A Fist Around the Heart

by Heather Chisvin

Two sisters, forever tied by love and sadness.
The life of Anna Grieve and her fragile older sister, Esther, begins in Russia in the 1880s. The violent persecution of Jews leads their mother to a fateful decision, to send the girls away with her wealthy employers—halfway across the world to Winnipeg.
The girls are never at ease in their new home. Esther’s beauty and glamour hide the fact that she is losing herself to mental illness. Anna, always the misfit and the rebel, leaves as soon as she can for New York where she reinvents herself as a women’s rights activist in Manhattan, running an illegal contraceptive business in the shadows.
Anna spends her life torn between taking care of Esther and escaping her, never understanding the true depth of her sister’s anguish. When Anna hears the news of Esther’s death on an historic day in WWII, her world comes to a halt. She must travel back to Winnipeg to find out why.
Was it a suicide? Did the events of the war play a part, or is that a coincidence? Anna’s search for answers will take her back to the violence of their childhood in Russia, to years of suppressed memories and untold stories of the family they left behind, and finally back to that fateful day during WWII.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2018

About the author

Heather Chisvin is the daughter of Russian immigrants who moved to Winnipeg to avoid the pogroms of the early 20th century. She is a journalist, a radio and television documentary producer, an advertising copywriter, and a teacher at the Ontario College of Art and Design. A Fist Around the Heart is her first work of fiction. She lives in Port Hope, Ontario.

Reviews

[Marialyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 not quite sure stars

Two Jewish sisters arrive in Winnipeg escaping from the pogroms after Tsar Alexander was assassinated. They are raised by Count and Countess and Anna, the younger sister leaves for Manhattan at age fifteen and is pregnant by her boyfriend from Russia (how he comes to Canada is not clear). Esther the older sister, stays in Winnipeg eventually marrying. Esther becomes pregnant an does not want the child so she has an abortion in New York with the help of her sister.

Esther is troubled, as she is mentally ill because of things that had happened to her in Russia. This is found out eventually though the journals Esther keeps that trigger memories in Anna. Unfortunately Esther commits what looks to be suicide although that is explained in a kind of murky way as an out of body experience. These experiences seem to plague Esther throughout her life.

Anna leads a free wheeling type of life, becomes involved with Margaret Sanger, and the Bolsheviks as she is mistakenly sent back to Russia. She returns to America(again how she does so with no money is puzzling)

The sisters relationship is spotty at best. They don't see one another nor seem to have contact for long periods of time. Anna seems to care for Esther when it is convenient for her to do so.

So unfortunately, even though there might have been a story within these pages, it is buried underneath much cloudy telling. The structure to the story is missing as it jumps back forth and all over to relate incidents. One is not sure exactly what time frame you are reading about until you have read into a paragraph or two. There were too many incidents related and too many historical concepts pushed into the story that created a kind of haphazard story telling of this tale unfortunately.

Thank you to Heather Chrisvin, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars Thanks to NetGalley, author Heather Chisvin, and Second Story Press for a chance to read this ARC. Publishes 4/10/18.

Two sisters traveling to Canada with the Count and Countess, sent away from Russia by their Mother. The Count expecting the parents to soon follow, ends up adopting the girls, Esther and Anna, when their parent never make the trip. The story covers the next 25 years in their lives.

It settles between the current day and their back story, taking us through the death of a husband, the kidnapping of a baby, an accidental deportation back to Russia and the reasons behind the alleged suicide of one sister.

This book is a quick read - it moves right along and holds your interest. Reasons unfold as the story works through all the problems that the sisters experience. The story starts with what is alleged to be a suicide and ends with the realization of what actually happened.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short novel that has many interesting facts in it. My personal favourite fact was that Avon originated as the California Perfume Company. Unfortunately A Fist Around the Heart reads less like a novel and more like a biography. Now if that appeals to you then you may find this an interesting book. However if you are looking for a mystery or thriller, like the blurb implies, you should head elsewhere.

