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filaret526's review against another edition
5.0
Very well researched ! As a long time Russian History fanatic, I can say that the author has done her homework especially with the feelings and divisions among the Bolsheviks, SR, anarchist, etc.
The book takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns for sure. I am eager to read the second book when it comes out.
The book takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns for sure. I am eager to read the second book when it comes out.
saintswitchblade's review
3.0
This book got real weird toward the end. If it had been two separate books, one about the revolution and another about a cult, I would have liked them both a lot more.
crypticartemis's review
Main character completely unlikable and was tedious to read most of the time.
v_hankins's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
scarletohhara's review
4.0
I finished this book a week ago but I didn't want to write about it. I loved reading Marina's story as she recounts her life as a bourgeois kid, as a rebel involving herself in the Revolution, as a girl in love, as a daughter, as someone who had to become an adult overnight and provide for herself and as an adult seeing the Revolution she so fought for not giving the desired results.
Absolutely loved it.
I also loved reading Fitch's prose. Literally poetry in prose, especially some passages as she describes how Marina feels about Kolya or the rebellion or Mariyno (this feels almost like Scarlett O'Hara's Tara) or about her younger brother. I loved Fitch's research into how life for a common Man in Russia could've been back around the Revolution in 1917.
I have read a few books about Russia, but none gave me an idea about the Russian Revolution as much as this one!
The only reason why I'd hesitate to read the next part of this book is because I did not enjoy the section where the Master lives in Mariyno and how Vera Borisnova takes the role of the Mother. For astory that was so grounded in reality, this angle is a little too much out of character, in my opinion. But I'll still read the next part of Marina's story, purely because I want to know how she got herself safe from the circumstances she got pushed into.
Absolutely loved it.
I also loved reading Fitch's prose. Literally poetry in prose, especially some passages as she describes how Marina feels about Kolya or the rebellion or Mariyno (this feels almost like Scarlett O'Hara's Tara) or about her younger brother. I loved Fitch's research into how life for a common Man in Russia could've been back around the Revolution in 1917.
I have read a few books about Russia, but none gave me an idea about the Russian Revolution as much as this one!
The only reason why I'd hesitate to read the next part of this book is because I did not enjoy the section where the Master lives in Mariyno and how Vera Borisnova takes the role of the Mother. For astory that was so grounded in reality, this angle is a little too much out of character, in my opinion. But I'll still read the next part of Marina's story, purely because I want to know how she got herself safe from the circumstances she got pushed into.
carriebethreads's review
4.0
Very good. The length got in the way for me, but otherwise interesting.
mindfullibrarian's review
4.0
So, this book. I'm settling on 3.5 stars, although I know Goodreads won't honor the half!
Thanks to Little Brown for the ARC of the title.
I dedicated 6 days of my life to all 804 pages of it and am attempting to pull all of my thoughts together.......and then I read the Goodreads and BookPage interviews with the author that explains that this is book 1 of 2 volumes, and that muddled all of my previous thoughts! I really wonder why that wasn't more heavily publicized??? Ultimately, I'm glad I read this book because it was a perfect slow-down from the frenetic reading schedule I have been on lately. And although it drove me crazy at times and I wanted to shake Marina at times, I grew to care deeply about what happened to her and how her story ended..........
I don't want to include spoilers here, so I'll just do bullet-pointed ramblings........
* I can not begin to critique the historical accuracy of the story given my limited knowledge of this historical setting and events, but from what is said in the interviews, Fitch spent a large amount of time IN Russia researching this book and met with historical experts in Russia to ensure things are accurate. I was fascinated with the political and historical storylines, although I honestly couldn't keep everything straight - I didn't let my confusion bog me down, though, and just resolved to read more about this time period.
* There is a LOT of sex in this book. Lots of graphic sex. I think the NYT Review says it best - "For all her progressive defiance, Marina is still treated by the more politically empowered men in her life as merely an object for degradation — the details of which are perhaps a little crass even for the most jaded reader." She is sexually empowered because she acknowledges her desires and seeks out satisfaction, but........oh my LORD does she get imprisoned and taken advantage of by horrible men so so so so so often!
* I would have given this 5 stars based on the first 670 pages. However, pages 671-800 were WAY trippy and out there and took this story in a direction that I in no way saw coming or wanted to have occur. If had been editing this book, I would have strongly, strongly recommended that this strange storyline either change or be completely left out of the book, but of course, that's just me! I do know the length of the book overall will probably deter some readers.
* The fact that I stuck with the book is impressive given its length, so there is a lot to be said for the author's storytelling and the sense of suspense she built - especially given the prologue in Carmel, CA in 1932. I read feverishly at times to figure out how. the. hell. she. got. there. However, without knowing ahead of time that there is supposed to be a volume 2 (and it appears neither did any of the major trade reviewers???), I almost threw this book out the window when I got to the ending. My final verdict will have to be given once I read the next book, I guess.........
If you are into doorstop historical epics, you may enjoy this one. If you love Russian history, pick this up. If you want a satisfying ending to your untold hours of reading..........maybe wait until you know for sure that volume 2 is on its way.
Thanks to Little Brown for the ARC of the title.
I dedicated 6 days of my life to all 804 pages of it and am attempting to pull all of my thoughts together.......and then I read the Goodreads and BookPage interviews with the author that explains that this is book 1 of 2 volumes, and that muddled all of my previous thoughts! I really wonder why that wasn't more heavily publicized??? Ultimately, I'm glad I read this book because it was a perfect slow-down from the frenetic reading schedule I have been on lately. And although it drove me crazy at times and I wanted to shake Marina at times, I grew to care deeply about what happened to her and how her story ended..........
