Helpful Score: 1
A very interesting and enjoyable read until about 3/4 through. Then the sex got a bit boring. I also felt...particularly toward the end that the dialogue was not really 40's dialogue. But all in all it was a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
This book will be hard to beat. Have you ever read a book that was so good that you almost regret having read it because you know that no other book in the world will ever live up to it, and from now on you are doomed to a life of second class books? Well that is how I felt after reading this book. I finished it, put it on my bookshelf, looked at other books on my TBR pile, sighed with dissapointment at all of the choices (which had seemed so apealing a few days earlier), shrugged my shoulders, reached for The Bronze Horseman, and read it all over again. It is just that good. Blissful torture. Be warned: this book may be the book that ruins all other books for you.
Patricia C. (lucky888lady) reviewed The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, Bk 1) on + 72 more book reviews
A novel of World War 2 Russia, Leningrad around the early 1940s. Russian War love story. Starts off a little slow because the author has to set the scene but picks up and teaches a little history too.
Carylann S. (Carylann) reviewed The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, Bk 1) on + 9 more book reviews
A big ambitious book whose characters stick in the readers mind.
Amanda (RockStarGirl) reviewed The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, Bk 1) on + 329 more book reviews
Very good book and I enjoyed the time period and history. There were times I became frustrated with the pace and the main characters, which is what kept me from giving it 5 stars, but otherwise it is a solid read. Looking forward to starting the sequel.
Rhona L. (Roobee) reviewed The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, Bk 1) on + 72 more book reviews
I cannot say enough about how wonderful I thought this book was. The author swept me up in WWII Leningrad and I could feel, smell and taste along with the characters. After the first few pages I was hooked and immediately ordered the next 2 books in the trilogy.
Nadine (23dollars) -
I read THE BRONZE HORSEMAN as a buddy read in my online book club, The Reading Cove ~ and it's the fastest I've ever read 810 pages in my life!!
The passion. The love. The layered character development! Tatiana and Alexander and WWII Leningrad come to life so vividly! It's deep, rich and compelling. I could hardly put it down! I even read some scenes over and over again, while at other times I was SO eager to know how things would turn out (the suspense was practically drying out my throat!) that I skipped ahead a few times, then went back to read everything properly.
There were several LOL moments when I actually put the book down and could. not. stop. laughing. for minutes at a time!
However, on the downside (and yes, there is one), the main thing that annoyed me was the repetition of some of the themes; to say it was excessive is an understatement - it was beyond beyond! The progression of the war dragged on WAY too long - just 'same stuff different day'...however, the passion and depth of this sweeping saga trumps every. single. one. of its shortcomings!
So while at its heart a love story, THE BRONZE HORSEMAN is so much more than only that. It's an epic tale of sacrifice and survival, family loyalty and devotion, and the miraculous beauty of true love managing to shine through the dank putridness of WWII. What's more? You can feel the author's passion woven into every line!
A-. If you haven't read this one yet...what are you waiting for?
The passion. The love. The layered character development! Tatiana and Alexander and WWII Leningrad come to life so vividly! It's deep, rich and compelling. I could hardly put it down! I even read some scenes over and over again, while at other times I was SO eager to know how things would turn out (the suspense was practically drying out my throat!) that I skipped ahead a few times, then went back to read everything properly.
There were several LOL moments when I actually put the book down and could. not. stop. laughing. for minutes at a time!
However, on the downside (and yes, there is one), the main thing that annoyed me was the repetition of some of the themes; to say it was excessive is an understatement - it was beyond beyond! The progression of the war dragged on WAY too long - just 'same stuff different day'...however, the passion and depth of this sweeping saga trumps every. single. one. of its shortcomings!
So while at its heart a love story, THE BRONZE HORSEMAN is so much more than only that. It's an epic tale of sacrifice and survival, family loyalty and devotion, and the miraculous beauty of true love managing to shine through the dank putridness of WWII. What's more? You can feel the author's passion woven into every line!
A-. If you haven't read this one yet...what are you waiting for?
June E. (junie) -
I agree with Ariel, this book will be hard to beat. It sticks to your mind weeks later. I absolutely LOVED this book and can't wait to read the next two of the series.
This book is twice as long as it needs to be, due to pages and pages of redundant character activity that does nothing to further the plot or enhance the reader's understanding of the characters. I loved the first couple hundred pages, but had to force myself through the rest of it.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, Bk 1) on + 1452 more book reviews
This is an entertaining read and I plan to read the others in the trilogy. The historical background is wonderfully detailed as were the views of Russian society, family life, the military background and the battles. The poetry by Pushkin added depth and interest and made me want to go back and read Pushkin again. The Nazi sieges on Moscow and Leningrad were so graphic that I found myself wondering how many of the characters would survive and, of course, so many did not.
I liked the hero and heroine but I felt that the 800+ pages should have been edited. Too much time was spent in setting the stage, on the early character interactions and with the sexual scenes between Tatiana and Alexander. I plodded through early parts and skimmed a number of the sexual romps.
As I reflect on this book, I realize that it's hard for us in our land of plenty to truly understand what the people Leningrad and other Russian cities had to endure just to survive during WWII. So little food, no heat, bombs to dodge, death and the chaos of it all. And, of course, danger came from the NKVD as well as the Germans. The author helps us understand that conflict brings out the best in some of us and the worst in others as demonstrated by the actions of Alexander and Dimitri. So, what is true bravery? Perhaps it's the courage to just get through each day during the chaos of war doing the best we can.
I liked the hero and heroine but I felt that the 800+ pages should have been edited. Too much time was spent in setting the stage, on the early character interactions and with the sexual scenes between Tatiana and Alexander. I plodded through early parts and skimmed a number of the sexual romps.
As I reflect on this book, I realize that it's hard for us in our land of plenty to truly understand what the people Leningrad and other Russian cities had to endure just to survive during WWII. So little food, no heat, bombs to dodge, death and the chaos of it all. And, of course, danger came from the NKVD as well as the Germans. The author helps us understand that conflict brings out the best in some of us and the worst in others as demonstrated by the actions of Alexander and Dimitri. So, what is true bravery? Perhaps it's the courage to just get through each day during the chaos of war doing the best we can.
