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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the first book I’ve read that takes place in Russia aside from Crime and Punishment. So needless to say, I have an extremely limited understanding of Russian history after the Bolshevik revolution. However, this novel does a good job in spite of that to keep the plot going - there were historical events that I was unfamiliar about but not so unfamiliar about that I couldn’t keep the novel going. The core of this work of fiction is a romance between two individuals that spans nearly an entire century. Along the way there is mystery, psychological thriller, and contemporary (for the book, that would be the early nineties) genre elements woven throughout. And it features multiple narrators and view points, as well as a litany of characters that remind one of Anna Karenina or Crime and Punishment.
My main concern with this book is that a huge point of the story and the core of the mystery element is left unsolved? Why did the murders occur? And corollary to that, what is the significance of the dolls in this story? I struggled so hard to figure out these two gaping plot holes and when they weren’t finished at the end of the novel, I was left with more questions than answers. The novel ends in a rather abrupt way - shifting the focus back to Tonya and the completion of her story while Raisa still has her story left incomplete. And while we’re at it, I didn’t appreciate Raisa’s romance subplot while overseas. I don’t think it added much to the story and seems like a cop out way to manufacture the desire she has to stay in Russia.
In all, this story has great elements, great writing, and timeless prose. I could see it becoming a modern classic about Russia. However, there were too many logical plot holes in the text that left me more dissatisfied at the end of this novel. Also this novel is a direct rip off of the ending of Jane Eyre, and I’m not sure how that wasn’t picked up by the editors, publishers, or other readers? I found that highly unusual and just left a bad feeling for me about this book.
My main concern with this book is that a huge point of the story and the core of the mystery element is left unsolved? Why did the murders occur? And corollary to that, what is the significance of the dolls in this story? I struggled so hard to figure out these two gaping plot holes and when they weren’t finished at the end of the novel, I was left with more questions than answers. The novel ends in a rather abrupt way - shifting the focus back to Tonya and the completion of her story while Raisa still has her story left incomplete. And while we’re at it, I didn’t appreciate Raisa’s romance subplot while overseas. I don’t think it added much to the story and seems like a cop out way to manufacture the desire she has to stay in Russia.
In all, this story has great elements, great writing, and timeless prose. I could see it becoming a modern classic about Russia. However, there were too many logical plot holes in the text that left me more dissatisfied at the end of this novel. Also this novel is a direct rip off of the ending of Jane Eyre, and I’m not sure how that wasn’t picked up by the editors, publishers, or other readers? I found that highly unusual and just left a bad feeling for me about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Abandonment, Classism
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful story, but after finishing it, I think there are a few plot holes that could have been better addressed at the end of the story. I was left with questions that no one seems to be able to answer!
3.5 stars. I don’t know much about Russian history and I found much if it confusing. In most historical fiction you learn parts of history through a fictional story. I had to put this down several times to look up historical information. I liked the story and the mystery of how it would connect , it’s too bad you need so much background info to enjoy it.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Went into this thinking it’ll be more of a typical romance set in the historical background of the Russian revolution but instead was pleasantly surprised by a story of love, fairy tales, and identity.
The prose itself was so beautiful, like a flowing consciousness, it just drew me in and made me buy into the story’s whimsy and fantasy elements. The fairy tale interims alluding to ensuing parts of the plot were so good, and the fact they simultaneously serve as allegories for events and commentary about the revolutions was fantastic. As someone who has their fair share of creeps around dolls, the added subtle horror element they had in the story in addition to being motifs and a plot device made the atmosphere much more mysterious, aiding the murder mystery subplot.
I didn’t really care for Lev or the romance with him, mainly because I thought his character was underdeveloped. I felt like there wasn’t enough fleshed out about his background and he more served to be Raisa’s parallel to Tonya’s Valentin and her tie back to her Russian identity. It wasn’t enough to detract from the story mainly because they weren’t the main couple in my head.
I think the most glaring thing is themurder plot was never really resolved? We learn it was Alexey’s brother who was in love with Katya, and Zoya got caught in the crossfire, but we never learn why that is. And Raisa just accepts that, which I find a bit strange . It left a lot to be desired given Raisa’s original ambitions in going back to Russia.
Tonya and Valentin’s storyline was my favorite part of the book. The ups and downs of their lives and how they intertwined, what they represented, and how they developed, all were so insightful into different sociopolitical aspects of the revolution while remaining a tragic and beautiful love story.
The prose itself was so beautiful, like a flowing consciousness, it just drew me in and made me buy into the story’s whimsy and fantasy elements. The fairy tale interims alluding to ensuing parts of the plot were so good, and the fact they simultaneously serve as allegories for events and commentary about the revolutions was fantastic. As someone who has their fair share of creeps around dolls, the added subtle horror element they had in the story in addition to being motifs and a plot device made the atmosphere much more mysterious, aiding the murder mystery subplot.
I didn’t really care for Lev or the romance with him, mainly because I thought his character was underdeveloped. I felt like there wasn’t enough fleshed out about his background and he more served to be Raisa’s parallel to Tonya’s Valentin and her tie back to her Russian identity. It wasn’t enough to detract from the story mainly because they weren’t the main couple in my head.
I think the most glaring thing is the
Tonya and Valentin’s storyline was my favorite part of the book. The ups and downs of their lives and how they intertwined, what they represented, and how they developed, all were so insightful into different sociopolitical aspects of the revolution while remaining a tragic and beautiful love story.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
It definitely could have done without the modern day main character’s love story/cheating on her fiancé but this was a heartbreakingly good book. So much time lost. And a time period I didn’t know much about, makes me interested in reading more about Russian history.
I found this to be a frustrating book that tried to cover so much ground no one time period got enough attention and didn’t resolve many of the mysteries that are a focus throughout the book