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Jan B. (Estes Park, CO)
The Last Russian Doll
I enjoyed The Last Russian Doll despite some difficulties in reading it. I felt that the author's style was engaging and targets a more sophisticated reader. I did have trouble at times following the events and the characters. A single character was called by multiple names which possibly would be alleviated by a list of characters and their relationships in the front of the book. I also had trouble at times following the events. I usually don't mind when a book jumps back and forth in time, but in this case it felt like just when I was following the plot then it jumped to something else. It may have helped it I
…more had been able to read the book in just a few sittings, but I often had to set it aside for several days. I wish that I had kept notes while reading as I think that may have helped. By the end of the book though, I was engaged with the characters and anxious to see how the book ended.
I think this book would appeal to someone who appreciates a little "heavier" book and has an interest in history. (less)I enjoy novels with multiple timelines, Russian history, and mysteries so this book was a delightful read. When I saw the title I thought I would be reading about the nesting dolls common in Russia. While the dolls in the book are a different type, the story gave me the feeling of those dolls within dolls. There were so many surprising reveals and connections it was a matter of unpacking to discover the next part of the story. There were times the writing seemed a little simplistic, but the story kept me going. I'll be looking for more books by this author.
Barbara P. (Mountain Center, CA)
An excellent look into Russia
It is not often that you find a book that wraps so many varied personalities and motivations into a compelling mystery of discovery and self-discovery. I had a difficult time getting into this book because I felt the frustrations of the characters in a very real way - the sign of a gifted writer who can pull us into relationship with characters that do not appear to have anything likable about them. By the end of the book I understood them and I liked them for who they were. This is a beautiful and frightening, personal look into the birth of Communism and the history of a nation that is a mystery to most
…more Americans - many of which who have fallen for the propaganda. It shows us the lives of the people and how they suffered, and how they loved, and how they triumphed. (less)The Last Russian Doll will take you through the history of the Russian Revolution and into late 20th century Russia with well defined, believable and enthralling characters. You will meet also a modern day woman of Russian descent who is looking for information on her mother's past and ends up searching in Russian archives, meeting people from her mother's past and discovering much about herself. All of this presents a mystery which you will continually be trying to solve throughout the story, Bravo, Ms. Loesch for bringing it all together in one story, history, enthralling characters, and a great mystery to
…more solve. This book is definitely for historical mystery lovers! (less)The Last Russian Doll is a beautifully written but very complicated book. At times it’s difficult to discern what is happening and I felt when finished that there was so much unresolved. As historical fiction, it is outstanding. A captivating story with well thought and well researched history. I learned so much about Russias past history, especially the Gulags, the siege of Leningrad and the building of the White Sea Canal where so many prisoners died. The book begins with two story lines. In 1991, Rosie struggles with her mother's addictions, is engaged to marry. She answers an ad to help a former Russian
…more dissident returning to Russia to finish some research. Her motive is to discover why her father and sister were murdered. This story line started a little slow for me.
The other story line begins in early 1900 as a love affair between an outspoken Bolshevik and an aristocratic Russian princess in an unhappy marriage. This was much more appealing and what kept me reading. The storylines eventually converge and become one story that involves pain, hardship, heartache, love, discovery and hope. It’s well worth reading just to learn Russian history and the authors note about Putin’s Russia and his efforts to erase the ugliness of that history. (less)I enjoyed the dual timelines following Tonya through the Russian Revolution and Rosie whose family emigrated to London. The description of the Russian Revolution, starvation during the German invasion of Russia in WWII and Stalin from the perspective of Tonya and families who survived were gut wrenching. Then there is Rosie living in England who travels back to Russia with a Russian historian to uncovers clues about her family. The story follows both women through traumatic times. I found the many characters at times difficult to follow in the journeys of both Tonya and Rosie.
If you enjoy historical fiction and
…more a focus on Russian history you will enjoy. This would be a good discussion book for book clubs (less)This book did not work for me.Since there are many reviews detailing the synopsis of the story line I'll focus on what I consider the book's strengths & weaknesses.
The writing, at times, was enjoyable informative with descriptions of people, places, ideas well thought out. The idea of writing a story involving Russian history was fascinating & intriguing. Using two time period main characters to carry the story gives interest & is a form of writing I admire.
The first part of the story was slow - it took awhile to hold my attention, but I wanted to give it time to develop. The middle part of the
…more story held the most interest to me with the main characters "becoming real" and clearly moving the story in an interesting way. From about 2/3 to the end, the book declined & I could not wait until the last page. The story jumped back & forth so quickly, bringing more & more threads & crossovers. The story seemed forced & lost its impact.
A book is what it is & I rarely say "if only" the author had done this or that - it's written as the author wanted it. That being said I would have certainly enjoyed more details of the various periods, the wars, the revolutions, how these all impacted the people and most definitely more on the dolls. The tangle of people overwhelmed the "historical fiction" that I wished for in this book. At one point in the story, I was considering a re-read just for the history so I could research it, but that part of interest soon was lost. (less)The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch has the potential to be an exciting trip through Russian history via the life stories of its characters. Their stories evolve during the turbulent years between the Bolshevik Revolution and the era of Glasnost.
Unfortunately, this potential is not realized due to the complex interweaving of multiple plot lines by the author. Each chapter begins with a Russian folk tale. The tale's meaning is not embedded in the subsequent text, nor is it mirrored by the actions of the characters in the chapter that follows. It is not until the author explains their purpose in an addendum
…more to the novel that we get a sense of why they were included at all.
Rosie, or Raisa, the main character, is searching for her identity, love, her father, and the meaning of her mother's strange doll collection. The result is an often confusing plot line with intersections of time and character which leave the reader struggling to discover who is doing what with whom.
As for the Russian history within which the plot progresses, I found that in order to make sense of its effect on the country and the characters, the reader needed much more information than was embedded in the text. The killing of the Czar and his family, the Bolshevik Revolution, the Siege of Leningrad, Stalin's corruption of the Revolution, and the period known as Glasnost were only briefly visited and barely explained.
Were I the editor, I would ask the author to simplify the plot and either focus her theme on the role of fable and superstition in the lives of the Russian people, or, clarify and extend the historical detail as it impacts on the character's choices and actions, or, concentrate on Rosie/Raisa's search for her identity.
The Last Russian Doll is not a book I would recommend either to the individual reader, or to Book Clubs. (less)
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