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An Echo Through the Snow
Andrea Thalasinos's debut novel is an inspiring story of how a single act of kindness can transform your life.
Rosalie MacKenzie is headed nowhere until she sees Smokey, a Siberian husky suffering from neglect. Rosalie finds the courage to rescue the dog, and—united by the bond of love that forms between them—they save each other.
Soon Rosalie and Smokey are immersed in the world of competitive dogsled racing. Days are filled with training runs, the stark beauty of rural Wisconsin, and the whoosh of runners on snow. Rosalie discovers that behind the modern sport lies a tragic history: the heartbreaking story of the Chukchi people of Siberia. When Stalin's Red Army displaced the Chukchi in 1929, many were killed and others lost their homes and their beloved Guardians—the huskies that were the soul and livelihood of their people.
Alternating between past and present, telling of a struggling Chukchi family and a young woman discovering herself, An Echo Through the Snow takes readers on a gripping, profound, and uplifting dogsled ride to the Iditarod and beyond, on a journey of survival and healing.
Rosalie MacKenzie is headed nowhere until she sees Smokey, a Siberian husky suffering from neglect. Rosalie finds the courage to rescue the dog, and—united by the bond of love that forms between them—they save each other.
Soon Rosalie and Smokey are immersed in the world of competitive dogsled racing. Days are filled with training runs, the stark beauty of rural Wisconsin, and the whoosh of runners on snow. Rosalie discovers that behind the modern sport lies a tragic history: the heartbreaking story of the Chukchi people of Siberia. When Stalin's Red Army displaced the Chukchi in 1929, many were killed and others lost their homes and their beloved Guardians—the huskies that were the soul and livelihood of their people.
Alternating between past and present, telling of a struggling Chukchi family and a young woman discovering herself, An Echo Through the Snow takes readers on a gripping, profound, and uplifting dogsled ride to the Iditarod and beyond, on a journey of survival and healing.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
704 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
September 25, 2021
I picked this up at the library when I didn't have a book. It's sort of historical fiction about the Iditarod and the history of the Chukchi people of Siberia. In 1929 Stalin's Red Army displaced the Chukchi, which resulted in their losing their homes, lives, and ways of life. They also lost their huskey dogs(which they were heavily dependent upon) which they called "Guardians". The story goes back and forth between 1929 and 1993 through the common thread of the huskeies. The idea is that an Alaskan man got some prime huskies right before the Red Army came in and distroyed them all. The lineage stayed with the American, who was part of starting the Iditarod. The 1993 story takes place in Wisconsin. It was OK. I wasn't aware of Stalin's affect on the Indian in Siberia. That was interesting and sad. (less)
September 23, 2023
An Echo Through the Snow by Andrea Thalasinos
An inspiring story of how a single act of kindness can transform your life. Rosalie Mackenzie is headed nowhere until she sees Smokey, A Siberian husky suffering from neglect. Rosalie finds the courage to rescue the dog, and united by the bond of love that forms between them they save each other. Soon Rosalie and Smokey are immersed in the world of dogsleding I enjoyed this book about Smokey (dog) and Rosalie and the act of kindness toward Smokey. I bought this book at a yard sale for
.50.
An inspiring story of how a single act of kindness can transform your life. Rosalie Mackenzie is headed nowhere until she sees Smokey, A Siberian husky suffering from neglect. Rosalie finds the courage to rescue the dog, and united by the bond of love that forms between them they save each other. Soon Rosalie and Smokey are immersed in the world of dogsleding I enjoyed this book about Smokey (dog) and Rosalie and the act of kindness toward Smokey. I bought this book at a yard sale for
.50.
February 10, 2014
Rosalie MacKenzie is feeling trapped. She’s a high school dropout, married in haste to a quick-tempered man, and about to lose yet one more going-nowhere job. When she spots a neglected and mistreated Siberian husky she decides to rescue the dog, setting in motion a chain of events that changes the lives of both girl and animal. Juxtaposed against this modern story is that of the native peoples of Siberia, the Chukchi, their deep bond with the dogs they consider their Guardians, and how Stalin’s Red Army displaced them in 1929, virtually eradicating their way of life.
The novel moves back and forth between these two storylines. This is a difficult technique to do well, and I’m sorry to say that Thalasinos does not fully succeed. Yes, there is a connection, even some parallels, between the story of Rosalie and that of Jeaantaa and her descendants. However, the manner in which Thalasinos brings the stories together is awkward and feels forced.
