Helpful Score: 2
I was lucky enough to win an advanced edition of this first novel.
This is a beautifully written book about a very strong woman in a world where strong woman are not appreciated, and her struggle to be true to herself and to reach what might seem to be an unreachable goal - happiness on her own terms. I was not sure if I would like this book, as I hate "girly" stories. But, this is not really a "girly" story. It is about overcoming obstacles and compromise. It gives a real insight into the liberated soviet satellites and how people are trying to adjust to a new world. Beautifully written, a very fast read, highly recommend it.
This is a beautifully written book about a very strong woman in a world where strong woman are not appreciated, and her struggle to be true to herself and to reach what might seem to be an unreachable goal - happiness on her own terms. I was not sure if I would like this book, as I hate "girly" stories. But, this is not really a "girly" story. It is about overcoming obstacles and compromise. It gives a real insight into the liberated soviet satellites and how people are trying to adjust to a new world. Beautifully written, a very fast read, highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
Like Sandra D. who reviewed this book before me, I received an advance copy but wasn't sure I was going to like it based on the slipcover's description which mentioned Ukraine, Mafia, sexual harassment and mistresses, matchmaking services, dentures, dark humor, and "the eternal Cold War between men and women." These are topics I'm not really interested in when choosing a novel (and this one was randomly selected for me). However, by the third page, I was hooked and found it difficult to put the book down when it was time to turn the lights off at night.
I was captivated by the main character, Daria, who I was surprised to find I resonated very strongly with - though 20 years younger than I and half a world away, we shared similar problems. I can't quite put my finger on why I was so interested in her life and what happened to her, even given the resonance, but it's been a very, very long time since I enjoyed and felt deeply for a character like this. What great writing! The life she led and the limited choices (and hopes) she had before her were often utterly depressing to me, yet her strength and conviction to go on were courageous. Knowing practically nothing about Ukraine, I came away from the novel feeling I learned quite a bit and wanted to know more. It's been said in other reviews on other sites that readers found it hard to believe the author is not Ukrainian and I concur. This is a 3-dimensional, believable character you really feel for and can relate to. And the unresolved ending is perfect - this is, after all, not a lighthearted, happily-ever-after American "chicklit" fairytale.
I would not say that this is a humorous story, not even darkly so, which the slipcover also hints at. I was made to believe this would be more like the slapstick, laugh-out-loud Bridget Jones' Diary, which I love but wasn't in the mood for when I started reading. It's nothing like Bridget Jones. It's much deeper and somber, the main character far more responsible and dignified, with bigger problems to tackle. I've not read anything quite like it before and I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next. I think this would make a great movie given the right director. This is a book that I didn't believe, at the beginning, I would keep to read over and over again, but with sincere apologies to all those who have it on their Wish List, it will be staying on my bookshelf for quite some time.
I was captivated by the main character, Daria, who I was surprised to find I resonated very strongly with - though 20 years younger than I and half a world away, we shared similar problems. I can't quite put my finger on why I was so interested in her life and what happened to her, even given the resonance, but it's been a very, very long time since I enjoyed and felt deeply for a character like this. What great writing! The life she led and the limited choices (and hopes) she had before her were often utterly depressing to me, yet her strength and conviction to go on were courageous. Knowing practically nothing about Ukraine, I came away from the novel feeling I learned quite a bit and wanted to know more. It's been said in other reviews on other sites that readers found it hard to believe the author is not Ukrainian and I concur. This is a 3-dimensional, believable character you really feel for and can relate to. And the unresolved ending is perfect - this is, after all, not a lighthearted, happily-ever-after American "chicklit" fairytale.
I would not say that this is a humorous story, not even darkly so, which the slipcover also hints at. I was made to believe this would be more like the slapstick, laugh-out-loud Bridget Jones' Diary, which I love but wasn't in the mood for when I started reading. It's nothing like Bridget Jones. It's much deeper and somber, the main character far more responsible and dignified, with bigger problems to tackle. I've not read anything quite like it before and I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next. I think this would make a great movie given the right director. This is a book that I didn't believe, at the beginning, I would keep to read over and over again, but with sincere apologies to all those who have it on their Wish List, it will be staying on my bookshelf for quite some time.
I won this book in the Goodreads.com first reads giveaway! Thank you for a great book!
This was a very good story. It touched home for me because even though I was born in America, I too sometimes feel trapped and helpless in the life I have chosen. A couple of lines that I really liked were... pg. 307 - "Odessans' worst fear is change, because what if we make a change and our situation gets worse?" pg. 309 - "I didn't know what to do, and as usual, when I didn't know what to do, I did nothing."
