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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Like all well-educated individuals, I first learned about the Romanovs from the animated movie Anastasia. I know you remember it. Don't deny it.
A Brief Father Cameo
A Sweet Romance BetweenMeg Ryan Anastasia and John Cusack Dimitri
You Want a Little Sass with that Romance? You Betcha!
I am still a kid at heart and still adore this movie for everything that it is (I fear that "accurate" is not something that it is). Unfortunately, this means that myobsession interest was based on LIES. Being aware of this, I decided to approach The Kitchen Boy as a newborn babe - unaware, innocent, and wrinkly yet adorable.
You know what I loved about this book?
Well, a lot of things, but the first was that it didn't go on and on and on and on (much like this review may end up doing). It was short and precise but also very powerful.
There is a mystery/twist, but I was a little oblivious and didn't get caught up in that at all. Much of the book was the day to day activities of the Romanov family and the select servants still with them, but it didn't feel repetitive. Even the mundane "rinse, lather, repeat" days fascinated me. The mystery/twist was just a bonus.
I loved that the way the characters were presented made me grow attached to them.
Good Because: I felt connected to the characters. I felt like I was there. A fly on the wall. I felt my heart break for that poor Tsar and Tsarista because they weren't evil; they were just oblivious and ignorant and too wrapped up in their own family and four walls. And while I don't love feeling sad (ok, sometimes I do), I do love a book that can make me feel.
Bad Because: I just dreaded what I knew was going to happen all the more. I went to bed right before that part of the book because I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I read it then.
I loved that there was Russian throughout. It made me want to learn Russian, and I was walking around my house repeating words in an incrediblyhorrific amazing Russian accent/imitation. I felt so fancy!
I don't read a ton of historical fiction because the story I read usually gets into my head, and I confuse it with the truth. I forget that it is a work of fiction and find it difficult to detach and remember that it was written as a fictional account of events. This is why I appreciated the authors note:
...the indented passages, select notes, and letters attributed to the Romanovs, their captors, and Rasputin are all accurate and can be found in various archives.
This helped me separate the fiction from the non-fiction. Sometimes a girl needs a little help. Next time I will just pick up a non-fiction book and save myself the headache.
Still a great book and a great story.
4 Stars
A Brief Father Cameo
A Sweet Romance Between
You Want a Little Sass with that Romance? You Betcha!
I am still a kid at heart and still adore this movie for everything that it is (I fear that "accurate" is not something that it is). Unfortunately, this means that my
You know what I loved about this book?
Well, a lot of things, but the first was that it didn't go on and on and on and on (much like this review may end up doing). It was short and precise but also very powerful.
There is a mystery/twist, but I was a little oblivious and didn't get caught up in that at all. Much of the book was the day to day activities of the Romanov family and the select servants still with them, but it didn't feel repetitive. Even the mundane "rinse, lather, repeat" days fascinated me. The mystery/twist was just a bonus.
I loved that the way the characters were presented made me grow attached to them.
Good Because: I felt connected to the characters. I felt like I was there. A fly on the wall. I felt my heart break for that poor Tsar and Tsarista because they weren't evil; they were just oblivious and ignorant and too wrapped up in their own family and four walls. And while I don't love feeling sad (ok, sometimes I do), I do love a book that can make me feel.
Bad Because: I just dreaded what I knew was going to happen all the more. I went to bed right before that part of the book because I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I read it then.
I loved that there was Russian throughout. It made me want to learn Russian, and I was walking around my house repeating words in an incredibly
I don't read a ton of historical fiction because the story I read usually gets into my head, and I confuse it with the truth. I forget that it is a work of fiction and find it difficult to detach and remember that it was written as a fictional account of events. This is why I appreciated the authors note:
...the indented passages, select notes, and letters attributed to the Romanovs, their captors, and Rasputin are all accurate and can be found in various archives.
This helped me separate the fiction from the non-fiction. Sometimes a girl needs a little help. Next time I will just pick up a non-fiction book and save myself the headache.
Still a great book and a great story.
4 Stars
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting topic. I liked how the real story was woven into the fiction. I keep getting lost in the writing. It didn't flow very well.
The author helped me reminisce the things I loved so much Russia. It’s so crazy because I lived in the Urals, spent time in Yekaterinburg, and my Russian friends never mentioned the Romanov history buried right in their cities. It must be complicated. And that’s what this book portrays—a piece of some of Russia’s complicated history. While Russian citizens starved, there lived the Romanovs in their lavish wealth. The Bolsheviks killing them senselessly to destroy a 370 year monarchy has since romanticized the Romanovs lives. If Nikolai, the calm and gentle ruler, had been more powerful, maybe he could’ve prevented the fall. Who knows. So well written and I loved the speculative theory of the Romanovs last days and the extensive research.
My mom claims this is her number one favorite book, so I had to give it a go. These are real events that happened to the Tsar & family during the Russian Revolution, though historically tragic, it’s told in such a way that even though you know what’s going to happen, you’re still on the egde of your seat. For a historical fiction book, I didn’t expect a twist like this.
I got about 2/3rds through this book and realized I was forcing myself to finish it. I like Russian history and Russian literature, but part of what I like about Russian literature is how honest it is when it comes to the ugliness of class disparity and Russian high society. This narrative makes the Tsar and his family to be totally flawless and I came to realize I'd rather just read an actual historical biography rather than this work of historical fiction.
I know so very little about Russian history, and what can be better than reading a novel to learn a little history? I looked up some things on the internet just because my curiosity was piqued after reading the book. The Romanov family were taken captive by The Reds and put under house arrest, then eventually murdered. With the royal family was a maid, a doctor, a man servant, a cook, and a kitchen boy. This is the kitchen boy's retelling of the Romanov family's last days. However, the story is not all as you think and there is a surprise ending which I won't divulge!
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alexander used a lot of archival materials (letters, journals, photographs, testimonials) to imagine what life was like for the Romanov family while they were held for several months prior to their execution. The book was a little repetitive at times, but stick around for the last few chapters. It's worth it.