A review by jim_jam
The Patriots by Sana Krasikov

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m honestly in two minds over this book. On the one hand, the history was fascinating- much I wasn’t aware of especially with respect to Jewish people in Russia post WWII. On the other hand, I found the character of Lenny grating and his son equally unappealing. I found Florence much more likeable, if frustrating a character, and felt I understood her seemingly illogical choices much more. Without giving too much away, the growth of her son towards the end of the book made for a nice ending but you did have to suffer him for quite some while beforehand. To me, it felt like he was written as a character removed from Russia with no political understanding of what his mother lived through despite supposedly leaving much later. I guess the author was maybe trying to make a point/ express their own political views by contrasting Florence with Lenny but it didn’t work for me- I felt like I was meant to agree with Lenny and I just couldn’t (though obviously am not an apologist for Stalinist Russia- I just can’t stand Lenny’s blatant blindness to American capitalism and see American politics as anything aspirational too). Also, I found it bizarre to have a character working for an oil company without having any feelings about climate change (though that is probably accurate)! I would have liked to know more about Lenny’s relationships with presumably ex-Russian Jews living in Israel and think this part could have been explored more. 
Overall, well worth reading but it is quite long and drags at points.