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upward_not_northward's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
specificity's review
4.0
larissa's chapters were alternately gorgeous and heartwrenching, but i wasn't too much of a fan of natasha's. i guess that's the thing about dual timeline books though, i've almost never found one whose contemporary narrative holds a candle to the historical one. still thought this was an absolutely stunning read!
obviouschild96's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
fermqs's review
4.0
This book is a multigenerational story about a Ukrainian family beginning on the Russian Revolution, specially during the WWII, going until nowadays in the US. I loved the story from Larissa's point of view. The author is extremely able to create the atmosphere and engage the reader in a historical environment and we are able to see the story unfolding and feel everything that all the characters are feeling. Some points of the story and some characters are simply heartbreaking; I felt so much for 2 side characters, it was so tragic, but so well done. I really liked Larissa's own story and her coming-of-age during a extremely time in her country and for her family; even though she angered me sometimes, I could understand everything she did.
I didn't like Natasha's story that much. I enjoyed her relationship with her grandmother and her struggles with motherhood, but I really didn't like the story with her marriage and everything related to it.
I liked the book very much, but some beats of Natasha's point of view made me not love the book, specially the ending..
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.
I didn't like Natasha's story that much. I enjoyed her relationship with her grandmother and her struggles with motherhood, but I really didn't like the story with her marriage and everything related to it.
I liked the book very much, but some beats of Natasha's point of view made me not love the book, specially the ending..
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.
annetjeberg's review
4.0
This was a very well-written story that had many relatable elements for me. Loved the Ukraine part, and loved the interaction between the different generations.
Recommended
Recommended
kelseymwalsh's review
4.0
Kuznetsova has earned her way into my “immediate preorder” list with this, her second novel to crack me up and make me worry.
marshaskrypuch's review
5.0
The author seamlessly interweaves a multigenerational story of a well-to-do Ukrainian-Russian family from the time of the Russian Revolution, intensely through WWII and onto the present in the US. The novel begins with Larissa, now an elderly grandmother, telling her life story to her beloved granddaughter Natasha via regular Skype visits. Natasha is a new mother and a burgeoning actor who is struggling to put some order into her life. The intersections of these two women's personalities and weaknesses is engaging and I loved the full circle that came in the end. Larissa's struggles through WWII make for a consuming read all on their own. Many larger than life characters and incidents. I especially loved the droll voice of Larissa.
This is a multi-layered and carefully crafted novel that reads smooth like butter. Brava. One of the best novels I've read this year.
This is a multi-layered and carefully crafted novel that reads smooth like butter. Brava. One of the best novels I've read this year.
joyceriverag's review
2.0
2.5 stars / Thanks to Netgalley for access to this book!
There were parts of this book that were quite great. The grandmother's, Larissa, story, could have easily been the whole book for me. The story of a Ukrainian family in exile during the Stalinist regime was told with such dry humor and wit. However, this story was interspersed throughout that of Natasha, an aspiring actress in the United States and recent mother, who is dealing with a stagnant relationship and career, as well as postpartum depression. For the purposes of the book, I could not care about how both stories were connected, and I could not care much for Natasha's story relative to her grandmothers', who is narrating her story over Skype.
There were parts of this book that were quite great. The grandmother's, Larissa, story, could have easily been the whole book for me. The story of a Ukrainian family in exile during the Stalinist regime was told with such dry humor and wit. However, this story was interspersed throughout that of Natasha, an aspiring actress in the United States and recent mother, who is dealing with a stagnant relationship and career, as well as postpartum depression. For the purposes of the book, I could not care about how both stories were connected, and I could not care much for Natasha's story relative to her grandmothers', who is narrating her story over Skype.
melannrosenthal's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
anneke_b's review
4.0
This was a very well-written story that had many relatable elements for me. Loved the Ukraine part, and loved the interaction between the different generations.
Recommended
Recommended