The story didn't end the way I had expected, and I was disappointed at first. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so I won't say anything alse about that.
This was a very good story. It touched home for me because even though I was born in America, I too sometimes feel trapped and helpless in the life I have chosen. A couple of lines that I really liked were... pg. 307 - "Odessans' worst fear is change, because what if we make a change and our situation gets worse?" pg. 309 - "I didn't know what to do, and as usual, when I didn't know what to do, I did nothing."
The story didn't end the way I had expected, and I was disappointed at first. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so I won't say anything alse about that.
I was rather pulled in by this book from the start. Daria was an engaging character, and the kind of girl I'd like to be friends with. Which made reading about her life and choices kind of difficult, I think I often would have had the same reaction to her that her American friend Jane had. I just felt so deeply for Daria, wanting the best for her, that I almost felt protective of her.
Daria is a non-native English speaker, so there are little parts in the book where she conjugates words in English, such as âswim, swam, swumâ. I found myself doing this in my actual life, in my head anyway, because it was just so charming! It's the kind of thing I never think about in my own language, and realistically it's probably good to get me thinking about the different forms of our words.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=1056
Daria is a non-native English speaker, so there are little parts in the book where she conjugates words in English, such as âswim, swam, swumâ. I found myself doing this in my actual life, in my head anyway, because it was just so charming! It's the kind of thing I never think about in my own language, and realistically it's probably good to get me thinking about the different forms of our words.
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=1056
This one took a little while to get going. Setting up the story took quite a bit. But once the story got going I really did enjoy it. There's a lot of personality points that need to be made about Daria. I think had the story just jumped in it wouldn't have been nearly as good. I felt like the building was very necessary to the rest of the story.
I like Daria and her Boba. Daria's a very strong woman. She knows how to get what she wants in her beautiful city of Odessa. The means she takes don't always seem to make sense, but it's mentioned a few times that that's how it's done with Odesseans. In Odessa Daria is well-past the appropriate age to marry, but she's not "normal" and has put her life before the life everyone else expects her to lead. Her main focus is her Boba and making sure that she can take care of Boba, her grandmother, the way Boba has taken care of her. There's a very strong bond between the two of them.
When Daria & Boba's dreams finally come true, and Daria's approached by an American willing to move her to America with him she seems a bit torn. It's what she always wanted and yet she doesn't want to desert her Boba. But Boba pushes her out the door and Daria's on her way to America. The story is pretty good till this point, but once Daria reaches America is when the emotional ties really pulled me into this one.
Janet Skeslien Charles has a great ability to explain people so that you feel as if you know them personally. I felt as if I've known Daria, Boba, and the whole lot of characters all my life. I understood how they think and was able to predict how they'd act as easily as I can my own family. It was amazing to be that drawn into a book.
While this was a good piece of fiction I think the story is more of a look at how people interact, how cultures can clash and mesh, and how people can persevere even if they aren't given what they thought they were getting. It's about struggle, and the fact that we always have a way out.
I would have given this one 5 stars but it did take a while to really get into the story. While I see the need for the build up of the back ground on the characters it was a bit daunting. By the time the book started to get good I'd almost given up on it. Although I'm glad I didn't!
I like Daria and her Boba. Daria's a very strong woman. She knows how to get what she wants in her beautiful city of Odessa. The means she takes don't always seem to make sense, but it's mentioned a few times that that's how it's done with Odesseans. In Odessa Daria is well-past the appropriate age to marry, but she's not "normal" and has put her life before the life everyone else expects her to lead. Her main focus is her Boba and making sure that she can take care of Boba, her grandmother, the way Boba has taken care of her. There's a very strong bond between the two of them.
When Daria & Boba's dreams finally come true, and Daria's approached by an American willing to move her to America with him she seems a bit torn. It's what she always wanted and yet she doesn't want to desert her Boba. But Boba pushes her out the door and Daria's on her way to America. The story is pretty good till this point, but once Daria reaches America is when the emotional ties really pulled me into this one.
Janet Skeslien Charles has a great ability to explain people so that you feel as if you know them personally. I felt as if I've known Daria, Boba, and the whole lot of characters all my life. I understood how they think and was able to predict how they'd act as easily as I can my own family. It was amazing to be that drawn into a book.
While this was a good piece of fiction I think the story is more of a look at how people interact, how cultures can clash and mesh, and how people can persevere even if they aren't given what they thought they were getting. It's about struggle, and the fact that we always have a way out.
I would have given this one 5 stars but it did take a while to really get into the story. While I see the need for the build up of the back ground on the characters it was a bit daunting. By the time the book started to get good I'd almost given up on it. Although I'm glad I didn't!