I did enjoy a good portion of the book. I was happy to learn about the Chukchi people of Siberia (and in an interesting side note watched a report on Siberia’s native people as part of NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics). I wish Thalasinos had delved deeper into that story; this just whetted my appetite for more information about the Chukchi. I liked watching Rosalie slowly gain confidence and begin a journey to successful adulthood. She’s intelligent, a hard worker, and kind to people and animals. I applaud Thalasinos for not giving us a fairytale ending and leaving room for doubt, because people with Rosalie’s background don’t just magically become whole due to one relationship.
I think the major problem with the book is that Thalasinos was too ambitious with her debut. Either of these storylines would have made a fine novel. Putting them together in one book resulted in a novel that fails to do justice to either one. Rosalie’s troubled past leaves her with a significant inability to trust. But Thalasinos repeats the same scenarios over and over: Someone does or says something that Rosalie misinterprets, she clams up and draws conclusions, that person asks her what’s wrong, she stonewalls, she finally realizes she was mistaken, and things go back to “normal.” This happens in her relationship with her father, her girlfriend, her employers, the vet, and her boyfriend. There’s never any real discussion of what she’s feeling. There are significant plot twists towards the end that felt really forced to me, as if Thalasinos couldn’t figure out how to get from point A to point B so just threw in a major change.
The novel moves back and forth between these two storylines. This is a difficult technique to do well, and I’m sorry to say that Thalasinos does not fully succeed. Yes, there is a connection, even some parallels, between the story of Rosalie and that of Jeaantaa and her descendants. However, the manner in which Thalasinos brings the stories together is awkward and feels forced.
I did enjoy a good portion of the book. I was happy to learn about the Chukchi people of Siberia (and in an interesting side note watched a report on Siberia’s native people as part of NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics). I wish Thalasinos had delved deeper into that story; this just whetted my appetite for more information about the Chukchi. I liked watching Rosalie slowly gain confidence and begin a journey to successful adulthood. She’s intelligent, a hard worker, and kind to people and animals. I applaud Thalasinos for not giving us a fairytale ending and leaving room for doubt, because people with Rosalie’s background don’t just magically become whole due to one relationship.
I think the major problem with the book is that Thalasinos was too ambitious with her debut. Either of these storylines would have made a fine novel. Putting them together in one book resulted in a novel that fails to do justice to either one. Rosalie’s troubled past leaves her with a significant inability to trust. But Thalasinos repeats the same scenarios over and over: Someone does or says something that Rosalie misinterprets, she clams up and draws conclusions, that person asks her what’s wrong, she stonewalls, she finally realizes she was mistaken, and things go back to “normal.” This happens in her relationship with her father, her girlfriend, her employers, the vet, and her boyfriend. There’s never any real discussion of what she’s feeling. There are significant plot twists towards the end that felt really forced to me, as if Thalasinos couldn’t figure out how to get from point A to point B so just threw in a major change.
September 23, 2012
I was originally interested in reading this book because it's about dogs, specifically husky dogs, which to me is one of the most gorgeous and fascinating breeds of dogs. I'm a huge animal lover and I think that other animal lovers may enjoy this book too.
The story is pretty good but there were definitely some places that had a couple holes for me. There are two parallel stories in the book. The first one takes place in Siberia during toward the beginning of the 20th century and surrounds the story of the Chukchi people. This group of people has made their home in Siberia, a very rough place, for a very long time. When the Soviets sweep through the area, their lives change for forever. I really wish that there had been more of a focus on the Chukchi people. I knew almost nothing about them before the book and I still feel like I don't know much even after reading the book. The other story takes place in the early 1990s in Wisconsin and surrounds a young woman who gets involved in the dog sledding circuit.
There were a couple things that fell flat for me. First off, the connection between the historical story and the more present day story seemed sort of random. I wish there had been a little more connection. Also, the 1990s story jumps a lot of time. The jumping really made me feel like I was missing out on some of the character development. It really made me feel like I was missing out on the character connections. I didn't feel like you got a good sense of how the characters interacted with each other.
Thalasinos has an ear (or hand perhaps) for writing really real dialogue, which helped to pull me into the story a little more than I would have been otherwise.
This book was okay for me but animal lovers will probably still appreciate this book.