The Story
Set predominantly in New York Heather Chisvin tells the story of two sisters. One whom is our narrator and the other whom is the older sister to the narrator. As I suspected it starts out with our narrator as a child. There's always something unreliable about a child narrator...
Our story progresses quickly to tell about the adult lives of the women. One (our narrator) that runs away to New York; and the other who chooses to stay in Winnipeg, where her parents (presumably) sent her and her sister as children. While there is a mystery to be solved here, did the sister in Winnipeg commit suicide or not, this is really the story of a New York girl and her struggles with being a single, childless Russian woman. She has hardships, but preservers during a time when so many fall destitute, that of WWII. It's an interesting perspective on women's rights and struggles prior to receiving the vote and to the Nazi's attempt to take over the world. I have nothing but huge respect for the women who came before us that worked so hard for the rights women deserve including: voting, birth control, abortion, marriage, and more.

Medical Interest
There is a point late in the story, where there is an interesting medical condition presented to the readers. I really enjoyed this part. I can't give anything away for fear of spoiling the mystery; but I can say that it's an interesting concept and makes me wonder if more people don't have this condition than we currently believe. I am also not sure what this condition is called today; or what it might be treated with. So more research is needed for me.

Mystery
Like I said in the intro, the mystery here is really not the focus of the story. It's more used to move the main narrative forward; to tell the story of our narrator. Not to say that it isn't intriguing; but I found the jumping back and forth between current day (in the book) to the past a little bit annoying. While I usually love books with this set-up; here it felt a bit too stilted and the progressions were lacked the smoothness I desire. That said, it was always obvious to me, even without headers declaring the historical moment, what the time period was.

Overall
I feel like there is more that could be done with this story. As this is Chisvins first fictional piece, she's a journalist, I can see why the book is written the way it is. Instead of giving more elaboration to the events and adding some juicy, literary descriptions; Chisvin focuses on facts. Very much like a journalist is required to do. There is obviously a lot of autobiographical material in A Fist Around the Heart and so I cannot in any way criticize the story; and I wouldn't anyways. The story is solid, it's the execution that is unusual. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy reading this. Just to say that it reads differently than your average historical fiction; or fiction book in general.
It would be interesting for this story to be told one of two ways in the future. First choice is as an actual autobiography of Chisvin. I'm interested to know what is really truth and what she developed into the fiction. Second as a true mystery story. With more developed setting, descriptions and literary devices used. The concept, story and outcome in the hands of a well-developed mystery writer could easily be a huge hit; and still bring a lot of light to the circumstances of the time periods portrayed. I'd definitely read another version of this if it was re-written in either way listed above.
And yet, I did really enjoy this story. It taught me things; from small facts (like Avon) to larger issues (like the medical condition) and afterall I usually just want a book to teach me something and entertain me. A Fist Around the Heart did do both of these to different degrees.

For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Davida Chazan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this sweeping historical fiction novel, Heather Chisvin takes us along a journey of two sisters who flee late 19th century Russia through to Canada and America of the early and mid-20th century. There, one sister must come to terms with her past, but the other continues to be tortured by it, with tragic results. You can read my review of Chisvin’s debut novel on my blog here.
https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/06/2...

[Penny (Literary Hoarders) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could go to 3.5 stars. There was a section toward the end that kind of veered way off course for me and I couldn't get with it/believe it too much so felt that took away from the story. Overall, a good story about the younger sister taking care of the older sister and her increasing mental health issues, but wanting to be independent and living her own free life at the same time.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Day was a campaign that happened in Winnipeg, Manatoba, Feb. 19, 1942. It was meant as a way to, basically, scare the local population into buying more war bonds. Just the way we have emergency drills these days, where accidents, or earthquakes, or natural disasters are simulated, often on a grand scale, to make sure everyone is ready when it strikes, this too was a massive undertaking to show what would happen if the Nazis invaded Canada.

