Cose da salvare in caso di incendio

by Haley Tanner, Silvia Piraccini (Translator)

Vaclav e Lena si conoscono che hanno solo dieci anni, ed è subito amore. Figli entrambi di immigrati russi in America, dividono i sogni e le difficoltà. I sogni di un futuro sfavillante - in cui lui diventerà un famoso mago e lei "la sua incantevole assistente" - e le difficoltà di una vita in un paese straniero, confortata dall'affetto di una famiglia presente e affettuosa per Vaclav, fatta di abbandono e solitudine per Lena, che non ha mai conosciuto i genitori e abita con una zia che non si occupa di lei. Ma per i due bambini l'importante è stare insieme, fino al giorno, terribile, in cui Lena sparisce dalla vita di Vaclav senza nemmeno un addio. Dieci anni dopo i due si rincontreranno, per scoprire che nulla è cambiato, ma il passato allunga la sua ombra terribile sulla loro felicità...

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Book Club, Contemporary, Coming Of Age, Audiobook

326 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Haley Tanner was born in New York City (in the Bronx!) and raised on a lovely street in a house her father (most famous as the superhero Astroman, the man who can do anything) built with his own two hands. Haley's mother was named one of Forbes 100 Mothers to Emulate in recognition for her love, support, and understanding during the years that Haley was a Police Dispatcher/Parliamentary Assistant/Waitress/Bank Teller/Tutor who was also hard at work on a novel, which could have turned out to be crap, for all anyone knew. In her spare time Haley enjoys being terrible at yoga, running slowly, and cuddling whatever dog she can get her hands on. Haley currently lives in Brooklyn, under the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, with her rescued pug Mojini Jane and the most beautiful Tennessee mutt this side of the Mason Dixon line, Ruthie Catfish. Haley's husband Gavin recently ditched a six year battle against cancer to rejoin the star stuff we are all made of, and she lives surrounded by the sense of wonder and joy and possibility he left behind, as well as a ton of gorgeous furniture he made out of reclaimed wood.

Reviews

[Noce · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ecco un libro che non regalerò mai al mio fidanzato.

Se dovesse raccontarvelo lui, ve lo spiegherebbe così:

“E insomma, sta a sentì. La storia si svolge in America. Ci son ‘sti due regazzini, figli di immigrati russi che crescono assieme. All’inizio ‘na cosa che più puerile di così nun se po’ sentì, dopo un pochetto però, ce prendi gusto a sapè che faranno, se si bucheranno, se s’ammazzeranno, se la vita je sorriderà.

Poi un bel giorno a ragazzetta mingherlina sparisce. Epperò nella quarta di copertina nun ce sta già scritto che ritorna? Perciò sorpresa zero, gnente. Evvabbè, che famo? Aspettemo che ritorni.

A tre quarti del libro arieccola, e a quel punto le solite menate dell’amore mai interrotto, che però nun je la fa a sboccià perché ci son degli ostacoli, e oddio quelle cose che a voi donnine ve piacciono da morì.

E allora tu pensi, ecco dove sta la svorta! Adesso, alla fine. E a te pare de vederla ‘sta gnappetta della Tanner con quel faccino anni settanta e il posacenere sullo scrittoio che sta lì a confezionà ‘sto finalone che te lo ricorderai pessempre. E tu sei lì, che aspetti, e aspetti…

Ma a un certo punto, cosa fa ‘sta zozzona? Alza lo sguardo all’orologio da parete, e dice “’Sti cazzi, ma c’è il derby Roma-Lazio!!!”. Così, si alza, pija il pacchetto de sigarette sul tavolo, e con la penna e pure male, scrive..” E vissero felici e contenti”.

Aò, ma ‘tacci sua!! Sai che te dico? Che se scoppia un incendio a casa, e questo libro se salva, il fuoco je lo appicco io.”

Ecco, questo è ciò che direbbe lui.

Io che sono ovviamente più dolce e sensibile, carina e graziosa, piagnucolosa e lunatica, e via dicendo, dico invece che in effetti la trama manca di spessore, e che la delicatezza tipica dei rapporti tra bambini che solitamente tanto affascina, e che forse era l’unico punto di forza di questo libro, è andata a farsi benedire insieme al finale super precipitoso. Così, se scoppia un incendio a casa mia, e questo libro si salva, mi tocca pure aspettare che mio moroso finisca il suo falò, e mi ripassi l’accendino.

[Elena Kruglyak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! Where do I begin? I was born in the former Soviet Union and grew up in Brooklyn, albeit not on Brighton Beach, but then neither did Vaclav and Lena. That area is called Sheepshead Bay, but it almost seems that the author couldn't resist throwing in yet another cliche of the Russian immigrant experience. The book is full of them - a vodka swilling father, an obese wart covered mother, chain-smoking strippers, greasy borscht, tea and Russian television. I was half expecting a balalaika playing bear to headline the side show.

Vaclav's family's decision to converse in English didn't ring true. Not at all. Most Russian immigrants believe in preserving the native language at all cost, even if it means sending an American born child to kindergarten without speaking a word of English. The general belief is that the child will learn a new language quickly and easily, but will forget Russian, and will regret it later. Vaclav came to the US at the age of four, went to school, spoke English at home and still takes ESL classes and speaks with a heavy accent at the age of nine. Hmm....

Rasia is not a Russian name. Raisa is, as in Raisa Gorbachev. I was very moved by her love for the children, actually had a lump in my throat reading about Rasia watching her son and Lena walk away from her on Coney Island, but kept tripping over the name.

I understand that it's hard for me to be impartial, because I know so much about the Russian immigrant community of Brooklyn, but that's precisely the reason why I wanted to read this book and was so eager to like it. Too bad that didn't happen.

[Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is the kind of book that people (critics) who know nothing about Russia, Russian culture or Russian immigrant communities in the United States will absolutely love, and that people who know anything about those subjects will approach with a more critical eye. Because I really WANTED to like this book, but I kept trying to figure out why Ms. Tanner wrote about something she was clearly so unfamiliar with (soooooo many cliches about Russian immigrants, sooooo many things that just didn't ring true, such as, for example, Vaclav's name, which is in no way a Russian name. And her explanation for it being a long-ago Polish ancestor ALSO didn't ring true, because, well, Vaclav is a CZECH name primarily. So that took me out of the story already. That was just the beginning.) On the other hand, there were passages of great power and beauty in the novel, and I will definitely read more of Ms. Tanner's work because I think she's a talented writer. I just wish she'd been a little bit less anxious to appropriate other people's cultural backgrounds so superficially.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On Ageless Pages Reviews!

