Reader's Ink discussion

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE BOOK AND WHY?

I rated this book a 3. Found it difficult to keep with the flow, and found it too long. Could have trimmed by 150 pages. I liked the first half of the book more than the second half when the girls were young and experimenting with love, sex, passion, and enjoying what life had to offer. Found the political aspects detracted from my reading.

I have to confess I only made it about 100 pages in. I really liked what I read, and would have liked to finish the book (assuming it didn't take a dramatic turn for the worse at my stopping point) but life got in the way. Since next month is my pick I'll have to be more diligent. I'll admit though, I completely underestimated the amount of reading I'd have to do for school!

I ALSO RATED A 3. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER---AND MORE ABOUT CATHERINE. I WAS P.O.ED THAT THE BOOK WAS SO REDUNDANT, AND I AGREE THAT IT COULD HAVE USED SOMEONE WITH A RED PEN TO EDIT. VARVARA WAS JUST TOO ONE DIMENSIONAL FOR ME. NO DEPTH, AND VERY PREDICTABLE. I WISH NOW THAT I HAD PICKED SOMETHING ELSE. THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET. THE RAVE REVIEWS MUST HAVE BEEN BY THE AUTHOR'S RELATIVES!

I'm also giving it a 3. Enjoyable but I wanted more (especially given the length).

I'm with Cheryl. Varvara was boring. She was infuriatingly passive - I didn't buy her as this powerful, savvy woman who managed to ascend from forgotten orphan to power player. Ten-year-old girls navigating the politics of the playground are more assertive than Varvara.

But I did enjoy it - didn't think it belonged on any best of lists, but it would be a good book if going on vacation and in need a mindless, leisurely novel.

I gave it a 4. Oh yes, a 4! As usual, I posted my full review on my blog: http://sharingtheshelf.blogspot.com/2...

For me, it came down to the fact that I thought the novel was written well, I did actually buy the relationship between Varvara and Catherine, I just plain enjoyed it, and . . . there was a sweet little ring of truth in Varvara's view of and relationship to her daughter as she transitioned into motherhood, which resonated with me.