They went all out. They took over the school, they stole the coats from the policeman. People were warned about this, but it was still shocking to see, and they raised a lot of money in war bonds.

So, that is the background, well, the initial background for this book.

And then, there is all the stuff in between.

I like the concept of this book, that Esther returns to Winnipeg, from a trip to see her sister, Anna, in New York, and she arrives at the train station on "What If" day, and promptly runs into the tracks as an oncoming train comes through. This is ruled suicide, and Anna spend the rest of the book reminiscing about her sister, and her life, and trying to figure out why Esther would have killed herself.

The background is interesting, and the stories of their lives, how they escaped from Russia to the Canada, and what happened after that is kind of cool, and I liked the historical fiction of Anna not only meeting Margaret Sanger, but working with her, and without her to help women get birth control, when it was still illegal to do so.

So, most of the book made sense, and was informative, and was, hopefully leading us to understanding why Esther might have killed herself, or if she did so by accident.

Then, it completely goes off the rails, and send Anna to Russian to be there during the Revolution, and to have an affair with a Russian. It only advanced the story in the fact that she got to see her father's grave.

And in the end we discover that Ether killed herself because of PTSD from being raped by Russian military who were doing that to any Jewish women that were handy, and when Esther saw the "What If" soldiers at the train station she panicked and ran.

So, although this is an very readable book on what life in New York was like in the 1920s-1940s, and Margaret Sanger, and all, read it more for family dynamics, and shout-outs to the historical figures that are in here, then for any type of mystery, which in the end, but a bit of a let down.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Ria { semi-hiatus } · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.25 stars

I have delayed this book for sooo long. I just never had the energy to pick it up again once I've put it down. But finally, FINALLY, I've finished it (last year actually before 2018 ended) and I've come with, you called it, a review.

A Fist Around the Heart is about the relationship of two sisters, Anna and Esther, who were forced to migrate to Winnipeg by their mother to escape the chaos in Russia. Since then, they were forced to live with their mother’s employers as their apparent guardians. A lot has happened in both their lives during the years that have passed. One day, after visiting Anna, there was news that Esther killed herself by letting herself get run over by the train that was supposed to be her ride home to Winnipeg.

Throughout the book, it shows the hardships Anna experienced, both living alone in New York and living with her sister, parents, and guardians. It deals with loss, pain, trauma, grief, and mental illness. But there were also parts which showed friendship, family, and support but being independent at the same time.

A Fist Around the Heart was an interesting read for me. The book's pace was just good enough for me and I understood what was going on. I could distinguish which were the flashbacks and the ones in the present day. I liked how some parts were kind of realistic and how I imagined they would be. I also learned some new things about history when I read this book.

I liked how the story was detailed but not too detailed. There were still some questions that were unanswered which was slightly disappointing because there was no complete closure about some things. But all in all, I guess, the end was patched alright. The characters were better than the plot so moving on...

Let's talk about the sisters... I could somehow relate to Anna's grief and I sympathize for her. All throughout the book, I admired her for being such a strong, independent woman. She may not had it easy but she got through. As for Esther, she made me think of how she and her sister have had it rougher compared to my life. She struggled through so much in her life. They both faced lots of challenges but they got through because they had each other. Or at least, Esther did. She was kind of dependent to Anna and that showed how fragile and vulnerable she is. Lucky she had Anna by her side as her support system.

Ugh, this book just makes me want to have a sister even more! The support, love, and concern represented by the two sisters frustrates me because I don't see that with me and my brothers. I hope that someday I could find someone who would consider as a sister to me and me to her.