This was a magical experience for me - one that was completely charming but not without depth or darker themes. It's a light and breezy read with an innocent tone for the most part - a (sadly) short-ish book that can easily be completed in a day but be warned; this novel about young love made my bitter old heart grow three sizes when I finished it. Vaclav & Lena is, at the heart of everything, a novel really all about love. Love between friends, lovers, parents - Haley Tanner made sure all types are shown; from the various ups and downs of lives of the two main characters, and through the cast of big-hearted and small-vocabularied Rasia, to the whimsical and adorable young-Vaclav, to the more remote but alluring Lena.

I mainly love this novel based on the strength of the complicated, endearing, realistic and lovable main characters, the eponymous Lena and Vaclav. Yes, there are several issues first brought to light by minds brighter than mine (Vaclav is not a Russian name, the iffy speech patterns, Rasia/her husband Oleg could be viewed as a sad stereotype of Russian emigres) but my overwhelming appreciation and love for these two made the rest worth it. I am not blind to the faults that will surely turn others off completely but for me this was always about the two kids and the rest was just atmosphere or set-pieces. Rasia is the most important secondary character but outside of one crucial act that changes everything, the reader's attention remains wholly on the would-be magician and his beautiful assistant.

Haley Tanner is a good storyteller, especially for a debut novel - I was hooked on this tale from the first chapter. The early sweetness of the beginning chapters really captured the feeling, the hope essential to both Vaclav and Rasia's and their hopes for life in America. The author's gift for descriptive, detailed prose sets all the scenes with atmosphere and feeling. For me, this was a beautiful, emotional and lovely read - a book with a lot of heart and promise. I was vastly impressed with the author and only the quibbles mentioned earlier (why must all ex-pat Russians drop pronouns and articles?) kept this from being perfect. Even so, 5 stars because of how beautiful Tanner's writing often was, and for my immense love for Lena and Vaclac, especially Vaclav. Wonderful.


Favorite quotes (skip for slight SPOILERS!):



"Lena is like an egg hitting the floor, she comes apart everywhere."


"Of course they were with each other the whole time. Even when they weren't looking, they never had to check. She was always there; he was always there. Outside her bedroom, somewhere in the darkness, like the moon."


"Vaclav has said goodnight to Lena every night since the night she went away. Out loud. In a whisper. [...] He filled the words with all his love and care and worry for Lena and launched them out to her, and like homing pigeons, he trusted them to find her."


"'What have you been up to?' She smiles; it is so strange to ask him what he has been up to. Like meeting the president and saying, 'Hey, how are you doing?'

'Same, thing,' he says, meaning still magic, still trying to take care of you with my mind, still trying to control events using supernatural powers."


"Lena's real mom, Emily, knew that this was not the truth, but she also knew that Vaclav was not lying.
Vaclav knew that he was telling the truth.
Lena knew that it was a lie, but she loved it and believed it, like a fairy tale, like a song, like a bedtime story, like a magic trick.
She loved Vaclav until it became the truth and so it was."

[Britany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 simply because the narrator was that good...

I listened to this on audio and from the very first disc, I was hooked. The narrator did a phenomal job of translating a young kinship between Russian Americans. Vaclav and Lena become fast friends as they meet in Brighton Beach, a Russian community within Brooklyn. They are in ESL classes together learning English, and quickly form a connection while still understanding the world around them. Vaclav aspires to be the next Harry Houdini, and fantasizes about Lena becoming his beautiful assistant! The innocence conveyed was perfect! All of a sudden Lena vanishes into thin air (pardon the pun) and Vaclav can't bring himself to let her go...

The only problem I had with this one was how easy it was for Lena to pick up the phone to call Vaclav. I mean, couldn't she do that seven years sooner?!

All in all, a solid coming of age story!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest I was expecting to give this a two most of the way through, but in the end I decided it was a decent story despite some distracting flaws. I was appreciative of the fact that the central "mystery" was solved in the end as opposed to being left unsolved, and that the discovery of the explanation was natural and believable.

Vaclav and Lena are two children of Russian immigrants, aged nine or ten when the story opens. Vaclav comes from an intact if not entirely happy home with a big-hearted mother; Lena's parentage is uncertain and she lives with an apparently neglectful aunt. Vaclav's mother, Rasia, sees herself as a surrogate mother figure to Lena, physically at least, providing Lena with a place to go after school and suppers. Vaclav, for his part, is smitten with Lena and sees her as the invaluable assistant to his much dreamed-about future magic act. After Lena abruptly disappears, the story skips ahead to Lena and Vaclav at age seventeen, separate and then reunited.

What really irritated me as I was reading was the sense that the entire story was written in ESL -- not just dialogue, but inner thoughts and even description. This was even worse than A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian in that way.

When we meet Vaclav and Lena, they have each been in America for five years but their English is halting and apparently accented and they are still taking ESL classes. I can't speak for everyone, but I moved to a foreign country with a five-year-old and we consistently spoke our native language at home (unlike Vaclav whose mother makes a point of speaking English to him in the house). After one year, my child spoke flawless unaccented Hebrew; after another year, she actually preferred Hebrew to English. She certainly did not need "Hebrew as a second language" classes five years later. I can believe that Lena had some struggles given her deprived upbringing, but why would Vaclav's English suffer? Additionally, why would Vaclav and Lena speak stilted English to each other if they both prefer Russian?

But worse -- why would Rasia's inner monologue be less than fluent? Did she even force herself to think in broken English rather than Russian? And it got really annoying with the descriptions. The first three-quarters of the book felt like I was reading Dick and Jane.

Another reviewer complained that the depiction of Russian immigrants was stereotypical and not true to life. I don't know enough Russian immigrants to judge, but the unnecessary ESL leads me to suspect this is the case. It definitely felt like the author was overeager to show me just how Russian her characters were as opposed to simply having that be in the background.

I grumbled about this most of the way through the book, finding it annoying and distracting, but was moved in spite of myself by some insightful moments and an interesting twist toward the end. So I decided to be generous rather than picky and give this three stars. It was a quick read in any case, and I could see a less picky person appreciating it more than I did.

