Helpful Score: 2
I read RUSSIAN WINTER for this month's "Winter" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove. I'd added it to my TBR pile a few months ago and was really looking forward to being swept away by a Russian love story set in the times of Stalin.
But, oh, what a bland and flavorless narrative this was!
Nina Revskaya is in her twilight years and decides to put her famous jewelry collection up for auction. So we go back with her in time to her childhood, her marriage, etc. And we also get into the lives of two other characters, who really add nothing to the modern-day plot. I fell asleep multiple times trying to get into this long-winded, 450+ page story.
The writing style wasn't for me. I was bored by all the background on Nina as a famous ballerina - you may be fascinated if you're into dancing, but this narrative had me bored out of my mind. Ditto for all the talk about her jewels. It all seemed so superficial and vein. Just champaign problems masquerading as real ones.
Perhaps a more engaging writing style would've made all the difference to my connecting with the characters and the plot...
As it is, this was a C- read for me. It was bland. It was boring. It was dull.
★
(¯`·.·´¯) (¯`·.·´¯)
`·.¸(¯`·.·´¯)¸ .·
×°× ` ·.¸.·´ ×°×
But, oh, what a bland and flavorless narrative this was!
Nina Revskaya is in her twilight years and decides to put her famous jewelry collection up for auction. So we go back with her in time to her childhood, her marriage, etc. And we also get into the lives of two other characters, who really add nothing to the modern-day plot. I fell asleep multiple times trying to get into this long-winded, 450+ page story.
The writing style wasn't for me. I was bored by all the background on Nina as a famous ballerina - you may be fascinated if you're into dancing, but this narrative had me bored out of my mind. Ditto for all the talk about her jewels. It all seemed so superficial and vein. Just champaign problems masquerading as real ones.
Perhaps a more engaging writing style would've made all the difference to my connecting with the characters and the plot...
As it is, this was a C- read for me. It was bland. It was boring. It was dull.
★
(¯`·.·´¯) (¯`·.·´¯)
`·.¸(¯`·.·´¯)¸ .·
×°× ` ·.¸.·´ ×°×
Helpful Score: 2
Nina is a Russian ballerina who escaped her country in the 50's. Wheelchair bound now, she puts up her amazing jewelry for auction. Some of those pieces she smuggled out of Russia.
A story that mixes up the past with the present. I wish the ending came together more than speculation of what happens. It took me a while to finish but still a good story.
A story that mixes up the past with the present. I wish the ending came together more than speculation of what happens. It took me a while to finish but still a good story.
I really wanted to like this more and otheres may find it more interesting. But, I think it got bogged down with too many details and I got bored too quickly. It would have been a nightmare for me to continue ready this. It might have taken way too much of my time.
A beautifully told story, heartbreaking yet wonderful. Enjoyed this very much.