Just a trigger warning though. There are mentions of suicide and mental illness so be warned.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of A Fist Around the Heart. I also posted this review at my BookLikes site.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not exactly as how it was described. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but it did not dwell on Anna going to Winnipeg to look into seeing if the “If Day” had caused her sister’s death. Yes, she did go to Winnipeg to try and prove her sister was not suicidal. The story begins when Esther and Anna are just past middle age and it retraces their lives back to young girls when their mother gave them away to the Count and the Countess for safekeeping. It gives a lot of background on Manhattan in the early 1900’s and I found the information on the California Perfume Company and how birth control was illegal to be very interesting.
The writing was great, I loved the story line and I became invested in Anna and Esther. Anna was a shrewd business woman throughout her life, completely independent and was very responsible. Esther on the other hand was very needy, challenged with mental illness and I think what we consider now, suffered from PTSD from early events in her life. I learned many things about this era and really enjoyed the book. The story is told by Anna and basically follows her life and choices she made.
I would highly recommend, it covers happenings during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s very well. It was a quick read, and I thank Net Galley and The Second Story Press for allowing me the opportunity to review.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Russian Jewish sisters were sent to Winnipeg during the Anti-Jewish pogroms in the Russian Empire following the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881. Esther, the older sister, spends her entire life in Winnipeg, occasionally experiencing episodes of mental illness; Anna, younger by four years, moves to New York City and ends up being a women’s rights activist there. In 1942, Esther returns to Winnipeg when she learns her sister has died in an apparent suicide. Having difficulty believing Esther took her own life, Anna reads Esther’s journals and examines her own memories of key events which shaped her life and that of her sister.

The novel covers just over 60 years, and it is obvious that the author did considerable historical research. I enjoyed learning about the California Perfume Company, womb veils, and If Day in Winnipeg. Historical figures like Margaret Sanger make cameo appearances. Sometimes, however, it felt as if the scope of the book is too broad and the examination of historical events is rather superficial. Anna finds herself in St. Petersburg in 1918, about a year after the Russian Revolution, but little information is given about the Russian political situation; the reader is left to figure out Bolsheviks and Mensheviks and Chekists. (Would a Russian nobleman support Bolshevism? Anna, for example, attributes her Bolshevik sympathies to her stepfather, an émigré Russian Count? She tells a Bolshevik, “’If it weren’t for [Count Chernovski] I wouldn’t be who I am today. I wouldn’t be nearly as sympathetic to your cause’”?)

Anna is not always a credible character. When she arrives in Canada, she is 5 years old. When she is 9 or 10, she is already spending her time, “reading about Grace Greenwood and Nellie Bly; articles on workers’ rights and sexual freedom and the vote for women”? At that age she can read Harper’s New Monthly and Century Magazine in her second language? She is only 15 when she finds herself in a situation that has her moving to Manhattan? What a precocious young girl!

There are some other implausible events which irk. That Nathaniel, Anna’s neighbour and friend in Russia, remains her friend in Canada seems unlikely. He lives in the north end of Winnipeg, in New Jerusalem, and she lives in the west end, in Armstrong’s Point. How would they have found each other? And Anna, a young girl living in a sheltered world where “there were rules of etiquette for everything,” is just allowed to wander around the city with Nathaniel? The officer in charge of the investigation into Esther’s death tells Anna, “’I thought you might want to look around [Esther’s house] before the police team goes through. We’ll be restricting access to the property at that time.’” He lets her into Esther’s home even though he says, “’We don’t want anyone going in until the investigation is over’”? He even tells her, “’You can do whatever you want.’” I guess police investigative procedures were very different in 1942? And then there’s the evasion of a plot problem. When a friend uncovers Anna’s deep secret, she asks how he found out and he replies, “’Anna. Don’t ask me that. It took years.’” Oh please!

The relationship between the sisters is interesting. Anna looks after her older but more fragile sister for the longest time but eventually becomes torn between taking care of Esther and escaping her. That is the pattern that emerges throughout Anna’s adult life. She convinces herself not to worry about Esther and to focus on her own life. This type of behaviour is understandable though it doesn’t always make Anna an admirable character. Anna knows Esther’s diagnosis for about 20 years, yet allows a situation where “After an initial flurry of letters and phone calls, our correspondence got spotty again”?