[fenrir · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

E poi dicono che i titoli non sono importanti!
Parliamo del titolo originale "Vaclav e Lena" e mettiamolo a confronto con "Cose da salvare in caso di incendio" e cosa viene fuori? semplice, io un libro chiamato "Vaclav e Lena" non lo avrei mai letto. La versione inglese di questo libro (titolo e copertina) danno un messaggio completamente diverso rispetto a quella italiana. Appena preso in mano in libro inglese si pensa che sia un libro che si basa su una storia d'amore, ricorda anche un pò il circo e quindi gli spettacoli di magia e insomma abbiamo inquadrato bene il libro. Prendiamo la versione italiana; il titolo suggerisce qualcosa che con il libro vero e proprio non c'entra assolutamente niente. Cosa sono queste cose da salvare in caso di incendio? Ho finito il libro e non lo so ancora. L'unica volta in cui il titolo viene citato è all'inizio del libro, quando Vaclav deve fare un tema su cosa salvare in caso di incendio e poi basta l'argomento non verrà fuori mai più in tutto il libro. Davvero quello era il fattore predominante del libro secondo il traduttore? o forse aveva solo capito che avrebbe attirato più lettori? (vecchia volpe!).
Il libro in sé non è male, diciamo che non decolla mai e che le cose sono un pò troppo facili da prevedere. Lena è una bambina ad inizio libro ma i lettori no, perciò tutte le informazioni che le da la "nonna" lei non le comprendere ma io le avevo capito fin troppo bene. La storia d'amore con Vaclav era inevitabile (e la madre di lui adorabile), quasi troppo scontata ma infondo era la motivazione del libro (niente a che vedere con gli incendi insomma).

<< La vera mamma di Lena, Emily, sapeva che questa non era la verità, ma sapeva anche che Vaclav non stava mentendo. Vaclav sapeva di dire la verità. Lena sapeva che era una bugia, ma le piaceva
tanto e ci credette, come se fosse stata una favola, una canzone, una storia della buona notte, un trucco di magia. Amò Vaclav finché diventò verità, e verità fu >>

[Vonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haley Tanner definitely shows some real potential here, as she has written with a lot of insight as well as prose that is beautiful at times, with the power to evoke great emotion, while painting a picturesque world for the two young protagonists. I really felt their lostness, both figuratively and literally, emotionally and physically. Even minor characters were well developed. The mother, Raisa, was, admittedly, a caricature, but I loved her for it nevertheless. The entire story was whimsical, magical. Also really about stage magic, as this is Vaclav's thing. He will perform on Coney Island, like his idol David Copperfield! Which I fully appreciated. However, and this is a big however, it seems that she did not do her research. At all. Pretty much everything is her having played with a lot of clichés regarding The Russian Immigrant Community in Brooklyn (i.e. the names, the general culture, the food, how they chose and/or found themselves adapting to their lives in New York City, which was far from easy). Also, at the end of the love story, it was a little anticlimactic. I felt like several things were left unexplained in order for Tanner to end her fairy tale with the happily-ever-after.

So, from a technical, academic, writer's view I would say that Tanner did not do this correctly. The logical, academic side of me says this, because it would have been easy enough with some extra commitment of research. This could have been a perfected novel.

The romantic at heart in me, alas, cannot do anything but cherish this book for what it is anyway, an imaginative, magical, whirlwind, whimsical fiction that manages to win my heart yet also focus on some darker issues (hardships with immigration, language barriers, unrequited love, loneliness, teasing, child abuse, drugs, prostitution, etcetera). Not to mention some relationship, friendship, lifetime, advice, insights, Tanner expressed in lyrical rhyme almost that I really loved, for example...

"When there is someone who is your destiny, someone who you love more than any other person, sometimes you push them and pull on them and feel like hurting them. Fighting is something that happens when there is someone who is your only other person in the world, someone you have no choice about... "

“Vaclav thinks about how sometimes, even when it is cold outside, you might feel warm because you have people or thoughts of people that warm you up like a fire, or make you feel that you are an Eskimo who is not really bothered by extreme cold, even if you feel the extreme cold. Other times you might feel that everything in the whole world is cold for a reason, and that it is cold for only you, and you can see all the other people with fires to warm them up and you feel that you will be cold forever. Sometimes you can feel cold like that even in the summertime.”

The above is a perfect example of the vernacular used by Tanner that is so unique; she delves right into the childlike mind, but the narration is from outside. Not sure I can eloquently word it any better than that; it is as if the language is so simple, but deeply complex at the same time. Sometimes, like here, it worked. Other times it did not, at all. Like when they were older, it no longer represented who they were anymore; Tanner probably would have served her characters best by changing their voices as they themselves did. The narrator seemed to be a character themselves (read more about this in Haley Tanner's interview with understandably matched contemporary Tea Obreht, author of a magical realism favorite of mine, The Tiger's Wife), evident most in the cleverly worded chapter titles, which foreshadowed sometimes, other times were simply cute, still other meant something significant for the reader to decipher. All of these quite unique approaches to writing the novel were, well, novel (hahahaha). Although I admit they did not entirely work, they did add to the overall transporting, whimsical, magical universe she created here.

“Another thought is taking shape in his mind. Maybe this is how it always is. Maybe somebody always wants more. Maybe everyone has a time when they realize that they’ve been accidentally lying when they say I love you, I miss you, you’re pretty, you’re the prettiest one, I never want you to leave. Maybe this time ends and it all becomes true again, as true as you ever thought it was. Maybe this time does not end. If this time ends, it would be a smart decision to wait it out. If it does not end, then perhaps you should not wait, and you should find another person to whom you can say these things without lying. But perhaps it always happens no matter which girl or boy you are trying to love, in which care you might as well stay where you are, because you would repeat the same process with anyone else."

“Most people do not really mean their smiles, most of the time. For most people, their smiles are a lie, a trick, or a promise. Vaclav’s smile is just a smile, and he always means it.”

“ ... He knows that soon the day will move into a new time, and the time before... not knowing anything, will be gone, and he will know something... There is no going back once you know something, because from then on, you always know it.”

Some others I have to add here:

“Lena is sure that other people don't have many selves. She is terrified that she doesn't have a core self, an essential Lena. She feels that she used to but that she lost it along the way, that at some point it became buried, suffocated, and died, because when she looks beneath the chattering of the selves, nothing is there. Maybe the fractured feeling is taking hold because something is dead inside her, or missing.”