The story is pretty good but there were definitely some places that had a couple holes for me. There are two parallel stories in the book. The first one takes place in Siberia during toward the beginning of the 20th century and surrounds the story of the Chukchi people. This group of people has made their home in Siberia, a very rough place, for a very long time. When the Soviets sweep through the area, their lives change for forever. I really wish that there had been more of a focus on the Chukchi people. I knew almost nothing about them before the book and I still feel like I don't know much even after reading the book. The other story takes place in the early 1990s in Wisconsin and surrounds a young woman who gets involved in the dog sledding circuit.
There were a couple things that fell flat for me. First off, the connection between the historical story and the more present day story seemed sort of random. I wish there had been a little more connection. Also, the 1990s story jumps a lot of time. The jumping really made me feel like I was missing out on some of the character development. It really made me feel like I was missing out on the character connections. I didn't feel like you got a good sense of how the characters interacted with each other.
Thalasinos has an ear (or hand perhaps) for writing really real dialogue, which helped to pull me into the story a little more than I would have been otherwise.
This book was okay for me but animal lovers will probably still appreciate this book.
February 17, 2013
Andrea Thalasinos's debut novel is actually two stories which come together beautifully at the end of the book. I very much enjoyed reading about the rescue of each of Rosalie's huskies, but it was the tale of the Chukcki people displaced by Stalin's Red Army that really intrigued me. Jeaantaa is a strong Chukchi woman who essentially plays guardian to the Guardians, risking her life to save the dogs she loves. And although I'm a jaded veteran of watching many Iditarod starts, I loved the descriptions of the sled dog races. An excellent read, especially for dog lovers!
June 7, 2013
Andrea Thalasinos's An Echo Through the Snow is one of those books that I select for some mysterious reason and then I let the book sit on my desk for MONTHS. Animal books are really not my thing unless it has a certain focus like horse racing stories.
I can totally get into books about great thoroughbreds like Ruffian, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, etc. But I'm not one of those who like to read books on how a dog changed my life (for example, I have never been tempted to read Marley and Me) and this book seemed like ONE OF THOSE BOOKS.
Yet a funny thing happened in that once I opened the book to actually start reading it(because I had to read it to give a report on it so I couldn't just throw it out and thank goodness for that), I couldn't stop reading. Not even Alif the Unseen made me want to stay up and read like this book did.
An Echo Through the Snow is two stories that are somehow connected: one story starts in early 20th century Siberia Russia as a way of life is about to changed forever and the other story is a young woman in late 20th century Wisconsin whose life appears to be at a dead end. The only common thread appears to be breed of dog, the Siberian husky.
Tariem is a Chukuchi man who came of age during the upheaval of Russia from Imperial to Bolshevik to Stalin and beyond. To be honest, the story of Tariem and his wife Jeaantaa and the mystery of her leaving him that is the more fascinating of the two stories. It may be because the Chukuchi people, who are cousins of the Inuit, have a story that is both familiar and unfamiliar. We know displacement stories but it is ultimately a story of survival. And Tariem's story arc spans about 80 years so there is a sense of quiet epic to his half of the story.
That said, Rosalie's half is interesting as well with her struggle to find her way after seeming so lost at the start of the story. How one shaky decision to free an abused dog named Smokey set her on a path that will open up her world and help her to deal with disappointments along the way.
Thalasinos has a very easy style to writing, never forcing but allowing the characters to move comfortably through the story, and it held my attention once I began. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to know if Tariem would outlive the Soviet years and find his way back to his ancestral home and if the Guardians, the dogs who were special to them, would be part of his life again. I wanted to know how Rosalie seemed to be tied to Tariem. And I wanted to know what happened to Jeaantaa, Tariem's unhappy wife.
An excellent story and smoothly written. Definitely a 5 star read for me.
I can totally get into books about great thoroughbreds like Ruffian, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, etc. But I'm not one of those who like to read books on how a dog changed my life (for example, I have never been tempted to read Marley and Me) and this book seemed like ONE OF THOSE BOOKS.
Yet a funny thing happened in that once I opened the book to actually start reading it
An Echo Through the Snow is two stories that are somehow connected: one story starts in early 20th century Siberia Russia as a way of life is about to changed forever and the other story is a young woman in late 20th century Wisconsin whose life appears to be at a dead end. The only common thread appears to be breed of dog, the Siberian husky.
