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msilkwolfe's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like nothing reeeally happens in this book. BUT, it tells such an important story, of how families are torn apart and separated through war and immigration, unsure when they’ll be reunited. I also appreciated how it was about an immigrant from a country I wasn’t very familiar with, which was interesting to read about.
meshiz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book will mainly appeal to people who want to know more about what is currently going on in Russia/Ukraine(To be honest, me like many Americans did not realize until the fall of the Soviet Union that there was a difference between Russia and the Ukraine. I know I firmly believed that many Ukrainian cities were Russia cities. It helps that I know some recent Russian immigrants. Otherwise I think I might have found parts of the book confusing.
Like some other reviewers I found the characters not well developed. The story focuses on Nadia who is a immigrant from the Ukraine. She works as a nanny for an upper-middle class family in New York where the mother came from Russia to the US when she was five. The first half of the book compares child rearing in the US to the harsher realities of life in the Ukraine.
However, the book never really gets into the characters heads. The characters really don't change.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like some other reviewers I found the characters not well developed. The story focuses on Nadia who is a immigrant from the Ukraine. She works as a nanny for an upper-middle class family in New York where the mother came from Russia to the US when she was five. The first half of the book compares child rearing in the US to the harsher realities of life in the Ukraine.
However, the book never really gets into the characters heads. The characters really don't change.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
leonachka's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
suzanna_m's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oracle_of_delphi's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
abookolive's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
aekua's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful story about motherhood, the separation brought about by the need to emigrate, and the betrayal that comes with the decision. I learned so much about Ukraine and its long battle for independence and economic stability, as well as the cultural nuances, prejudices and stereotypes of the people who make up the communities and cultures of what used to be the Soviet Union. This is a story of hope, pain, misunderstanding, and generations and communities of women working hard to survive. This is a story of a mother estranged from her daughter.