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The End of Sorrow: A Novel of the Siege of Leningrad in WWII
All New Edition! This second edition includes a new cover, a cast of characters, an enhanced layout, and significant editing. A love that would not die . . .A city that would not surrender . . .A war that knew no bounds . . .The date is June 21st, 1941, and Adolf Hitler is about to lead Germany into what would become one of the bloodiest, most barbaric wars the world would ever know. His invasion plan, Barbarossa, calls for taking the northern Russian city of Leningrad in a matter of weeks, but as the troops reach the outside border of the city, the Soviet resistance stiffens and a stalemate ensues. Hitler calls for continual bombardment of the city and cutting off all outside supplies. He boasts that the city will starve to death and the German forces will march into a ghost town. Follow a cast of lovers, heroes, and fiends as they try to survive one of the most horrific human dramas ever created. For 900 days, the citizens and soldiers of Leningrad, Russia endured one of the worst sieges in the history of mankind. Some would find the inner strength to light the way. Others would descend into madness. Read their stories, and explore for yourself just what is the end of sorrow."The Classical Russian form lives This novel is no pale imitation. … The End of Sorrow is a triumph of craft. A rock-solid, gratifying choice for discerning fans of serious literature." – ForeWord Clarion Five Star Review
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2007
48 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
J.V. Love
5 books5 followersBorn and raised in mid-Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts from The American University in Washington, DC. Lived most of adult life in New York City, Washington, DC, and Honolulu, HI.
A lover of philosophy, theology, and mystic teachings, the author's view of the meaning of life can be summarized best by the last lines of a poem by one of his characters (Katya) in the novel "The End of Sorrow"
"Love is the beginning,
and Love is the end,
and here in the middle
is where we must mend."
A lover of philosophy, theology, and mystic teachings, the author's view of the meaning of life can be summarized best by the last lines of a poem by one of his characters (Katya) in the novel "The End of Sorrow"
"Love is the beginning,
and Love is the end,
and here in the middle
is where we must mend."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 17, 2011
This is a love story of Katya and Felix that is set against a devastating time in history – the siege of Leningrad. The city (formerly and now known as St. Petersburg) was one of the primary targets of Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa. The first German artillery shell fell on Leningrad on September 1st, 1941.
During the siege of Leningrad, Hitler concentrated on trying to starve the people out of the city. Indeed, Hitler was successful in maiming the population of Leningrad. Historians estimate that between 800,000 to over a million people died. The winters of 1941 and 1942 are documented as one of the harshest winters ever to hit the city of Leningrad. With the installation of a blockade, the people of Leningrad were cut off from the influx of food, fuel, medical, and military supplies. Those who remain alive had to resort to demoralizing methods to sustain their lives and the lives of their family members, such as eating dogs, cats, birds and there is suggestion of cannibalism. Nearly 4,000 people from Leningrad starving to death on Christmas Day, 1941.
What’s not to like? Against this remarkable backdrop it could have been a great book, if the writing had been better; if the plot had been tighter; and if the characters had been more compelling. Frankly, I did not get a good sense of either of the protagonists, even though it was their story.
I found it to be a stretch that Katya actually had a religious persuasion in Communist Russia, which did not encourage that kind of thing. Even more of a stretch was that she talked about it openly. Highly unlikely.
This book was published by a small press, and I have decided that it may be the nature of small presses that they do not have conscientious editors – if they have editors at all. The run on sentences and awkward phrasing that it detracted from any possible enjoyment that I might have had from reading this. E.g. “She could turn him on so easily.” Arrghh – what a 60’s colloquialism to use in a serious WW II novel. How about: She could arouse him? And again: “It’s not like Russia is going to cease to be anytime soon.” Huh? It’s not LIKE?
There are also places that simple spell check could have picked up errors. E.g. p. 14 no space between “than700” miles.
The latter is just plain sloppy.
Also, I did not think that Mr. Love really captured the day to day devastation that was the lives of those living through the siege, unlike Hannah Kristen did so well in her novel, Winter Garden.
All in all, as a novel that has the Seige of Leningrad as its topic, Winter Garden is a much better effort. If you have to go with one or the other, go with Winter Garden. It’s flawed, but not as flawed as this novel.
During the siege of Leningrad, Hitler concentrated on trying to starve the people out of the city. Indeed, Hitler was successful in maiming the population of Leningrad. Historians estimate that between 800,000 to over a million people died. The winters of 1941 and 1942 are documented as one of the harshest winters ever to hit the city of Leningrad. With the installation of a blockade, the people of Leningrad were cut off from the influx of food, fuel, medical, and military supplies. Those who remain alive had to resort to demoralizing methods to sustain their lives and the lives of their family members, such as eating dogs, cats, birds and there is suggestion of cannibalism. Nearly 4,000 people from Leningrad starving to death on Christmas Day, 1941.
What’s not to like? Against this remarkable backdrop it could have been a great book, if the writing had been better; if the plot had been tighter; and if the characters had been more compelling. Frankly, I did not get a good sense of either of the protagonists, even though it was their story.