Tariem is a Chukuchi man who came of age during the upheaval of Russia from Imperial to Bolshevik to Stalin and beyond. To be honest, the story of Tariem and his wife Jeaantaa and the mystery of her leaving him that is the more fascinating of the two stories. It may be because the Chukuchi people, who are cousins of the Inuit, have a story that is both familiar and unfamiliar. We know displacement stories but it is ultimately a story of survival. And Tariem's story arc spans about 80 years so there is a sense of quiet epic to his half of the story.
That said, Rosalie's half is interesting as well with her struggle to find her way after seeming so lost at the start of the story. How one shaky decision to free an abused dog named Smokey set her on a path that will open up her world and help her to deal with disappointments along the way.
Thalasinos has a very easy style to writing, never forcing but allowing the characters to move comfortably through the story, and it held my attention once I began. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to know if Tariem would outlive the Soviet years and find his way back to his ancestral home and if the Guardians, the dogs who were special to them, would be part of his life again. I wanted to know how Rosalie seemed to be tied to Tariem. And I wanted to know what happened to Jeaantaa, Tariem's unhappy wife.
An excellent story and smoothly written. Definitely a 5 star read for me.
September 6, 2015
What a breathtaking book! Once begun, I couldn't put it down and finished it in 3 days. Ms. Thalasinos has woven a tale of harsh lands and broken lives that spans 63 years and two continents. The novel alternates between the lives of Jeantaa, a Chukchi woman living in 1929 during the destruction of her land and culture by Stalin's Russia and an emotionally broken Rosalie MacKenzie living in 1992 Wisconsin who finds her way back to survival when she rescues an equally broken Husky named Smokey. The cords that binds these women are The Guardians--- the fierce, strong, faithful Huskies. This was a wonderful tale of resilience against severe challenges and an informative and enriching story about a people, the Chukchi, whom I had not known and the Husky and the dog/human relationship that is so unique.
January 8, 2017
I loved this book. The characters are flawed and vulnerable and so human. I enjoyed the historical interweaving and shamanic elements. I am not a dog person, but I really enjoyed learning about sled dogs -- their physiology and history. I liked that the author didn't take the easy way out and make the story resolve all elements perfectly. I have recommended the book to several friends.
July 9, 2012
Ehh…. I had such high hopes for this book – after all it’s definitely a “dog” book, and it also involves sled racing! The intertwining of a historical section in with a more contemporary setting sounded fascinating too. What fun to read on a hot summer day… or at least, that’s what I had expected…
Unfortunately, despite the strength of Thalasinos’ writing and her obvious passion for her subject, the book fell flat. The historical section completely felt separated from the contemporary, and the two narratives were not woven together at all until the very end. And while the narration in the more modern section was a lot clearer, and more focused which made it easier to connect to the characters, what I ultimately appreciated the most was its straight chronology. The historical section, were you to excise it from the book and read it in the order presented doesn’t flow well at all from one chapter to another. It is completely disjointed and choppy. The shift in narrators and time seemed senseless. And once the two stories did join together, it felt rushed and contrived.
As for the characters in both the modern and historical sections, the dogs were the most likable. But even they didn’t feel completely authentic in the more modern section – ten dogs living in what sounds like a 5-room house (and not a spacious 5 rooms either) sounds like a recipe for disaster, unpleasant for both the humans and the dogs. They were “working” dogs, yes, but they are treated like house pets in the book, and all lived in the house, a house with a very small yard too. It was also a little implausible that there were that many purebred Huskies in one town that needed to be rescued…
Unfortunately, despite the strength of Thalasinos’ writing and her obvious passion for her subject, the book fell flat. The historical section completely felt separated from the contemporary, and the two narratives were not woven together at all until the very end. And while the narration in the more modern section was a lot clearer, and more focused which made it easier to connect to the characters, what I ultimately appreciated the most was its straight chronology. The historical section, were you to excise it from the book and read it in the order presented doesn’t flow well at all from one chapter to another. It is completely disjointed and choppy. The shift in narrators and time seemed senseless. And once the two stories did join together, it felt rushed and contrived.
As for the characters in both the modern and historical sections, the dogs were the most likable. But even they didn’t feel completely authentic in the more modern section – ten dogs living in what sounds like a 5-room house (and not a spacious 5 rooms either) sounds like a recipe for disaster, unpleasant for both the humans and the dogs. They were “working” dogs, yes, but they are treated like house pets in the book, and all lived in the house, a house with a very small yard too. It was also a little implausible that there were that many purebred Huskies in one town that needed to be rescued…
January 28, 2018
This is not usually the kind of book I read, but it was really good! I would recommend it.
