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serendipitysbooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
Winterland is the story of Anya who, at the age of eight, was selected for a special gymnastics school in the Soviet Union in the 1970s with the eventual goal of her competing at the Olympics. Interspersed with Anya’s tale is the mystery of her mother’s disappearance and stories from her elederly neighbour who spent time in a work camp. I thought this book did a great job of showing the love/hate relationship between athlete and coach, the sacrifices children and their parents were expected to make for sport and the glory of the country, the way the desire to win trumped any concern for the athlete’s physical or mental well-being, the way gymnasts were viewed as expendable and replaceable. I also liked the way the cold, harsh physical environment paralleled the cold harsh emotional environment. My main criticism of this book was that the other two threads didn’t feel well-integrated or essential to the plot. While they contributed to a fuller picture of life in Soviet society I think that Anya’s experiences spoke for themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Fatphobia
jaygabler's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
At once a warm evocation of family life in the Soviet Union and a damnation of the country's systemic repression. The author's sensitive exploration of her story's historical context makes this a sports story like none other. By the end of the book, we're completely invested in Anya's quest; not her quest for gold, but to be able to choose her own path through life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Rape
lindsayerin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia
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