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filaret526's review
3.0
I had such high hopes for this book! I love Soviet Gymnastics and Russian/ Soviet history, so this book seemed like it would be perfect.
I think the author tried to do too much as there were a few sub plots and it seemed hard to follow at times as it felt all over the place. I found myself not that interested in the characters and the book itself was one of those that you could put down for a few days and not really miss reading it. The middle of the book started to pick up a bit when talking about Anya competing and being at Round Lake. Then it falls flat towards the end.
I think the author tried to do too much as there were a few sub plots and it seemed hard to follow at times as it felt all over the place. I found myself not that interested in the characters and the book itself was one of those that you could put down for a few days and not really miss reading it. The middle of the book started to pick up a bit when talking about Anya competing and being at Round Lake. Then it falls flat towards the end.
melissaw12's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nearly_empty_nesting's review
4.0
The USSR's gymnast team has shown the world what they can do. This historical fiction book draws back the curtain to reveal a behind-the-scenes telling of what training for Gymnasts looked like in the 1970s USSR. The mood is dark. There are multi-generational flashbacks to times spanning back to WW2 internment camp experiences, providing a bleak backdrop to what was going on in the world of gymnastics. Read along as they train athletes to dominate the gymnast world stage- at all costs.
gabrielleint's review
4.0
This book follows a fictional Soviet gymnast in the 1970s and 1980s, charting her rise through the state-sponsored system as it moved away from the more artistic-focused gymnastics to the type of gymnastics we now associate with Nadia Comeneci. This book was very hard to put down. I was gripped by Anya's story. Meadows did an excellent job of showing the brutal system these very young girls had to contend with. Anya's love for gymnastics was present for most of her career, but she knew that even if she did not want to compete, she had to. She had been chosen by her country, and she couldn't let it down--nor could she take away the gymnastics stipend her father received, and risk him losing his party membership.
The setting of Anya's hometown in Norilsk was fascinating as well. Meadows did a great job of situating the reader in this mining town in Siberia. The POVs from Anya's father and her neighbor Vera rounded out the world and were fascinating contrasts. Vera, a gulag survivor, clings privately to her faith in God and has little faith in anything else, let alone the state and socialism. Yuri, Anya's father, is a true believer and clings to his belief that socialism and communism is an overall good while suffering from a disease brought on by the nickel mining job he took in furtherance of the Soviet Union's aims. Yuri's point of view was helpful, because it made me feel like the author wasn't simply writing Red Scare-style propaganda. It showed a nuanced understanding of communism and its aims, while unflinchingly putting on display some of the worst aspects of the Soviet era. (And also--if you think capitalist countries don't do the same horrible things to their gymnasts, please watch Athlete A or At the Heart of Gold. Larry Nassar is not the only child abuser in gymnastics.)
The setting of Anya's hometown in Norilsk was fascinating as well. Meadows did a great job of situating the reader in this mining town in Siberia. The POVs from Anya's father and her neighbor Vera rounded out the world and were fascinating contrasts. Vera, a gulag survivor, clings privately to her faith in God and has little faith in anything else, let alone the state and socialism. Yuri, Anya's father, is a true believer and clings to his belief that socialism and communism is an overall good while suffering from a disease brought on by the nickel mining job he took in furtherance of the Soviet Union's aims. Yuri's point of view was helpful, because it made me feel like the author wasn't simply writing Red Scare-style propaganda. It showed a nuanced understanding of communism and its aims, while unflinchingly putting on display some of the worst aspects of the Soviet era. (And also--if you think capitalist countries don't do the same horrible things to their gymnasts, please watch Athlete A or At the Heart of Gold. Larry Nassar is not the only child abuser in gymnastics.)
daniellearider's review
2.0
My god this was bleak. Although, that is likely the point.
I loved the premise of this book: young girl in Siberia, selected to be on the Soviet Gymnastics team in the 70s, battles darkness, etc.
It just seemed to be trying to do too many things: obliquely reference sexual assault in the sport, the KGB, politics, homosexuality, gulags, survival, etc. etc. I think it could have really benefitted from some strong editing and focus.
I loved the premise of this book: young girl in Siberia, selected to be on the Soviet Gymnastics team in the 70s, battles darkness, etc.
It just seemed to be trying to do too many things: obliquely reference sexual assault in the sport, the KGB, politics, homosexuality, gulags, survival, etc. etc. I think it could have really benefitted from some strong editing and focus.
eguillotaj's review
5.0
Thank you to Henry Holt Books for the opportunity to read such a wonderful book.
Winterland offers the reader a look into life in Soviet Russia in the 1970s. It tells the story of young Anya. Anya's mother disappeared when she was just five years old. Three years later, she is chosen to train at the gymnastics school. She pushes her body beyond the limit to achieve her goal of representing her country at the Olympics. It is considered her duty to do well. Her journey brings new experiences and new friendship.