January 26, 2018
Taken from the book. "Rosalie MacKenzie is headed nowhere until she sees Smokey, a Siberian husky suffering from neglect. Rosalie finds the courage to rescue the dog, and―united by the bond of love that forms between them―they save each other."
I just could not get into parts of the book and struggled to keep up with back and forth stories. I wish the characters were a little more developed and the stories fused together more cohesively. I did enjoy the overall storyline, it is complex, yet simple.
I just could not get into parts of the book and struggled to keep up with back and forth stories. I wish the characters were a little more developed and the stories fused together more cohesively. I did enjoy the overall storyline, it is complex, yet simple.
February 12, 2013
Sometimes when I have a few minutes at the library, I love just browsing through the shelves and seeing the random books that look intriguing. The other day, I was doing just that on the new releases shelf when I came across An Echo Through the Snow. The first thing about it that caught my eye was the starkness of the cover, with just the picture of the dog and a woman. Then after reading the description, I decided to take a chance on it because I was sufficiently intrigued.
While this is primarily a story about rescuing of dogs, dog sled racing and the history of how the Siberian husky came to be in the US, it is also a story about finding your place in the world. How for so many people we bounce around from job to job, the day in drudgery making people unmotivated to succeed and just floundering…but when that place in the world is found, the all of the pieces click into place…and that was how Rosalie’s story played out. I loved seeing her blossom as a young woman and finding her place in the world. Originally, I thought that she was a bit older than she turned out to be (18, vice in her mid-20′s) – but I think that added to her innocence during parts of the book.
The use of the flashbacks to the early 20th century and a period of Russian history, I had heard of vaguely but didn’t know a lot about. It is interesting to see how different books are starting to encompass that period of history now that they are free to write about it. But at the same time, they were a bit disjointed – I didn’t realize for a while how exactly they were going to be linked – it wasn’t like they were person flashbacks in history/familial connections, but rather dream-time kind of stories, which I could see being linked into Rosalie’s Native American heritage.
I think that my biggest complaint was how quickly everything seemed to progress – ultimately, the entire story took place in just under a years time – but it felt like it was moving really quickly and that everything fell into place a bit too quickly…I would have loved to have seen it drawn out a little bit more, maybe even only a couple more months to a year. But for the most part, my complaints about the book are few and far between. I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot about the sport of dog sledding (and it kind of makes me want to read some more about it and maybe travel somewhere to see a race – yes, I am that insane…). Overall, I would give this a 3.5, but rounding up to 4 stars. I think that it is a book that would probably be enjoyed by women, but I think also older teenagers, might enjoy it.
While this is primarily a story about rescuing of dogs, dog sled racing and the history of how the Siberian husky came to be in the US, it is also a story about finding your place in the world. How for so many people we bounce around from job to job, the day in drudgery making people unmotivated to succeed and just floundering…but when that place in the world is found, the all of the pieces click into place…and that was how Rosalie’s story played out. I loved seeing her blossom as a young woman and finding her place in the world. Originally, I thought that she was a bit older than she turned out to be (18, vice in her mid-20′s) – but I think that added to her innocence during parts of the book.
The use of the flashbacks to the early 20th century and a period of Russian history, I had heard of vaguely but didn’t know a lot about. It is interesting to see how different books are starting to encompass that period of history now that they are free to write about it. But at the same time, they were a bit disjointed – I didn’t realize for a while how exactly they were going to be linked – it wasn’t like they were person flashbacks in history/familial connections, but rather dream-time kind of stories, which I could see being linked into Rosalie’s Native American heritage.
I think that my biggest complaint was how quickly everything seemed to progress – ultimately, the entire story took place in just under a years time – but it felt like it was moving really quickly and that everything fell into place a bit too quickly…I would have loved to have seen it drawn out a little bit more, maybe even only a couple more months to a year. But for the most part, my complaints about the book are few and far between. I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot about the sport of dog sledding (and it kind of makes me want to read some more about it and maybe travel somewhere to see a race – yes, I am that insane…). Overall, I would give this a 3.5, but rounding up to 4 stars. I think that it is a book that would probably be enjoyed by women, but I think also older teenagers, might enjoy it.