There is an interesting story here, but the telling is sometimes muddled. The eventual explanation for Esther’s death is certainly original. I just wish there were a less scattered structure so the novel’s potential could be better realized.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).

[Laura Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Second Story Press and NetGalley for an early review copy of A First Around the Heart Side by Heather Chisvin, which will publish April 10, 2018.  All thoughts are my own.
Writing: 3 Characters: 3 Plot: 4

Quite the grand undertaking! This historical novel follows the fortunes of two young Jewish sisters who are sent to Winnipeg, Manitoba, from a Russian shtetl in order to escape the pogroms in 1881. Anna eventually makes her way to New York where, fiercely independent and with a strong social conscience, she becomes part of the birth control movement. Esther remains in Winnipeg, marries well, and yet continues to suffer from strange episodes of altered state and a (quite natural) obsessive fear of anti-Semitism. In 1942, where the “present day” is centered, Anna receives notice that Esther has died, apparently a suicide, just as she returned to Winnipeg from her last visit. Untangling this mystery, as well as the fog around their departure from Russia, is the loose driver of the book.

The story is intricate and rich — almost too rich as the narrative veers wildly between different time periods (and locations). There is a lot of history stuffed into their lives - particularly Anna’s as she participates in so many cultural trends over the 60 years. Historical episodes include the Bolshevik revolution, the assassination of Alexander II, the stock market collapse, the Dust Bowl, the birth of Avon, early feminism, bohemians, psychiatric methods, TB sanitariums, jazz music, the birth control movement, and “If Day,” a simulation of Nazi takeover in Winnipeg designed to help raise war funds held on Feb, 19, 1942.

While I wish the editing had been a bit tighter and the characters drawn with a little more depth, I found the story quite gripping and read it through pretty quickly. The descriptions of Winnipeg in particular were completely new to me, as were several of the stories from that time period in New York.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

The summary drew me straight away, and so did the cover. I found the setting very interesting as I don't see that often. The beginning of the book was compelling to read, but then it went downhill for me. I have read other reviews, and mostly everyone else seems to have loved it, so I think it's just that it didn't work for me.

I want to start by saying I found the way Heather Chisvin wrote the story quite clever. She goes back and forth between past and present and you have to piece the puzzle together. It was well written and despite the constant back and forth, it was easy to follow. My issue is that I just didn't care for the characters, maybe it was Anna's personality, maybe it was the writing, I don't know. A Fist Around the Heart is very much character-driven and written in the first person narrative, so we are more told about the story than shown what's happening. I didn't find the historical settings came alive, I even forgot at some point what year it was supposed to be set in. I think the problem comes from the fact that Chisvin had so many great ideas but they aren't explored deeply enough, it seemed quite superficial to me and just jumps from one thing to another. Although it's labelled as both historical and literary fictions, I would say it's more the latter.

When I reached the halfway mark, I tried to force myself to carry on. Then at 60% I read other reviews and found a spoiler for the end - I deliberately read it to know the end and left the book at that. I don't care enough for any of the characters.

By any means, I think you should try and see for yourself, as A Fist Around the Heart certainly has great qualities and most people seem to have loved it.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and SecondStory Press.

[Madhuri Palaji · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never had a sister but I always wished I had one because I always thought I wouldn't have to look outside for a best friend and an ally if I had a sister. The story revolves around two sisters Anna and Esther who born in Russia but sent to live in Winnipeg with the Count and Countess. Esther is elder to Anna, beautiful but emotionally disturbed. Anna is the younger one, tall, but stronger with independent ideas. Esther has her episodes now and then and Anna is always there to support her. Anna is shocked by Esther's sudden death. The bond between the two sisters is incredibly written. This is not the kind of bond I assumed of with my imaginary sister, but its very different. They are two different people but the sisterhood always brings them together. They are always there for each other whenever there is a significant incident in their lives. Anna's rebellious nature attracted me. She does what she likes. Anna and Esther both had troubled childhood when they were taken away from their parents, but they both did their part to the less fortunate by volunteering at various causes. The Count and the Countess were of great influence. Many other supporting characters like Vera, the police inspector, Nathaniel, Oscar are well written.

The books took me through the whole Great War period, the If Day and how Jews were affected during that time. I could say this is a historical book. I felt that the book ended too soon. I'm sure the author has her reasons. All in all, I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more books from Heather Chisvin.

#afistaroundtheheart #theclippednightingale #barnesandnoble #netgalley #goodreads #chapters #plumreview #kindle #bookreview #bookreviewer #heatherchisvin

[Lael Braday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna “Bencke” Grieve’s life changed after Tsar Alexander II’s assassination. In fear for their lives as Jews, her mother, a privileged servant, asked her employers Count and Countess Chernovski to take Bencke and her older sister Esther with them to Canada. The Chernovski’s later adopt them, believing their parents to be dead. Bencke does her best to care for Esther, who suffers episodes from traumatic memories that incapacitate her at times, as she herself tries to fit her eccentric personality into Countess Chernovski’s picture perfect household. Decades later, Anna receives a phone call from the Winnipeg police informing her that her sister has committed suicide by stepping in front of a train. She heads to Canada seeking the truth. The story alternates between this investigation and a backstory of a life fully lived, from Anna’s forced relocation to NYC, to circumstances causing her to be deported to Russia during WWI. In the investigation, Anna learns her sister’s secrets and must live with them now.

Chisvin brings history to life in Anna’s story, as dear reader sees her torn from her family as a child after her country’s leader is killed and Jews are blamed, and as an activist for women’s rights alongside Margaret Sanger. She becomes a part of the melting pot that is NYC, falls into the fear of Americans who deport her in the war, and witnesses the disorder of Russia as essentially an outsider. Chisvin brings closure to Anna in her mixed emotions of finally being free of her sister as it breaks her heart. The last line of the book is brilliant in its imagery of this closure.

I was fortunate to receive a digital copy of this beautiful story from the publisher through NetGalley.

[KellI Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars, it kills me that I had to take it down to 3. At about halfway through I was sure it was going to be a solid 4 if not a 5 star read for me. What happened? The last 1/4 happened. The story started out strong and I loved Anna and her independence. The flashbacks were placed nicely in the story and I really liked how it flowed from the present day to the past with great connections. I like the writing style and how the author voiced her characters. But then the last part, the Russia story line just didn't fit in well and it was a stark jump back to the present without any real links to make it smooth. However, I feel that part of the story was probably important to Anna's narrative, it just wasn't carried out well. The ending itself felt very rushed, like the author realized she wanted to end to book so hurried up and wrote a couple lackluster chapters at the end to tie it up. It didn't make sense that the inspector who had been convinced through the whole book that Esther committed suicide would all of a sudden, as Anna is leaving, toss her an article to read saying "you might be right" and then Anna who had been so convinced through the book that it was no suicide would just come to the realization and then lay back on the train and look at the scenery. It just didn't feel right for the characters. I was sad that more care was taken to tie up the story.

So it was probably a 4.5 star book for me until the end, then it fell to 3. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy to read.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll give this a 3.75 - almost a 4, but not quite there. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of A Fist Around the Heart in exchange for an honest review!

A Fist Around the Heart follows two sisters who are sent away by their mother in order to keep them safe in a time of heightened anti-Semitism. Both sisters, though together as they grow up, have very different experiences while living with their new 'parents'. Esther develops a severe case of mental illness, while Anna attempts to forge relationships with countless men. In the present day, Anna discovers that Esther has died, and it has been ruled a suicide, yet Anna doesn't believe her sister was ever in a suicidal position. It's a tale which explores the way two sisters drifted apart, and an exploration of the role of women during the war.

A LOT happened in 240 pages, but it wasn't necessarily fast-paced. There wasn't really any action, just lots of mystery and uncovering secrets. I really did enjoy this. I think I'm developing a newfound appreciation for certain historical fiction. The story was a little confusing at times; it constantly jumped between memories and present day - there was no chronological order to the story, which made it a little hard to follow. The story was definitely interesting though. I felt quite emotional at times, and certain parts were definite shockers.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: suicide, mental health, rape

A great book with a heart-wrenching story.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘A Fist Around The Heart’ is the first novel by Heather Chisvin After doing a little research I believe that Heather drew from her own experiences. She is the daughter of a Russian immigrant that moved to Canada. The story is about two sisters who leave Russia and immigrate to Winnipeg.

The story begins in the late 1880's when the Jews were being persecuted in Russia. The novel covers just over 60 years, and it is obvious that the author did considerable historical research. I enjoyed learning about the California Perfume Company, womb veils, and ‘If Day’ in Winnipeg. Historical figures like Margaret Sanger make cameo appearances. However, it felt as if the scope of the book is too enormous. Unfortunately, there were too many incidents related and too many historical concepts pushed into the story that created a kind of haphazard story telling of this story.

The structure to the story is missing as it jumps back forth and all over the place in order to relate incidents. One is not sure exactly what time frame you are reading about until you have read in a paragraph or two. There is an interesting story here, but the telling is sometimes muddled. I just wish there were a less scattered structure so the novel’s potential could be better realized.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Heather Chisvin and Second Story Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna receives a call about her sister. She is dead! Run over by a train. Was she pushed? Was this suicide?

Anna’s sister, Esther, is a damaged soul. Anna and Esther are given, by their mother, to a Count and Countess of Russia to be taken to safety at the beginning of the Russian revolution. Nothing is ever the same. Anna begins to rebel and Esther is prone to bouts of melancholy and mental detachments.

This story is narrated by Anna. And I love her tenacity, her hard work and her politics. Anna is a smart, sell sufficient woman in a time period where women are supposed to be homemakers only. She also secretly provides birth control. Keep in mind, this is when it was illegal for women to have birth control. Did I mention Anna is a REBEL?!?

Then there is Esther. Anna and Esther have a strange relationship. They are estranged through part of the story. But, the moment Esther needs her, Anna always comes through.

There is a lot of history and mystery in this book. It does flip flop between Anna’s past and her present. This can get a little confusing in places. But, the story keeps you captivated.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

[Heather Persing · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this book from Second Story Press through Netgalley. All opinions are my own***

Good parts: This book touched on a good bit of history from the 1890s to the 1930s (in Russia and the US) without you even realizing it. I thought the author weaved it into the story so well; it didn’t feel like a forced history lesson. I also thought the main character’s sister (Esther) had an interesting story. Her character seemed much more developed, and I probably would have given it four stars had the book been more about her.

Not so great parts for me: I didn’t like Anna, the main character. While she was generous with strangers, she continually neglected her family (with a few rare exceptions)—and the book, in my opinion, never gave any good answer as to why.

Overall, I found the book to be interesting but just okay. I think with more development of Anna the book could have been great.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This book really touched my heart. A story of sisters torn from their homeland of Russia to come to Winnipeg without their parents and away from everything they have ever known. Told in alternating viewpoints from the present (of 1942) as well as the past (from their arrival in Winnipeg in the 1880's) you learn the story of two sisters, Esther and Anna and of Esther's untimely death.

Anna has been separate from Esther for many years and she has to figure out the mystery surrounding her death and if it really was suicide. I really loved seeing life through the early 20th century in both Winnipeg and Manhattan and was both saddened and inspired by the lives of these women.

I enjoyed reading this story and having a part of these two sisters lives for a little while.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-breaking but fascinating book about two young sisters sent to Canada to escape the Russian pogrom in the late 1800's. The story follows in retrospect the experiences of the younger girl through her complicated life - the early women's rights struggle, the historic beginnings of the birth control movement, both of the world wars, the events of the Bolshevik revolution and its communist aftermath, mental health issues, her personal life experiences, ... - all while trying to understand her sister's death in 1942. All-in-all, I felt that there was simply too much going on in this fairly short book. However, it did hold my interest; I can truly say that Anna is an extremely compelling character that I will remember.; the ending seemed so appropriate.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Damaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was fascinating, an interesting time of history and an interesting setting. However, I felt the scope and breadth was a little too large and left the mystery hanging where the reader wanted it to deepen. The characterization and development of the way life was in the 20th century was very well executed, as were the relational ties between characters and cameos/references to historical figures throughout the pages. Yet it fell short in some of the ways it dealt with Esther's death in particular. I felt the reasoning behind this truly lacked power and motive. However, this was still a decent book - perhaps just not for me. Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a number of WWII era stories. In fact, it’s one of my favorite genres to read.

The story follows two sisters, Anna and Esther, from Russia who are sent to live in Canada. It goes through the war period and “If Day.” Some parts weren’t as developed as I expected or am used to finding in a historical novel. Things seem to wrap up a bit too quickly. There are some turns that keep pulling the reader back to the story, which is good, as it was occasionally difficult for me to stay connected to the story, especially in regard to Anna. Things jump around quite a bit, making the story feel a bit thrown together at times.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already want to thank the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

On the cover we see Anna on the platform of a train station. It all began in the 1880s when Anna's mother and Esther sent them to Winnipeg after many persecutions of Jews. Each governs differently to his new life. Anna knows that her sister is suffering from this but she will have to leave and after a while she learns that her sister Esther has committed suicide. She will try to find out more about her suicide.

A historical fiction filled with suspense and twists with endearing and moving characters. I recommand it.

[Tina Milledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grateful to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting story about two Jewish sisters given by their mother to a count and countess for protection against rising persecution of Jews in 1930s Eastern Europe. They are taken to Notth America where the reader follows their adult lives. The time and place changes through the book worked quite well and it was interesting to compare the lives of the sisters. I felt the ending was wrapped up too briskly but will refrain from expanding on this so as not to ruin how the story ends.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange of an honest review. This book wasn't for me I wasn't interested in the chracters at all. The premise drew me in and I thought this book would have more to do with the war but halfway in we were focused only on Esther and her "suicide". The halfway point is where I stopped as I just wasn't interested. The writing in the book is done well I just didn't feel connection with the book.

[Polly Krize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written, poignant story about 2 Russian sisters, and the diverse way they handled a new life in Canada post-Bolshevik Russia. Anna is torn between handling the mental illness of her sister, Esther, and making a new life for herself. The many twists and turns in this novel are well done, making this one of my top reads for 2018.

[Janette Mcmahon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fiction novel reminding us the persecution of Jews was not only WW II, but also in Russia where this novel takes place. We are also reminded even as Jewish women were considered animals, soldiers had no issues with taking advantage of them, even children. The ramifications of this abuse lasts a lifetime. While the theme was excellent, the book itself felt like it stayed on top of the issues and didn't delve as deep as the author easily could have.

[Susan Ruffo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I happened to meet Heather at my local bookstore. Her description of this book intrigued me, so I connected with my local library. What an engaging story. I couldn't put it down and read in two days. Heather's has an ability to draw the reader into her characters and explores all facets of the human condition. The underlying thread to the effects of war is haunting. Highly recommend this read.

[Aletha Pagett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fist Around The Heart captures your interest on the first page and maintains it until the last page.
Esther and Anna traverse lives impacted by the trauma inflicted upon Russian Jews. The book follows each sister's life in Manhattan and Winnipeg and the issues facing women in the early twentieth century. This book was received from Goodreads.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel that is concise yet powerful? That is effortless to read yet manages to bash your soul? A novel that manages to be both distinctly Canadian yet international & cosmopolitan? A novel that takes place in an era that deserves more exposure in recent fiction? This book ticks all my "like" boxes.