I found it to be a stretch that Katya actually had a religious persuasion in Communist Russia, which did not encourage that kind of thing. Even more of a stretch was that she talked about it openly. Highly unlikely.
This book was published by a small press, and I have decided that it may be the nature of small presses that they do not have conscientious editors – if they have editors at all. The run on sentences and awkward phrasing that it detracted from any possible enjoyment that I might have had from reading this. E.g. “She could turn him on so easily.” Arrghh – what a 60’s colloquialism to use in a serious WW II novel. How about: She could arouse him? And again: “It’s not like Russia is going to cease to be anytime soon.” Huh? It’s not LIKE?
There are also places that simple spell check could have picked up errors. E.g. p. 14 no space between “than700” miles.
The latter is just plain sloppy.
Also, I did not think that Mr. Love really captured the day to day devastation that was the lives of those living through the siege, unlike Hannah Kristen did so well in her novel, Winter Garden.
All in all, as a novel that has the Seige of Leningrad as its topic, Winter Garden is a much better effort. If you have to go with one or the other, go with Winter Garden. It’s flawed, but not as flawed as this novel.
November 26, 2014
This one is pretty hard to rate--I'd give it 4 stars for the storyline and 1 star for the writing, which is just bad--I just can't see a 1940's Leningrader thinking and speaking like a 2010's college student. And, to make matters worse, the author thanks himself on the dedication page. Yes, he did thank and recognize others, too, but that kinda ruined the book before I even started it.
February 28, 2022
This felt like the story was written through an Americana lense. It didn’t feel realistic that the heroine of the story would set out on a suicide trek across Lake Ladoga, midday, with no real provision. Her work for the war dept makes me think she would have understood the caloric need for such an excursion and her previous work calculating the thickness of the ice makes me think she also understood the distance she would need to travel to cross the lake. One moment she’s too malnourished to hold a conversation and the next she’s gone off on this ludicrous quest to find Felix. Even though the ending spiraled a bit for me I will say that I really did enjoy reading this. It wasn’t overly profound, it wasn’t earth shattering, it wasn’t perfect but it was written in a way that makes the reading effortless for the reader. When I picked this book up I was in the story watching it unfold seamlessly in my mind and for me that is the marker of a good writer. The pace was perfect, it wasn’t bogged down with needless details or unending monologues. There was not a single moment in reading this where I wanted to “get through” a certain part. This wasn’t fantastic but I would give it a solid “good” {insert affirmative head nod}. Overall I think this author has real talent and I can see myself reading another JV Love Book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2020
Historical fiction at its best
Reading The End of Sorrow was a chance to understand what it was like to be in Leningrad during the siege. Riveting story.
Reading The End of Sorrow was a chance to understand what it was like to be in Leningrad during the siege. Riveting story.
Want to read
February 15, 2016406p A love that would not die . . .
A city that would not surrender . . .
A war that knew no bounds . . .
The date is June 21st, 1941, and Adolf Hitler is about to lead Germany into what would become one of the bloodiest, most barbaric wars the world would ever know. His invasion plan, Operation: Barbarossa, calls for taking the northern Russian city of Leningrad in a matter of weeks, but as the troops reach the outside border of the city, the Soviet resistance stiffens and a stalemate ensues. Hitler calls for continual bombardment of the city and cutting off all outside supplies. He boasts that the city will starve to death and the German forces will march into a ghost town.
Follow a cast of lovers, heroes, and fiends some real-to-life as they struggle through one of the most horrific human dramas ever created. For 900 days, the citizens and soldiers of Leningrad, Russia endured one of the worst sieges in the history of mankind. Some would find the inner strength that would make them a light unto the darkness. Others would descend into madness. Read their stories, and explore for yourself just what is the end of sorrow. (See much more at EndOfSorrow.com)
A city that would not surrender . . .
A war that knew no bounds . . .
The date is June 21st, 1941, and Adolf Hitler is about to lead Germany into what would become one of the bloodiest, most barbaric wars the world would ever know. His invasion plan, Operation: Barbarossa, calls for taking the northern Russian city of Leningrad in a matter of weeks, but as the troops reach the outside border of the city, the Soviet resistance stiffens and a stalemate ensues. Hitler calls for continual bombardment of the city and cutting off all outside supplies. He boasts that the city will starve to death and the German forces will march into a ghost town.
Follow a cast of lovers, heroes, and fiends some real-to-life as they struggle through one of the most horrific human dramas ever created. For 900 days, the citizens and soldiers of Leningrad, Russia endured one of the worst sieges in the history of mankind. Some would find the inner strength that would make them a light unto the darkness. Others would descend into madness. Read their stories, and explore for yourself just what is the end of sorrow. (See much more at EndOfSorrow.com)
December 20, 2012
While the seige of Leningrad was political, JV Love manages to make it personal without being sentimental.
The character of Katya shows us the human face of war - but it is not the only face we are shown here. We are given a broad picture with many differing viewpoints - from the Russian citizens to the German soldiers (a German POV is a rarity in "Siege" novels).
I was swept away - surely the best compliment to any writer.
Highy recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews