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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book is historical fiction, mostly YA coming-of-age novel. According to the author’s note, it is semi-autobiographical involving episodes from her own childhood and the adult part mirrors her own life. The first 2/3s follow two close friends who spend most of their time talking about boys and then the two boys they add to their friend group. It deals with the changes in the USSR from 1984/85 but mostly by telling instead of showing. The book takes place in very few locations so most of this is overhearing or participating discussion with adults versus experiencing. This is a little slow and can get old. A sex scene between young teens will always feel wrong to me and in general the crude language seemed overdone but may have been realistic to the author’s experience. The sexual abuse one of the characters experienced was very heavily hinted at come 10% (why I am not considering a spoiler). This is a tragic book and there is really no hope for most characters. The last third takes place 20 years later when the MC is an adult and goes to the US and then returns home. It feels more of a summary and less connected to the rest of the book. Also, the adult still felt like a teen. I almost gave it 2 stars but went with 3 since it was semi-autobiographical, and the author’s note gave it context.
I cannot rightfully describe how much I love this book. Preface: I listened to this as an audiobook.
For starters, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry is an incredible writer. Each time I pressed play I felt like I was right there with the characters. Everything felt so tangible and real, it was beautiful. The way the characters are composed and put together are just as good. I fell in love with each of them, as if they were friends of my own. As a 20 year old American, I know absolutely nothing about Europe, yet alone Soviet Russia. History classes were poorly taught, and often acted as nap time for students like me who could skid by high school with A's and B's. I feel like, although a piece of fiction, I have learned more reading (well, I guess listening?) to this book than I have all history classes I've sat through. I never knew the Soviet Union was more than just Russia. I never knew it was happening during the 80's. I had never known what anyone had went through during those times, young or old.
Not only did I get to learn a lot in this book, but it felt all the more sentimental and genuine coming from someone who was there. I made sure to stay for the Author's Note, as other reviews had suggested, and by god was it worth it. I hope Kristina knows just how much I love and appreciate this piece of work. I will be reading, and maybe even watching, The Cherry Orchard someday, and I will be telling all my friends about this book. It tugged on my heart strings, had me gasping in the car, and googling all sorts of places and people during this time period. I will be thinking about Anya, Milka, Trifonov, and Lopatin for the next few weeks, and I will be thinking of Kristina, who had went through it all herself too.
TLDR: This book is awesome please read it rn if you love historical fiction and coming of age 5/5 stars
TW: rape, abuse
For starters, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry is an incredible writer. Each time I pressed play I felt like I was right there with the characters. Everything felt so tangible and real, it was beautiful. The way the characters are composed and put together are just as good. I fell in love with each of them, as if they were friends of my own. As a 20 year old American, I know absolutely nothing about Europe, yet alone Soviet Russia. History classes were poorly taught, and often acted as nap time for students like me who could skid by high school with A's and B's. I feel like, although a piece of fiction, I have learned more reading (well, I guess listening?) to this book than I have all history classes I've sat through. I never knew the Soviet Union was more than just Russia. I never knew it was happening during the 80's. I had never known what anyone had went through during those times, young or old.
Not only did I get to learn a lot in this book, but it felt all the more sentimental and genuine coming from someone who was there. I made sure to stay for the Author's Note, as other reviews had suggested, and by god was it worth it. I hope Kristina knows just how much I love and appreciate this piece of work. I will be reading, and maybe even watching, The Cherry Orchard someday, and I will be telling all my friends about this book. It tugged on my heart strings, had me gasping in the car, and googling all sorts of places and people during this time period. I will be thinking about Anya, Milka, Trifonov, and Lopatin for the next few weeks, and I will be thinking of Kristina, who had went through it all herself too.
TLDR: This book is awesome please read it rn if you love historical fiction and coming of age 5/5 stars
TW: rape, abuse