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A review by scaraquin
The Patriots by Sana Krasikov
5.0
This is a very engaging book, and I was quite impressed by the way in which Krasikov wove together the stories and perspectives of her characters. Despite the setting in a tumultuous time and place, this is not a plot-driven book in which we are driven forward by suspense, continually wondering who will live and who will die; the fate of each character is revealed fairly quickly when they are introduced. Instead, the strength of this book comes from its nuanced portrayal and analysis of complex relationships.
For such a long book, the cast of characters is quite small, and the narrative focuses on the stories of Florence and her son, Julian. Florence's story drives the plot forward, yet is shaped by her changing relationship with her homes: first Brooklyn, then Soviet Russia, then Brooklyn once more. She is an idealistic and naive character who perpetually prioritizes her relationships with places over her relationships with other people—although, she ultimately grows to recognize the importance of the latter. With Julian's narrative, we see how his return to Russia for a business trip forces him to reevaluate how he views his mother and his son, Lenny. He is quite critical of both of them at the start of the book, but is forced to appreciate their strengths, and recognize how he and they have all been shaped by the times and places in which they have lived. Finally, Krasikov deftly manages our own relationship as readers with each character. Her writing switches frequently between Florence and Julian, jumping into their pasts and futures, and occasionally introducing the point of views of other characters. Because of this, we often first see characters through the eyes of others, and only then go back and learn what they have hidden from the rest of the world, and the events that have led them to be as they are.
For such a long book, the cast of characters is quite small, and the narrative focuses on the stories of Florence and her son, Julian. Florence's story drives the plot forward, yet is shaped by her changing relationship with her homes: first Brooklyn, then Soviet Russia, then Brooklyn once more. She is an idealistic and naive character who perpetually prioritizes her relationships with places over her relationships with other people—although, she ultimately grows to recognize the importance of the latter. With Julian's narrative, we see how his return to Russia for a business trip forces him to reevaluate how he views his mother and his son, Lenny. He is quite critical of both of them at the start of the book, but is forced to appreciate their strengths, and recognize how he and they have all been shaped by the times and places in which they have lived. Finally, Krasikov deftly manages our own relationship as readers with each character. Her writing switches frequently between Florence and Julian, jumping into their pasts and futures, and occasionally introducing the point of views of other characters. Because of this, we often first see characters through the eyes of others, and only then go back and learn what they have hidden from the rest of the world, and the events that have led them to be as they are.