I don't want to include spoilers here, so I'll just do bullet-pointed ramblings........
* I can not begin to critique the historical accuracy of the story given my limited knowledge of this historical setting and events, but from what is said in the interviews, Fitch spent a large amount of time IN Russia researching this book and met with historical experts in Russia to ensure things are accurate. I was fascinated with the political and historical storylines, although I honestly couldn't keep everything straight - I didn't let my confusion bog me down, though, and just resolved to read more about this time period.
* There is a LOT of sex in this book. Lots of graphic sex. I think the NYT Review says it best - "For all her progressive defiance, Marina is still treated by the more politically empowered men in her life as merely an object for degradation — the details of which are perhaps a little crass even for the most jaded reader." She is sexually empowered because she acknowledges her desires and seeks out satisfaction, but........oh my LORD does she get imprisoned and taken advantage of by horrible men so so so so so often!
* I would have given this 5 stars based on the first 670 pages. However, pages 671-800 were WAY trippy and out there and took this story in a direction that I in no way saw coming or wanted to have occur. If had been editing this book, I would have strongly, strongly recommended that this strange storyline either change or be completely left out of the book, but of course, that's just me! I do know the length of the book overall will probably deter some readers.
* The fact that I stuck with the book is impressive given its length, so there is a lot to be said for the author's storytelling and the sense of suspense she built - especially given the prologue in Carmel, CA in 1932. I read feverishly at times to figure out how. the. hell. she. got. there. However, without knowing ahead of time that there is supposed to be a volume 2 (and it appears neither did any of the major trade reviewers???), I almost threw this book out the window when I got to the ending. My final verdict will have to be given once I read the next book, I guess.........
If you are into doorstop historical epics, you may enjoy this one. If you love Russian history, pick this up. If you want a satisfying ending to your untold hours of reading..........maybe wait until you know for sure that volume 2 is on its way.
c8_19's review
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Why is this so long? Why is Marina such a tedious creature? Why are all the likable characters relegated to the sidelines?
This is one of those books where things happen, yet it also feels like nothing is happening. There's so much exposition. And, from a technical critique, I enjoyed Fitch's style. I won't knock that.
It's just that, at a certain point, readers need to see choices being made and momentum. Too often we were plodding along with angsty Marina, who consistently fell into a pattern of poor judgment. Am I looking for a character who does the right thing every time? No, but am I looking for a character whose grey existence doesn't become annoying? Yes.
I do feel like most of my grief has to do with unlikable characters and pacing. That being said, there are a number of other things this author executed well. I had no issues feeling the desperation and grittiness of the life these people were living and the difficult decisions they had to weigh. The emotions and moods really shone through. Which was something that made me wrestle with sticking with this book because, on the one hand, I wanted to see the characters get out of these very serious situations, but, on the other, I was constantly wishing for a new MC.
Apparently, this is only part one of I don't know how many installments, but I cannot imagine picking up part two and willingly going along with Marina for 800 pages more.
This is one of those books where things happen, yet it also feels like nothing is happening. There's so much exposition. And, from a technical critique, I enjoyed Fitch's style. I won't knock that.
It's just that, at a certain point, readers need to see choices being made and momentum. Too often we were plodding along with angsty Marina, who consistently fell into a pattern of poor judgment. Am I looking for a character who does the right thing every time? No, but am I looking for a character whose grey existence doesn't become annoying? Yes.
I do feel like most of my grief has to do with unlikable characters and pacing. That being said, there are a number of other things this author executed well. I had no issues feeling the desperation and grittiness of the life these people were living and the difficult decisions they had to weigh. The emotions and moods really shone through. Which was something that made me wrestle with sticking with this book because, on the one hand, I wanted to see the characters get out of these very serious situations, but, on the other, I was constantly wishing for a new MC.
Apparently, this is only part one of I don't know how many installments, but I cannot imagine picking up part two and willingly going along with Marina for 800 pages more.
misterintensity's review
3.0
Marina Makarova is the sixteen year old daughter of a Russian bourgeoisie official living in luxury on the eve of the Russian Revolution. The tumultuous events of the revolution is the beginning of a tumultuous period in Marina's life. During the three year span of 1917-1919, a lot of changes occurred in Russia which is reflected in the events of Marina's life in this historical novel about this daughter of the bourgeoisie. While the circumstances of Marina's life does change throughout the novel, in many ways she's the same, wide-eyed school girl that she was when the novel began. Your enjoyment of the novel will very well depend on whether you could tolerate Marina, who often comes across as very unlikable and bratty throughout. It gets to the point that even the other characters point out how mercurial she could be when she pops in and out of the other characters' lives, especially toward the end of this very long novel. The other characters are not much more likable than Marina which makes it hard to identify with any one of the many characters that come in and out of the narrative. Fitch's research into the Russian Revolution, especially how it effected everyday Russian citizens of all classes is impeccable but those expecting a straightforward novel of the effects of the Russian Revolution from the point of a view of a bourgeois individual who gets caught up in its effects will be disappointed since as you read on this book becomes a variation of the "Perils of Pauline" as Marina gets herself into ever more absurd situations. The description of the despair faced by Russian workers and peasants due to the broken promises of the revolution is the novel's strength. That could have been the basis of a compelling novel, instead what we get is an overly long "woman in peril" novel.