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There are currently 24 member reviews
for Iron Curtain
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Jodi S. (Goldens Bridge, NY)
Behind the Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was an very interesting book. I wouldn't call it a love story at all, despite the tag line. It's a book about Milena, a "red princess", whose father was influential in the communist overthrow of an unnamed eastern bloc country. She starts out as an entitled, spoiled child and the book follows her growth into an independent, strong adult. I really enjoyed the descriptions of life behind the iron curtain, I was surprised by a lot of it. I found myself needing to look up a fair number of words, which is not typical for me. Some of them were Britishisms, some were probably Slavic words that didn't translate well to common American words. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
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Sonya M. (Takoma Park, MD)
Iron Curtain, so much more than a love story!
Excellent Book. I could not put it down. Less a love story, than a wonderful reflection on and comparison of the culture and political philosophy in democratic and communist countries in the 80's. The book takes place in an unnamed communist country (not Russia), behind the iron curtain, and then later in London. It's written in the voice of Milena a Red Princess, who lives a rich lifestyle, protected by her father, a senior member of the communist leadership. She falls in love with a visiting poet and escapes to London, where she reflects on the lack of a guarantee for the basic requirements for survival – food, lodging, a job. Her comparisons with her home country's guaranties of basic needs, but absent basic freedoms is interesting. Absolutely fascinating behind the scenes descriptions of society in the communist country, focusing on the hopes of the revolution vs tight oversight of lifestyle and conservative control over marriage and birth control. The freedoms of a capitalist country are certainly stark and dreary in comparison to the guarantees of Milena's lifestyle at home. And for those who might be put off by the advertisement of romance, and love story, don't be! That plays a lesser role in the story of two contrasting but controlling cultures. And the absolutely fascinating mindset of this so called "Red Princess."
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Cynthia V. (New York, NY)
A Great Way to Begin 2023!
I was so sorry to come to the end of Iron Curtain; I wish I had someone to discuss it with! This novel has it all in my eyes. First, there are fascinating settings...an unnamed Soviet satellite country...moving to London and environs all during the early 1980s. There is pitch perfect writing filled with sly humor, intelligence and thoughtfulness throughout. I always felt in good hands reading the author's words. She knew exactly what she was trying to convey and was meticulous in her character and story development. I loved the simmering tension stemming from political and cultural issues. I recommend this work very highly; would be great for book group discussions.
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Teresa L. (Lake Elsinore, CA)
Life Behind the Curtain
Its always so interesting to me to read a story from outside the "Western" world and Iron Curtain: A Love Story delivers!
I'm not really sure I would call this a "Love" Story, more a story of a naïve privileged sheltered girl who lives a life in a Golden cage...when she finds her first love she decides to leave her comfortable bubble and grows up quickly when exposed to the real world!
Set in the 80's during the Cold War Communist Era, I think this book more shows the contrast between those at the "top" in the Communist party and the "workers" who are divided below. All the themes of isolation, East vs West, rich vs poor, democracy vs communism, etc were really well developed and captured.
Personally; without giving anything away, I was disappointed in Milena's final choice, but I understand why she made her choice, maybe we can't fight our nature. If you like a little tragedy in your stories, this book will speak to you!
Overall a good read.
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Dorothy M. (Broken Arrow, OK)
Discovery of a Love Story
Iron Curtain: A Love Story by Vesna Goldsworthy takes readers into the life of Milena Urbanska, a "red princess" who lives in an unnamed Soviet satellite in the 1980s. While she lives in luxury, she chafes against her lack of freedom.
Meeting Jason, a British poet, Milena immediately falls in love and begins to look toward a future with him and with freedom. Despite her mother's warnings about Jason's unsuitability, Milena marries him. They are madly in love, at least so Milena thinks. They live in poverty since Jason considers himself a poet, not a man who works a day-to-day job. Milena takes a job at the Royal Entomological Society, translating from Russian into English for a research project.
Milena discovers she is pregnant with twins and Jason is overjoyed. Milena's joy is short-lived when she learns Jason has a mistress. The story takes readers through the ups and downs, many downs, of Milena and Jason's relationship. The story ends satisfactorily for this reader. For book clubs, the story will provide many topics of conversation: marital strife, poverty, the Cold War, and freedom.
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Carolyn B. (Aiken, SC)
Slow Starter
In the beginning, I thought I was going to give up on this book. I kept putting it down and not really excited about reading. Milena was a spoiled brat. She did not have realistic expectations for herself or Jason. But the story got a lot more interesting when she decided to leave home. At that point, it was a page turner. I kept expecting Jason to change but he didn't. He was immature and self centered. Melina was the strong, mature one; doing what was necessary. I can't imagine what it would be like to have your actions always watched, recorded.
I would recommend this book.
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Laura P. (Atlanta, GA)
Culture Clash
Milena Urbanska is a "red princess," the daughter of the vice president of a Soviet communist satellite, enjoying relative privilege in her home country. When a friend asks her to serve as a translator for a British poet who is accepting a minor prize, she falls in love and ultimately follows him back to London. She is immediately thrown into a clash of cultures. At home, she was economically privileged, but politically , morally, and emotionally constrained by the political system. In Britain, the political, emotional and moral fronts are wide open, but Jason Connor, her poet husband, is a graduate student and economically times are hard. Her struggle to balance and adjust to this cultural dichotomy provides the storyline of the book. The tale is poignant, occasionally humorous, and ultimately a bit tragic. Well worth reading.
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