September 2, 2012
Today's review is on An Echo Through the Snow by Andrea Thalasinos
With all of the hype surrounding the release of this book, I was expecting to be carried away on a fantastic journey. Sadly this was not the case. Though there are parts of the book that I did enjoy, An Echo Through the Snow has some serious flaws.
First off, for a book of this size, I should have a firm understanding of the major players. However, as it's written, I don't get a real "feel" for the Chukchi people, let alone Jeaantaa or Tariem. In fact, I have more questions regarding their relationship than not. Questions that should have been answered by the end of the book.
And speaking of relationships, why even put in another dysfunctional "love" for Rosalie only to kill him off?? That relationship could have not only been developed better, but it could have resolved some issues for Rosalie.
I've never been to Siberia, so I want to see, smell, and feel it through the author's description of it. Unfortunately this didn't happen either.
A friend of mine once said that you have to "visualize what you are writing about. Close your eyes and think about what you smell. What you feel. What is going on around you?" Then open your eyes and write about it." This is something that perhaps the author needs to work on.
These are just but a fraction of reasons why An Echo Through the Snow didn't meet my expectations. I'm sure others may love it, for me it's just average.
3 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
With all of the hype surrounding the release of this book, I was expecting to be carried away on a fantastic journey. Sadly this was not the case. Though there are parts of the book that I did enjoy, An Echo Through the Snow has some serious flaws.
First off, for a book of this size, I should have a firm understanding of the major players. However, as it's written, I don't get a real "feel" for the Chukchi people, let alone Jeaantaa or Tariem. In fact, I have more questions regarding their relationship than not. Questions that should have been answered by the end of the book.
And speaking of relationships, why even put in another dysfunctional "love" for Rosalie only to kill him off?? That relationship could have not only been developed better, but it could have resolved some issues for Rosalie.
I've never been to Siberia, so I want to see, smell, and feel it through the author's description of it. Unfortunately this didn't happen either.
A friend of mine once said that you have to "visualize what you are writing about. Close your eyes and think about what you smell. What you feel. What is going on around you?" Then open your eyes and write about it." This is something that perhaps the author needs to work on.
These are just but a fraction of reasons why An Echo Through the Snow didn't meet my expectations. I'm sure others may love it, for me it's just average.
3 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
August 4, 2013
I read this book for a workshop I am attending on book discussions in a few weeks. The author will be joining us and I am very excited to meet her and see what she had to say about her book!
"An Echo Through the Snow" tells the story of two time periods: the native Chukchi people of Siberia in 1929 when Stalin's Red Army takes over and intertwines a modern story of a young girl named Rosalie in the 1990s. The center of both stories are the Siberian huskies and dogsled racing.
Even though it took me awhile to get the characters down, I really enjoyed the parts centering on the Chukchi people. I don't know much about this period in history and I could have used some more background and explanation on both the historical aspects and on the characters themselves. I generally liked the character of Rosalie, but something just frustrated me about her. Maybe there was just too much focus on her "finding herself." I thought that the story was very original and I liked how the author was able to connect the two stories at the end of the book. I learned a lot about dogsled racing! Thalasions's prospective on native people, both in Siberia and in the United States, we really interesting. She did a great job of showing how people were affected once their land was taken from them without coming right out and saying it. The book also takes place in my home state of Wisconsin and the author, who teaches at UW-Madison, is also a dogsled racer herself:
"An Echo Through the Snow" tells the story of two time periods: the native Chukchi people of Siberia in 1929 when Stalin's Red Army takes over and intertwines a modern story of a young girl named Rosalie in the 1990s. The center of both stories are the Siberian huskies and dogsled racing.
Even though it took me awhile to get the characters down, I really enjoyed the parts centering on the Chukchi people. I don't know much about this period in history and I could have used some more background and explanation on both the historical aspects and on the characters themselves. I generally liked the character of Rosalie, but something just frustrated me about her. Maybe there was just too much focus on her "finding herself." I thought that the story was very original and I liked how the author was able to connect the two stories at the end of the book. I learned a lot about dogsled racing! Thalasions's prospective on native people, both in Siberia and in the United States, we really interesting. She did a great job of showing how people were affected once their land was taken from them without coming right out and saying it. The book also takes place in my home state of Wisconsin and the author, who teaches at UW-Madison, is also a dogsled racer herself:
February 1, 2019
This book was highly recommended by a friend, and the plot sounded so interesting. It's the sort of book I should love...but no. The author has a Ph. D., is a professor of sociology, founded a dog rescue group, and used to run a dog sled. Well, she obviously decided to cram all her personal interests into a book. What she forgot to do was learn how to write a good book.
