The Last Grand Duchess: A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution
by Bryn Turnbull
A Good Read for fans of Romanov history (12/26/2021)
This story focuses on the family life of the Romanovs. The author reveals the deep love and devotion the tsar Nicholas II had for his family and how he held onto his dignity and theirs to the very end. It was interesting to see how the author intertwined the events of history with the Olga's growth as a young woman who came to understand that the people of Russia were suffering immensely as she and her siblings lived a sheltered existence in a fairytale built by her parents who believed, and never questioned, in the divine nature of their reign. The book led me to look up several places, events and people referenced in order to learn more about the Romanov dynasty and Russia. I found the first half to be slow and I had to put it down more than I would have liked but found the second half more intriguing. It was refreshing to read historical fiction centered on Olga, as many books are written about Anastasia. Although she was thought to be less mature than women of her age due to the seclusion imposed upon her and her sisters by her mother in order to hide the illness of her younger brother from the world, Olga proved to be a strong and perceptive character.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
The Winter Palace (1/8/2012)
If you are a big fan of stories that take place in the European courts of the 1600-1700s, you will enjoy this story of the rise of Catherine the Great of Russia. As with most novels describing court life of this era the story is full of the usual lies, conspiracies, self-serving patrons and courtesans, greed and opulence. It is also the story of two girls growing up together in parallel lives where one becomes an empress and the other her spy and friend. The characters and events of the story were historically accurate but I was disappointed that the author didn't tell the story of the conditions of the Russian citizens at the time of Catherine the Great or some of the accomplishments of her reign. Perhaps the authors upcoming sequel will delve into these areas.
Secret Daughter: A Novel
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Strong Female Characters (1/25/2010)
I had a hard time getting interested in this book for the first 5 or so chapters. The characters were not "coming to life" for me. But as I read on I was anxious to see how Somer and Asha, her adopted daughter from India, learned from their mistakes and grew up together. I was disappointed that the author didn't do the same with the main male character of the story, Krishnan, who never seemed to own up to his part in the marital problems. This book will appeal to readers who are interested in the role cultural differences play in marriage, family dynamics, adoption and the mother-daughter relationship. This book requires a lot of "reading between the lines." The author paints a very vivid picture of the contrasting economic, social and physical conditions that exist in India.
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