... To

“For Vaclav … it is exactly right and wonderful, and … for all the poetry and song and painting and verse dedicated to it, underrated. The feeling, in fact, is so wonderful that Vaclav can feel himself in his body like he never has before; it is impossible to think, to step outside of pure physical wonder; all he feels is all he feels, and Lena, Lena is another planet, and he is a star shooting through the cold, black sky. He cradles her head in his hand, and he loves her so much he would shield her from a meteorite with his body..."

... To the shining moment of a magical happily-ever-after:
“Lena's real mom, Emily, knew that this was not the truth, but she also knew that Vaclav was not lying.
Vaclav knew that he was telling the truth. Lena knew that it was a lie, but she loved it and believed it, like a fairy tale, like a song, like a bedtime story, like a magic trick. She loved Vaclav until it became the truth and so it was.”
... But the very favorite passage for me was when Vaclav was explaining division for Lena:
"What is 'goes into'"? asks Lena.

"It is how many twos are in six hundred twenty-seven," says Vaclav.

"One," says Lena, indicating the 2 in 627.

"No, it is like this. You are one. I am one. Together we are two, yes? Together we are VacLena, one thing, but taking up two spaces, two chairs," Vaclav says, formulating in his mind, finally, how he will show her.

"If there were six hundred twenty-seven chairs, how many VacLenas could sit?... Remember, each VacLena needs two chairs and they cannot be split up... "

"Why not?" asks Lena.

"Because," says Vaclav, "then there is the remainder, which is the next thing."

"What is 'remainder'?" asks Lena.

"It is when we split up VacLena, if there is maybe only one more chair left, then there is only Vaclav or only Lena."

"And this cannot be," says Lena.

"That was very good English, Lena," Vaclav says.

... "Together we are VacLena, one." Now... How long could I hate all the other things that were not done correctly in the novel after such a beautiful passage?????....

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a Russian immigrant, so when I heard about this book, I ran out and bought it. What a major and ignorant disappointment this book proved to be. This in no way speaks to the Russian immigrant experience. I particularly hated the parts that talked about the difficulties with learning English. While it is indeed hard for older people, children learn languages fast. I remember learning English in about two months at the age of six. It wasn't that hard.

I know many writers want to move beyond the old adage of "write what you know," but if you don't know about something please at least try to research it.

Even the name Vaclav is about as Russian as the name Jennifer is Persian.

Tanner is a good writer, but this book is simply ludicrous. VERY DISAPPOINTING! VERY IGNORANT!!!!!

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to read this book. I thought it was a young adult book. In some ways it is; it deals with young adults and their search for what will determine their future choices in life. Having completed the book I feel the primary audience is not just young adults. Maybe this is one of those special books that can be read by everyone. It surprised me. The topics covered expanded as the novel continued. And I loved the ending, when I read it. It tied in perfectly with other themes presented earlier in the novel. However, with further consideration, I realize I cannot see this as a viable or good ending. I believe it is the reader's attitude to the ending that will determine if they give this book three or four stars. I chose three.. I actually recommend reading this book just to ponder the question of whether the denouement was good or bad! I am not quite sure what I think…….

******************************

Below follows some of my thoughts as I read the book.

This book is special because it speaks in very simple, ordinary words of our emotions: how mothers feel for their children when they are young and as they grow older, how teenagers feel when they first experience infatuation, sex and love. The lines are so simple and yet so true. It is also perceptively expresses a son's deep love and understanding for his mother. It is the simplicity of the language that is remarkable.

I love the simplicity of the lines. I love their directness. But at the same time I often find myself wondering who this book is written for. Is it a coming-of-age novel written for young adults or is it for adults reminiscing about their years raising kids? I believe it is more for the latter, but I am unsure.

One minor criticism I have is that I believe children today are a bit more adult and "world wise" than they are portrayed in these pages. The lines are cute, perceptive and most often true, even if the kids seem excessively naïve at times. Lena and Vaclav were born in the early 1990s.

This book is about having family, but at the same time it is about not having a family. Vaclav and Lena are both children of immigrant Russians. The book is about their relationship. Vaclav has a family, but Lena is an orphan, an orphan in a country, where she has no one, cannot speak the language and has not been caught up and cared for by the proper childcare authorities or anyone else until….. and then wait and see what happens!

Lena's parents are gone. She lived with an old woman called her babushka, but it is not clear that this woman really was her grandmother. No one had introduced English to this small child of five. Vaclav and Lena live in Brooklyn. When Lena's babushka dies, under grisly circumstances in the bathtub, the authorities step in. An aunt is dug up, but this aunt is only interested in the childcare stipend. The authorities decide the child is best placed with her aunt. This small child had in two days time come to feel comfortable, safe and somewhat secure with her room and a few adults (Anna and "Toast") Again she was moved.

Lena was starting to miss Anna, and even Toast.

What is there for a Lena-type person to do in this situation? What is there to do when you are a person who is young and small? When you own only the clothes you are wearing and the one barrette clipped into your hair, which is always sliding out of place and getting stuck in the knots behind your ears? When you do not have a phone or any phone numbers to call? Even if you thought that someone like Anna, might be able to help you and make you feel better, even if that might be true, how would you even begin to think about how to make a plan to get out of the situation you are in, which is making you feel very, very bad? Even if you start to feel, in your aunt's car, that you would like to be anywhere else in the world, that you do not want to go where you are going, what can you do? (page 199)

Lena's world is depicted perceptively, honestly and in very simple terms.

Do not worry. What I am telling you is not a spoiler.

Or is the book about the sloppiness of childcare authorities? Wouldn't someone check out the aunt's housing and who she was as a person? Read the book to find out. Actually the events are more complicated than one might think.

********************************

So the book is about family relationships, about orphans, about childcare services. It is a coming of age novel. It can be read and enjoyed by one of any age. It is also about dreams and hopes and magic. In addition it closes with a wonderful message, but a message I would have difficulty following. The reading experience is enjoyable from start to finish. And the end? Read the book to find out where you stand! Does the book deserve four stars anyway? One never really knows what will happen after the pages close. Ughh, I cannot decide between three and four stars. My ending would be so boring.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty beautiful book. It's a realistic fairy tale. The language is gorgeous in a direct and poetic way. The sentiment is accessible and welcoming. The story is bittersweet, with magic and secrets and truths all over the place. I'm so glad I read this.