Winterland offers the reader a look into life in Soviet Russia in the 1970s. It tells the story of young Anya. Anya's mother disappeared when she was just five years old. Three years later, she is chosen to train at the gymnastics school. She pushes her body beyond the limit to achieve her goal of representing her country at the Olympics. It is considered her duty to do well. Her journey brings new experiences and new friendship.
shandawarren's review
4.0
I found this story fascinating. I don’t often read outside of the US setting, but it’s something I’m being more intentional about. This setting…the USSR in the 70s definitely was a new one for me. I felt that I learned so much and I really appreciated reading outside my comfort zone.
thebrunettebiblio's review
4.0
4.5 ⭐️
Fans of professional gymnastics need to read this incredibly heartbreaking and impactful book! I was so excited for the premise when I found this on NetGalley because sports fiction is one of my favorite genres. It had a lot gymnastics and ballet dialogue and terminology, so if you aren’t familiar, I think it could read slower/less engaging (similar to the tennis talk in Carrie Soto is Back). I loved Anya’s story mixed with flashbacks from Vera and Katerina’s experiences as women in the Soviet Union. This is a very melancholy read where you'll be feeling pain right alongside the characters. Watching Anya grow up was emotional! I wanted to give her a big hug. I really loved how this included characters based closely on real USSR gymnasts. There was only one part of the story that didn’t come full circle for me, but overall I loved it! ❤️
Read if you like:
Fans of professional gymnastics need to read this incredibly heartbreaking and impactful book! I was so excited for the premise when I found this on NetGalley because sports fiction is one of my favorite genres. It had a lot gymnastics and ballet dialogue and terminology, so if you aren’t familiar, I think it could read slower/less engaging (similar to the tennis talk in Carrie Soto is Back). I loved Anya’s story mixed with flashbacks from Vera and Katerina’s experiences as women in the Soviet Union. This is a very melancholy read where you'll be feeling pain right alongside the characters. Watching Anya grow up was emotional! I wanted to give her a big hug. I really loved how this included characters based closely on real USSR gymnasts. There was only one part of the story that didn’t come full circle for me, but overall I loved it! ❤️
Read if you like:
pensivepelican's review
5.0
Winterland is the story of Anya, a young girl who was selected for the USSR gymnastics program, a grueling assembly line that produced one champion after another. Success as a gymnast would mean leaving family and friends behind, but she had little choice. She witnessed firsthand that those who didn’t fall in line or live up to expectations would be left out in the cold. Sometimes literally.
Anya and her father live in Norilsk, a nickel mining town near Siberia, where it is dark and cold most of the year – often dangerously cold. It’s one of the coldest cities in the world and, today, one of the most polluted. It was also secretive because of the value of the nickel deposits and because many of its residents were sent there as punishment. The city served as a sort of purgatory for those who had fallen out of favor but not severely enough to be imprisoned.
Dissent was treason. Her mother was disappeared when Anya was so young her memories are mostly vague impressions. No one will talk about her mother – in part because they didn’t know what happened and also because they are afraid of being heard. There’s no way of knowing who is a friend and who may report you for perceived disloyalty.
Anya strikes up an unlikely friendship with an elderly neighbor who slowly opens up to her about her experiences in a labor camp and can shed some light on her mother’s fate.
I stayed up way too late reading this, but it was impossible to put down. So many have forgotten what the Cold War era was like or are too young to have lived through it. Russia was instrumental in defeating the Nazis during World War II, but the rise of the Soviet Union brought oppression of its own. Food shortages, poverty, and pressure to show the Motherland as powerful and invincible fostered a sense of paranoia and dread. Author Rae Meadows manages to transmit some of that dread to the reader as you wonder what each turn of the page will bring.
I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Winterland from Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Anya and her father live in Norilsk, a nickel mining town near Siberia, where it is dark and cold most of the year – often dangerously cold. It’s one of the coldest cities in the world and, today, one of the most polluted. It was also secretive because of the value of the nickel deposits and because many of its residents were sent there as punishment. The city served as a sort of purgatory for those who had fallen out of favor but not severely enough to be imprisoned.
Dissent was treason. Her mother was disappeared when Anya was so young her memories are mostly vague impressions. No one will talk about her mother – in part because they didn’t know what happened and also because they are afraid of being heard. There’s no way of knowing who is a friend and who may report you for perceived disloyalty.
Anya strikes up an unlikely friendship with an elderly neighbor who slowly opens up to her about her experiences in a labor camp and can shed some light on her mother’s fate.
I stayed up way too late reading this, but it was impossible to put down. So many have forgotten what the Cold War era was like or are too young to have lived through it. Russia was instrumental in defeating the Nazis during World War II, but the rise of the Soviet Union brought oppression of its own. Food shortages, poverty, and pressure to show the Motherland as powerful and invincible fostered a sense of paranoia and dread. Author Rae Meadows manages to transmit some of that dread to the reader as you wonder what each turn of the page will bring.
I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Winterland from Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
corinnegammon's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25