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A review by mindfullibrarian
The Revolution of Marina M. by Janet Fitch
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.