I had sooooo many issues with this one! Sub plots with zero point that just get added and dropped...check. Choppy disjointed storytelling...check. An unrealistic timeline...check. Totally implausible plot...check. Amateurish writing with forced dialogue...check.
How did this book get by an editor?! What happened to Jerry? What was the point of Dan...and his random death? 11 dogs in a tiny tiny house...really?! What the hell was the point of all the beading crap?! What happened in the Iditarod...and Dave and Jan? And for that matter, I'm really supposed to believe that a total stranger sees someone walking their dog as they sled by and they decide they MUST harass this person (who has zero experience) to come work for them..and they will NOT take no for an answer.
I could keep going, but really the whole book was a giant train wreck. I gave it 2 stars because I did learn about the Chukchi who I had no previous knowledge of. (Maybe just 1.5 stars though)
I had sooooo many issues with this one! Sub plots with zero point that just get added and dropped...check. Choppy disjointed storytelling...check. An unrealistic timeline...check. Totally implausible plot...check. Amateurish writing with forced dialogue...check.
How did this book get by an editor?! What happened to Jerry? What was the point of Dan...and his random death? 11 dogs in a tiny tiny house...really?! What the hell was the point of all the beading crap?! What happened in the Iditarod...and Dave and Jan? And for that matter, I'm really supposed to believe that a total stranger sees someone walking their dog as they sled by and they decide they MUST harass this person (who has zero experience) to come work for them..and they will NOT take no for an answer.
I could keep going, but really the whole book was a giant train wreck. I gave it 2 stars because I did learn about the Chukchi who I had no previous knowledge of. (Maybe just 1.5 stars though)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2021
Outstanding!!!! This book clearly echoes what is beginning to happen with the current Regime. I fear what happened to the Natives of Siberia is already happening in the USA. Sadly it is being orchestrated by our own. Members that have been scrounging off the government all the decades they've been in office. These same individuals have orchestrated a total government takeover of authority. They are currently going into complete overthrow and are orchestrating to control every faucet of our lives. It's a very sad and scary time. However, what they don't realize as the Egyptians didn't realize before them is that God is in control. Not them and it is He whom they must pay homage to and He whom they must answer to. They may win one battle but, in the end the Guardians will return from whence they came just like they did in this fabulously written story.
January 31, 2018
I do not think there will be another book I love more than this one this year. I can say that with confidence because my goodness this was everything. We have a character of Indigenous heritage (which I loved), this said character going through some very difficult things (which was so sad), siberian huskies (which I love) and this said characters journey (which I loved). It was a beautifully written novel about her journey BUT that was not all. We have another story arc that is included that at first you don't understand because it it between past and present. As the story continues it makes sense and the story-lines intertwine so seamlessly. I absolutely loved it. The writing is so good and the characters are just amazingly flushed out. They have flaws but they are also so realistic. I loved this journey that our MC goes on. I will be for sure be re-reading this sometime this year because I need this book in my life forever. 5/5 stars.
July 18, 2018
I liked this story despite the awkwardness and rough edges that sometime come with a first novel. I had to read some passages more than once to understand what the author was saying. However, reading about the hardships of the Chukchi people was thought-provoking. And I love dogs, so the huskies were a big plus. Competitive dogsled racing is a world foreign to me as I have lived in Texas forever, and snow is almost unknown. So that aspect of the story was also interesting. One personal negative was the language. I believe a good story can be told without constant expletives.
January 14, 2020
This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. The story is of a young Ojibwa girl who is struggling to find herself and manages to get involved in adopting Siberian Huskies and soon becomes involved in dog sled racing. The story also flashes back to the Chukchi tribe of Siberia in the late 1920's. I found that the flashbacks were the best part of the book. The Chukchi suffered many years of maltreatment from the Red Army, along with losing many huskies, which are the heart of their culture. The connection of the huskies from past to present made the story come together a little better.
