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kristinj1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Overall I just really enjoyed this book. It is this really clever combination of American and Russian history, wrapped up in a story of literary intrigue and romance. I really liked the way the book moved through. Of time, taking chunks of years and then going back and forth between the East and the west. I will admit, sometimes I did have trouble keeping track of who was who, particularly among the women in the typing pool. In the end, however, I think that was okay because they talked about themselves as a group very often. We saw this, we got together for this, we remembered this. As far as a different kind of plot line, I had never read anything about this period of time in these efforts to deliver propaganda into the Soviet union. It's fascinating to know that this sort of work to deliver Dr Zhivago back across the border into the USSR actually happened.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Suicide, Miscarriage, Blood, Sexism, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Animal death, Biphobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Vomit
obohobo's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
quirkychaos's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
cmreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This atmospheric, slow burn that is definitely more character driven than action driven. I felt the point of view of the different narrators, I could place myself in their shoes and time. There's outstanding attention to historic detail - the author transported me into the glamour and heartbreaks of the setting. I am struck by the parallel suffering of the women in the east and west in order to get Dr. Zhivago distributed in the USSR. The audiobook is superb and the writing so masterful and emotive. I was excited by the surprise lesbian storyline - (it is not signaled at all in the book jacket/marketing) - the way Sally and Irina had to keep their sexuality hidden and the consequences was powerful and paralleled the suffering Olga endured for Pasternak and his book. I had to put it down because when I got to the part about Sally getting raped and came back to it later. The audiobook was great and the performances were excellent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexism
Minor: Death and Rape
This book includes a character who is arrested, interrogated, and spends years in a Soviet Gulag Forced Labor Camp and the brutality of living under Stalin and the Iron Curtain. This character also loses a pregnancy because of her imprisonment- it's not described in detail.
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