Each night that Ekaterina does not come for Lena, each time that Ekaterina shows that she is irresponsible, is untrustworthy, is unloving, Rasia is reassured that she has a right to love Lena as much as she does, which is very much. p. 89

That is how it always is with princesses, boys love them for no reason. p. 93

Who does schoolwork like this, on her belly on the floor like a snake or a potato farmer? p. 124

[Wybredna Maruda]

Potrzebuję czasu, by przemyśleć ocenę. Ta "magia" z opisu jest tu o wiele bardziej metaforyczna i najlepiej uderza w ostatnich zdaniach.
Na początku uznałam, że to coś dla młodszego odbiorcy, potem doszłam do wniosku, że nie, że tematy są zbyt poważne dla dziecka i zrozumie je dojrzały odbiorca – po prostu narracja jest prowadzona z punktu widzenia młodych osób, więc na co innego zwracają uwagę i musimy odpowiednio odczytywać sygnały.
ALE
W tej powieści niezwykle istotna jest kultura rosyjska, życie imigrantów, miłość do ojczyzny. A mam wrażenie, że autorka nie wiedziała zbyt wiele o Rosji i nie wykonała odpowiedniego researchu.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vaclav & Lena is a book to (forgive the word) cherish. It's all the secrets we keep growing up; it's what it's like to be a kid alone; what it's like, how exciting, to be a kid finally with a best friend; what it's like, later, to fall in love. It's all those things *exactly*. The hope, the earnestness, the anxiety, the wonder, *exactly*.

The characters are so real and complex they're practically in the room with you, but Vaclav's earnestness and enthusiasm and Lena's imagination and inner tumult will stick with me for a long time, I imagine.

The story is fabulously told, and it's real, not a fairy tale, which makes the tender points only more so.

[Hira · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Vaclav & Lena" by Haley Tanner is a beautiful and poignant novel about love that takes root between two immigrant children in the immigrant community of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn - a love that continues to grow over time. Being immigrants, Vaclav and Lena are the odd outcasts trying to find their voices and their place in the world. While Vaclav aspires to be a world famous magician, Lena is his assistant and his muse. While Vaclav resides in a household where he is loved and pampered by his parents, Lena is an orphan who lives with an aunt who mostly ignores and neglects her. While Vaclav knows some English and strives hard to master the language, Lena struggles with it, and stumbles her way through it. Vaclav's doting mother Rasia is still extremely protective of him and tries to instruct him the ways of Russian tradition, all the while trying really hard to be the best "American" mother for her now American son.


Even at the tender age of nine there is a special bond between Vaclav & Lena - clearly evident in the way they do everything together, and how even at such a young age plan a life together in the future. Amidst the aroma of borscht, the goal-oriented lists of things that need to be done, and the English spoken in Russian accents, Vaclav & Lena (too young to give it a word or any designation) fall in love. But then one day, when Lena doesn't come to school due to sickness and Rasia, who loves Lena like her own daughter, goes to check on her - when Rasia returns, she tells Vaclav that Lena has been sent to live with a family where she will be happy. Shrouded under secrecy and a thick veil of mystery, Vaclav is never really given a clear-cut answer as to why this drastic measure had to be taken. But he appeases himself by wishing his beloved Lena goodnight every night, and sending all his love out to her through the universe, wherever she may be.


Seven years later, Vaclav still wants to be a magician, has a girlfriend and still loves Lena. And we finally see that Lena is also in Brooklyn, and is living with her adoptive mother Emily, who she lovingly called "Em" (short for Emily, and a nickname for Mom, beginning with the letter M/Em). She has grown up but is still struggling with her identity, and her murky past. Fate brings them back into each others life, and before they know it, they are back to sharing secrets, making lists and reveling in each others company. But will they be able to continue being in each others life? Can they escape their past, or come to terms with it, especially when neither is comfortable even bringing it up? Can Vaclav weave some magic to rid his love Lena from the harrowing reality of her history?


Haley Tanner's prose is magical, and inspires the reader to not just read but feel the love that exists between Vaclav & Lena. The characterization in this novel is ruthlessly spot-on, and her usage of language (the way the characters speak) as a way to describe them adds to this. This novel has an emotional depth that exceeds the expectations, and I was so deeply affected by the characters and their story that before I could think, I found myself saying a prayer for Vaclav & Lena. This is as much a story about assimilation, trying hard to fit into a place when another part of you has been left in some other country, as it is about love. It is also as much a story about a mother's struggle to protect her son, as it is a story about love. It is as much a story about true friendship, and great respect as it is a story about love. I was fully absorbed in the story, and finished it in a day's time because I could not wait to see what would happen with Vaclav and Lena. Ultimately, Vaclav and Lena have become as synonymous to me as Romeo & Juliet...always remembered together, never apart. I absolutely loved this touching and beautiful story - and I am sure you will love it too.

[Kandice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I set myself up for dissatisfaction because I went into this book expecting so much. I work for a religious school and have two “assistants”, twin boys who are the sons of Russian immigrants. I wanted a peak into their lives.

The first part of the story is told when Vaclav and Lena are 10 and 11 years old. The voice used by Tanner was just wrong. It “sounded” more like the voice of a 4 or 5 year old, in the case of Vaclav especially. I know these children used English as their second language and Lena had not quite grasped it, but still...their thoughts were conveyed in such a stilted, simple manner that they could have been perceived as mentally deficient. I was ok with letting that go.

Then you add in the stereotypes. They were a bit much. Vodka swilling was the least of them. They were so extreme that I wasn’t even comfortable asking the boys if they were accurate. For anyone who has seen the movie Saint Vincent, Lena’s aunt, Ekatarina was the epitome of Naomi Watt’s character in that movie. Good for a laugh, sure, but not realistic. At least I hope not.

One thing I found personally interesting was Vaclav’s obsession with magic. One of my assistants is also obsessed with magic. I mean completely obsessed. So much so that he cannot walk around without a deck of cards in his pocket. He is also very, very good. I know Tanner explained Vaclav’s obsession as stemming from a book about Houdini read in anticipation of his move to America, but I wonder if magic is a big thing in Russia in general.

The second part of the story was my favorite. I like the young man Vaclav became. I had already fallen in love with Rasia, his mother, in the first part of the story, but that love was justified in the second part. She was just so good and loved her son so very much. She put his happiness above her own. She also put Lena’s safety above her own comfort. She had so much love to give and was not selfish about sharing that love.

I hate to spoil plot points in a review so I don’t want to say much about part three, but I found it very unsatisfying. It felt rushed and wrong. As if Tanner was given a finite number pages and she realized four from that number that she better hurry the hell up. She would have served us better by taking her time and tying up the story. As it was she just abruptly quit. Ticked me off.

[Megan.nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally heard about this book on NPR, when it was recommended by the librarian Nancy Pearl. The theme was "books with a really interesting character". I really wanted to like the book, especially after I realized I had read a very poignant article and watched a video on The New York Times site about the author and her dying husband.
The story follows 2 Russian immigrant children in New York City who meet when they are five and become fast friends. The girl, Lena, mysteriously ( to Vaclav anyway) disappears from Vaclav's life. They reconnect when they are 17.

The reason I had difficulty liking it as much as I wanted to was the unbelievability of the characters when they were young. They both were new to learning English, but also, somehow had very extensive vocabularies. Too, the writing in the first part of the book was very stilted. I imagine the author was trying capture the awkwardness of someone learning a language, but it resulted in choppy sentences and thoughts.

This is a touching love story, and at times the writing can be quite good. The author effectively describes the lack of control and obsessive thinking that often accompanies first time young love. This is the author's first novel and I would be interested in reading subsequent work by her.

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever on a quest to find books that speak to my life and my situation, I originally started reading this book with no real expectations, but intrigued by the subject matter of two Russian immigrants who meet, aged 10, in their ESL classes.

So far, so saccharine. However, whilst arguably a coming-of-age novel, this book had a dark underbelly I didn't expect - and was an altogether stronger work as a result of that.

I am normally loath to start talking about language in a review, but Tanner's language was one of the things which made this novel stand out for me. The use of the present tense made the style of the book more filmic than I expected. I suspect that those without some kind of connection to Russia and/or the Russian language may find the jerky 'non-native speaker' dialogue in the opening chapters a little frustrating, however I felt that this was still a useful device and if nothing else served to show the reader how frustrating it can be to not be able to communicate as clearly as one would like.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

Everyone wants to go about as if they were a fantastic superhero, born into the world complete; no one wants to acknowledge that they are self-consciously creating themselves, but everybody is. p164

For most people do not really mean their smiles. Most of the time, their smiles are a lie, a trick, or a promise. Vaclav's smile is just a smile, and he always means it. p124

It might seem curious that someone so innocent of guile, so authentic and committed to his own truth, would be captivated by magic and the tantalizing prospect of controlling events using supernatural powers. But since his childhood, Vaclav has been devoted to becoming a world famous magician, along with his beautiful assistant Lena. Lena, of course, has her own agenda, and the biggest magic in this book is how Haley Tanner manages to bring it off without veering into overtly sentimental territory by continuing to surprise just when the reader has concluded that the surprises, and the magic, are all used up.

It's not safe...out in the world, with his eyes open to everything and his heart beating right on his sleeve, with his dreams in his hands, ready to show and tell. p12

Especially if you are an immigrant who has not yet mastered the language of a new country, it is not even clear what needs and desires are deemed acceptable to express. HT explores the various ways of connection and attachment, authenticity and compromise, and the power of perseverance in this sharp and witty, surprisingly delightful debut.

There is no going back once you know something, because from then on, you always know it. p110

[tazmeen ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have little to no idea what happened in this book. That is how interesting it was. By God, it was a short book, and so I did not dnf it.

Anyway here's my review:

2.5/5

I personally found the content, quite contrasting the back cover reviews.

Vaclav was a very problematic character, since the book was very short and given in 3rd person pov, I don't understand anything about him.

Lena did not deserve the ending, she absolutely deserves to know what had happened to her mum and dad. and, I found her really boring to read about.

Overall, this was a waste of 2hrs of my time. But, it did save me from a few social interactions, so, good?

(I am broken from this, and so cannot craft a sane review)

[J.M. Cornwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of young love that demonstrates more abuse and control than love.

Vaclav and Lena are friends, both in the same grade and both spend a lot of time together. Lena is shy because of her lack of English around other children and quiet—most of the time. Vaclav lives for magic and his idol is David Copperfield. Lena’s idol is the girl in the fringed gold bikini who is Fredini’s assistant.

Through their younger years, Vaclav and Lena are inseparable, at least until Marina and Christina begin hanging out with Lena. What was once a close friendship becomes secret at school at Lena’s insistence, until the night Rasia goes to check on Lena and does not come home until the next morning. Lena has been taken away and Rasia refuses to tell Vaclav where. Each night he says Lena’s name, believing she will come back to him. Of Lena, there is no sign. And Vaclav waits.

Haley Tanner’s story of the young Russian immigrants is meant to be poignant and heart breaking, but something gets in the way. Like Vaclav’s mother Rasia, I found Lena difficult to trust or to like. She was sneaky and controlling. There was something off about Lena that nothing in the rest of the novel could account for. Vaclav and Lena is supposed to be a love story, but it is a dysfunctional love. Rasia wishes that Vaclav would find someone who loves him more than he loves them; his heart already belongs to Lena.

There is a singsong quality to the prose in the beginning of the book before Lena and Vaclav grow up that is at times grating and tedious. It is not so much the words as it is the syntax, and there is an under current of wrongness throughout the story that taints what seems meant to be a simple tale of young love and faithfulness. Vaclav and Lena seem younger than the nine and ten stated in the last part of the book, but they both fit their seventeen years at the end.

It was difficult to reconcile Rasia’s fear every time Vaclav’s bedroom door was closed that the children would be naked and writhing around on the bed, especially considering how Rasia claims she loves Lena as a daughter. Rasia does not trust Lena and little things about her actions made me mistrust Lena as well. There is a quality to Lena's actions that seem malicious and secretive far beyond her years.

Tanner writes about the Russian immigrants of Brooklyn with intimacy. Her characters are well developed, despite Lena’s stated personality and the one that shows more clearly through her actions. If this is love, I’m with Rasia. Vaclav should find someone else. Lena is not in my estimation worthy of his trust as is amply proven in the last chapter. Tanner knows her subject well, and she writes with confidence and surety. It is unfortunate that some of her characters are so unlikeable.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/20...

The 90′s dawn on Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach with hope and sunlight. At least, they do for Vaclav. For the rest of the Russian immigrant community, life isn’t all magic and ponies. His best friend, Lena, for example, lives with her aunt, a woman of questionable employment and morals, in a tiny, rundown apartment that seems to suck the very life out of a girl who should be thriving in the new world. Together, the two save each other from many of life’s perils and threats for five years.

As their second decade approaches, though, the ten-year olds find themselves at odds with each other and a world that seems to hold uglier surprises than they might have imagined. Vaclav begins to question his safe, supportive home and new light shines on the dismal existence that Lena hides in.

When Lena suddenly disappears from Vaclav’s life, one fateful day, his heart is split in two. He continues to hold her close, saying an audible “Goodnight” to her for the next seven years. He continues this until he stumbles upon an answer he’s been waiting for, for better or for worse, since Lena came into his life.

Inside the tiny immigrant community of Brighton Beach, Tanner paints a world so filled with possibility and despair, it is impossible to remember that this world is never much bigger than one borough. Her prose follows the development of the duo’s English. It is first simple and stilted, later, complex and beautiful, almost heartbreakingly so, as the story grows and changes with the central subjects. The words, themselves, are not the only things that progress with the characters. Immigration, identity and other, much darker topics are alluded to and explored between the pages, through younger eyes, then more mature hearts, as secrets are revealed and truths brought to light.

The cotton candy cover is a bit misleading in that it seems to speak of a fluffy, happy story. Though there is peace and beauty to be found, there is a dark underbelly to this tale that I was shocked and surprised to find. The darkness should not be a deterrent, though, as the entire saga is well worth the ride. A stunning and emotional debut, Vaclav & Lena is a stellar exploration of friendship, love, loss and humanity that should not be missed.

[Rhiannon Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sent to me by Random House, and highly recommended by their Canadian director of online marketing, Vaclav & Lena's unique sounding story had me dying to dig in.

From the same country, but two different worlds, young Russian immigrants Vaclav and Lena, become fast friends in Brooklyn. Getting through ESL and homework together, they dream of one day putting on a Magic show on Coney Island. Until the day Lena doesn't come to school, and for the next seven years Vaclav worries over her fate. The evening he finally gives up his nightly good night for Lena, the phone rings. Together can they face what happened to her?

A debut novel for Haley Tanner, Vaclav & Lena was almost an ode to the tenacity of the human spirit, and love. Whether she was telling a story about the immigrant experience or the story of child abuse, she told it with such tenderness and clarity that I can't imagine it not having resonance with those who've experienced these things themselves.

Haley's writing sparkles with other worldliness, and has an almost childlike sense of wonder to it. Even the harsher elements of the story are told in a guileless way, as if retold by a complete innocent. In the end it felt like a modern day fairy tale, albeit in the true Hans Christian Anderson style.

The characters were of course the main draw. Vaclav and his mother Rasia are incredibly lovable, and their broken English and desire to fit in yet remain true to themselves is not the least of what makes them special. Lena, though the tougher of the two children, is made rosy and perfect by Vaclav's perspective, and his romantic view of her is completely infectious. Even Vaclav's lazy, fat father has his moment to shine.

I'm not sure I've ever read a story so lovingly written before, it made the world seem like a rosier place while I read it, which was very very briefly as I could barely tear myself away. Although the two main characters are young children and then teens, this is not classified as a YA book, just mainstream fiction. But I would confidently say this book would appeal to both teens and adults alike and I can't wait to get everyone I know reading it. It goes on sale today, so don't wait1

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has there ever been a less compelling read??
I would not have read this but alas, book club pick, and so I was forced to dive into the extremely unmagical (despite efforts to the contrary) world of two unappealing Russian children, the titular Vaclav and Lena, the former a would be Houdini and the latter a rather introverted victim of abuse. I tend to despise sweeping tales of epic love, such as the type where they meet at age like six or whatever and are separated for lots of formative and important years and, of course, one or both of them is entangled with someone who is So Not For Them - either because s/he is a whopping jerk who the hero/ine has no business liking or because it is not the hero/ine and therefore the perfectly nice whomever is EVIL but fret not, because there will be a Reunion between two adults whose child love - creepily enough - never faded and presto! (there's that magic) they are together as they are fated to be.
Blah blah blah. I know, I know, what a miserable cynic I am. I must be a real downer at weddings and all that. Well you know what? Fine, I hate magic and I hate fairy tales and I hate books that try too hard, but is that a crime?? I mean how hard is it (ok, very hard, as I know firsthand but still) to write a book that is ABOUT SOMETHING??? I mean, love is fine and dandy but that's a vehicle, not a premise. And these characters possessed no charm or facets, and Vaclav was a cry baby, and the dialogue was so forced (Vaclav in the playground explaining to his fellow third graders that perhaps they think he is Polish with a name like Vaclav, but no, he is in fact Russian... yap yap .. really?), and the only thing that might have been interesting was Lena's occasional embarrassment at being seen with Vaclav (totally hear ya, sister) but that faded way too quickly and we were back to straight up syrup.
This was not the worst book ever. It had nice enough moments, and some interesting observations. But it read like a better than most written children's story, and there just wasn't much to say, which I guess bothered me all the more as I am reading it for the purpose of discussion.

[Lynai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, but this is such a beautiful, beautiful book.

Vaclav & Lena is a debut novel of Haley Tanner and it tells the story of, of course, Vaclav and Lena. Vaclav and Lena are both Russian immigrants in America. They meet in an ESL class in school and they immediately became best friends. Vaclav is enthralled with magic and he dreams to become a famous magician, so every day, after school, he practices magic tricks,with Lena as his assistant. Of course, every magician has an assistant and Lena certainly fits the bill. Lena is not as keen with magic as Vaclav, but since they’re best friends, she shares this deep secret with him including planning the big magic act. One day, however, Lena does not show up in school. For the next seven years, Vaclav says goodnight to Lena every night and wishes to see her again.

One thing I like about this book is the language. The storytelling is somewhat different because it evolves with the age of the characters. When Vaclav and Lena were both 7 years old, the voice of the storyteller is that of a seven year-old. When they became 17, the narrator’s voice also grows up. It is a very convincing storytelling, I would love to listen to it on audio.

I particularly love Vaclav — his youthful exuberance, fascinating innocence, and his sheer resilience to make his dreams of becoming a magician come true. Lena’s character is deeply mysterious, as intended, although the big reveal towards the end is not as shocking as I expected it to be. Still, I love the character development and the plot. I love the Russian bits of culture, especially the various introspections of Vaclav’s mother about American culture. And the ending. The ending is just marvelously apt.

Ah, but I love everything about this book. This is a perfect book to start this new reading year.

Friends, if you come across this book, please please please pick it up. It is not only entertaining, but it is deeply touching at most.

Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld.

[Anita Pomerantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this debut novel about two children, born of Russian immigrants and living in modern day America. Vaclav and Lena are childhood friends, both Russian, but with extremely different home lives. As children they bond over Vaclav's dream to be a magician. Unfortunately, there is much more going on with Lena than meets the eye, and one day she essentially vanishes from Vaclav's life.

This book seems influenced by so many others to me - - Water for Elephants, The Book Thief, and teensy bit of Life of Pi. But the writing style and voice is uniquely Tanner's. You feel that these people are not native English speakers throughout the entirety of the book, yet it still flows beautifully.

I probably would have "favorited" Vaclav and Lena if it wasn't for a scant few chapters, told from Lena's point of view, that I found overdone and slow. But the rest of the book was a delightful gem that at times almost brought me to tears (hard to do).

I'm very anxious for someone else to read it because it definitely has a bit of a hook for book clubs, and I'm curious to discuss it with someone else.

It is worth noting that this book reads a bit like a YA novel . . .but I don't think that is truly intentional. I think it stems more from the fact that the voice is that of an immigrant so the English is necessarily simple.

Also, if there is a better drawn character of a mother than Raisa - - I don't know of her. I fell in absolute love with her as a character, and truly felt that this book was as much a love story about her and her son as it was about the title characters.

Highly recommend.

[Gail Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Affecting, poignant, unforgettable all describe Haley Tanner's wonderful debut novel VACLAV & LENA. One would be hard-pressed to think of anyone who would not be touched by her story, especially when read by two such talented actors as Kirby Heyborne and Rebecca Lowman.

A gifted and versatile performer Heyborne has received acclaim for not only his acting but his music (four solo albums) and his comedy. Lowman brings a wealth of stage, film and television experience to her narration. An inimitable pairing for this narration! Listen as they introduce us to Vaclav and Lena who first meet as children when they're enrolled in an English as a Second Language class in Brooklyn. Both are six-year-old Russian immigrants.

Drawn to one another they begin to play a game. He is to be a magician; she will be his assistant. Every day after school they practice their act; they grow closer and make promises. For instance, when they perform on the boardwalk at Coney Island they'll be billed as Vaclav the Magnificent and his assistant, the Lovely Lena. Another vow is that they will be together forever.

Vaclav's mother, Rasia, is sympathetic toward Lena who has no family but lives in an apartment with an aunt. Rasia walks Lena home every night after supper and is aware of the messy shabbiness of Lena's apartment as well as the unsavory way her aunt makes a living.

One day Lena does not show up for class. Rasia is stunned with what she finds when she goes to look for her and cannot bring herself to tell the frantic Vaclav the truth. Time passes until Vaclav is 17 and his phone rings - it is Lena. Yes, they are together again yet in Tanner's gifted hands there is more to come.

VACLAV & LENA is a love story that reminds us of the strength and redemptive power of love.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

[Dorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this novel that described two outcast children of immigrants befriending each other and planning for a magic show. The author really got inside each character’s head and described in detail what they were thinking and feeling. Sometimes the descriptions and the history was a little much, and eventually I found myself skimming certain paragraphs. The middle was interesting as the reader discovered what the two characters went through while they were apart. But again there were so many details that I found myself skimming paragraphs and in some places whole pages. The third part of the book details what happened once the two characters met again as teenagers, and unfortunately this was the part that I was most unhappy with. At the end you found out the history and secrets of Lena’s family. The book itself ended with Vaclav telling Lena the story of her parents. Instead of feeling satisfied I was annoyed. Since when was this book about resolving the secret of Lena’s parents? I wanted to know if Vaclav ever performed his magic act, and if Vaclav and Lena became a couple, and if their friendship continued at all? None of these items were resolved, which to me where the primary point of the book. So although I enjoyed most of the novel, I was unhappy with how it ended.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reader's Choice book at the library. I read a random paragraph from the middle and knew I would enjoy this book. I was not disappointed. Especially for a freshman novel, I was very impressed by Tanner. Her characters (even peripheral ones) were vibrant and believable. She didn't overplay the "dark secret", and stayed true to what was most beautiful about this story: the relationship between Vaclav and Lena. Call me old-fashioned, but I like the idea of soulmates, and I appreciated that Vaclav and Lena's reunion happened at age 17, which I think is the perfect age to discover that you are really, truly in love.
I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. One minor complaint (which I don't see how the author could have done any differently) was that I kind of felt guilty reading the broken English of the Russian immigrants, and hearing about eating borscht and drinking vodka. I kept thinking "Am I just being fed stereotypes here?" and I felt bad about that. But (not having a lot of personal experience with Russian immigrants to go off of here) the characters did feel very genuine, and usually stereotypes exist for a reason, so whose to say Tanner's depiction of their life wasn't accurate?
Anyway, if you're looking for a quick, enjoyable read, I recommend this one.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out so promising for me. I loved Vaclav. His character is just so likable. He's so genuine, one of those characters you root for. The relationship that really stood out for me in this story was between Vaclav and his mom Rasia. Some of the moments between them really touched my heart. Lena on the other hand was not a very likable character. Even though she had a hard life and I felt bad for her, I just couldn't root for her. I couldn't connect with her like I did with Vaclav. And then there's the ending. I hated the ending. I don't know how I expected it to end, but it was so unsatisfying. It didn't even make sense it was so unclear. Overall, I was very disappointed. It could have been so much better, it started out that way, and then just fell flat.

[Cat Chiappa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read, though the style of writing gets a little tiresome after awhile. I know what the author is trying to do and I respect it, but at some point I thought the style would change more significantly as the characters got older. I also found the ending to be rather abrupt and a little out of character from the rest of the story. I really liked where the author was going but the ending sort of jarred me out of the rest of the story. However, I did think the characters were interesting and the story very sweet overall.