March 9, 2020
Overall a meaningful story that took way too long to build up. All of the action to happen in the last few chapters and felt somewhat rushed. I mistakenly didn’t follow the timelines well and thought all of the Chukchi storylines were in the past compared to Rosalie’s, so it was strange when they finally met. I do feel that Rosalie’s character was developed well. She was relatable and her love for the dogs was communicated well. The storyline also was not too predictable, which I appreciated. This book took me nearly a year to finish so I’m just glad I’m done!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Thalansinos created a wonderful comparison between two similar cultures, in different parts of the world at different times in history that culminate with a satisfying closure when the two meet face to face.
The Dog sled racing lifestyle was well documented. Any good musher will always sacrifice for their dogs, ensuring that the dogs are cared for first even before oneself. It is a desire of the soul, this deeply felt passion, where it is almost as if the dogs choose you instead of the other way around.
I loved that the dogs were complimentary characters in this book with exquisite descriptions of features and attitudes even vocal differences between some.
The world is large but is oddly connected as is shown in "Echos in the Snow" through the same struggles, triumphs and day to day living. In the end Thalansinos presents a scene in which two key characters one from Wisconsin one from Siberia share in a spiritual ceremony together without knowing the others language which does not lessen the overall effect it has on the two as well as those close to them.
An incredible read with a focus on dog sled racing and aboriginal influences and the natural flow of love, loss and everything in between of living life.
The Dog sled racing lifestyle was well documented. Any good musher will always sacrifice for their dogs, ensuring that the dogs are cared for first even before oneself. It is a desire of the soul, this deeply felt passion, where it is almost as if the dogs choose you instead of the other way around.
I loved that the dogs were complimentary characters in this book with exquisite descriptions of features and attitudes even vocal differences between some.
The world is large but is oddly connected as is shown in "Echos in the Snow" through the same struggles, triumphs and day to day living. In the end Thalansinos presents a scene in which two key characters one from Wisconsin one from Siberia share in a spiritual ceremony together without knowing the others language which does not lessen the overall effect it has on the two as well as those close to them.
An incredible read with a focus on dog sled racing and aboriginal influences and the natural flow of love, loss and everything in between of living life.
February 28, 2020
DNF. I really liked the concept of the story, a young girl rescuing a husky and working with a group to train the dog for dogsledding. However I did not care for the style of writing- I felt that were incomplete thoughts and the story continued to move on. I did like the parallel storyline between 1929 and 1992.
July 25, 2021
A good story well told.
I have some experience with working dogs, though not sled dogs. This story rings true. The things dogs do for us, both physically and emotionally are amazing and Ms Thalasinos captures that well in this book. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Joe Jennings
Great Basin K9 SAR
I have some experience with working dogs, though not sled dogs. This story rings true. The things dogs do for us, both physically and emotionally are amazing and Ms Thalasinos captures that well in this book. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Joe Jennings
Great Basin K9 SAR
January 1, 2025
A haunting story of a young woman's connection to the land and the dogs that save her in so many ways. Two parallel stories of women - one in Siberia, one in Wisconsin - run like spring rivers until they join the larger story of the Arctic and the people - and dogs - who make it home. All who love animals or the Arctic - or both - will find this a painful and delicious read.
January 10, 2019
Nice first novel with an interesting cross-over between generations of Arctic natives (the tale weaving back and forth between the 1900s and 1990s). Always enlightening to visit another culture. Having owned a couple of Alaskan Malamute myself, I found dog portrayals rich and nuanced.
January 28, 2023
I THINK this was the best book I've read in the past 10 years, maybe more. I laughed I cried.
I would give it 10 stars if I could. It had such depth in entwining different stories and making it all come out right.
For her first novel I am AMAZED. This is one author I will surely follw.
I would give it 10 stars if I could. It had such depth in entwining different stories and making it all come out right.
For her first novel I am AMAZED. This is one author I will surely follw.
March 10, 2024
Good story about a half Ojibwe girl in Wisconsin who learns to ride dogsleds and a Chukchi family in Siberia in the late 1920 who get forced off of their land by the Soviets. The dogs connect the two stories together.
November 6, 2024
If you love dogs and history told in an engaging story this is a great book for you. I was rooting for the main character's throughout the book since it is written in a way that makes you feel you have met a friend. I would highly recommend this book.
March 21, 2018
The bits about dog sled racing were the best parts.
January 10, 2022
Was really good. Learned more about sled dogs as well as how Russia treated the inuit peoples.
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