time period!
I loved how much Nicholas loved his family, and he comes off as an adoring father who really only wished to be a country gentleman. Alexandra clearly suffered from a myriad of mental and physical illnesses, and I would guess that she would be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and probably had compressed discs in her back causing her sciatica. She was not a well or sturdy person, and her lack of health really negatively impacted the entire family.
Sadly, all of the action in this book takes place in the last 100 pages. I think the author did an admirable job of giving us a composite picture of each daughter before they were thrust into their ultimate undoing. Their [SPOILER] ultimate deaths are a tragedy because each girl had the potential to be significant figures in the future of Russia and in European royalty, both for their names and for their inherent desire to effect some good in the world.
Part of the problem, for me probably, is that this is truly an extremely well researched book based on fact and NOT historical fiction. While I applaud the lack of conjecture, it does not make for a scintillating read. The girls were largely cloistered with their parents in one venue or another, and extremely limited in their social interactions with the public at large, even those of their station. Marriage proposals were rejected. Balls were unattended. And when they were attended, the simplicity and awkwardness of the girls was, at times, palpable.
Due to their mother Alexandra's fervent religiosity and desire to keep the family together, AND the fact that the future tsar Alexey was so direly ill, the girls' personalities and abilities were marginalized to a great extent. They were there to serve their mother/brother in their illnesses and to, eventually, be nurses during the war.
Alexandra's parenting style would have benefited them considerably had they been in a democracy. We are so critical of our presidents when they spend conspicuously or go on vacation. These people seemingly lived modestly and simply, and they couldn't win no matter what! Such a double edged sword to have the aristocracy thinking you're acting below your station, and the peasants actually wanting you to act more like royalty and be separate. Alexandra's actions to actually help people - actually nursing people and have her daughters do the same, was highly commendable. I really felt like they were the right family in the wrong time period!
I loved how much Nicholas loved his family, and he comes off as an adoring father who really only wished to be a country gentleman. Alexandra clearly suffered from a myriad of mental and physical illnesses, and I would guess that she would be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and probably had compressed discs in her back causing her sciatica. She was not a well or sturdy person, and her lack of health really negatively impacted the entire family.
Sadly, all of the action in this book takes place in the last 100 pages. I think the author did an admirable job of giving us a composite picture of each daughter before they were thrust into their ultimate undoing. Their [SPOILER] ultimate deaths are a tragedy because each girl had the potential to be significant figures in the future of Russia and in European royalty, both for their names and for their inherent desire to effect some good in the world.
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced