Romanovs discussion

My name is Julie and I have been very interested in the Romanovs for a few years now. It began when I read Robert K. Massie's Nicholas & Alexandra and has progressed to other periods in Russian history including Peter the Great and the Russian Revolution. I hope this group fosters discussion about the Romanov dynasty and other aspects of Russian history.

Hi! I'm Jennifer and although I haven't read anything about the Romanovs I've always wanted to. The only thing I actually have read was Zoya by Danielle Steele, which I enjoyed but obviously not the most historically accurate book on them. I'm looking forward to finding recommendations on them :)

Read Nicholas and Alexandra to begin with. It's GREAT..Robert Massie wrote it.

Hi! I found your link on the Tudor page--way to advertise :) I started liking the Romanovs by first reading The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar and followed it by reading Nicholas and Alexandra by Massie. It inspired an infatuation with all things Russian that lead me to buy (and read) The Bronze Horseman. I liked that so much that I've bought Peter the Great: His Life and World by Massie and Catherine the Great by Troyat to read when I've got time.

Looking forward to chatting up the Romanovs with you!

Welcome Jennifer and Tina! Jennifer, I would agree with Marjorie that Nicholas and Alexandra is the best book to start with if you want a good jumping off point. That incredible book sparked my interest. And thank you, Tina for the additional book recommendations. I'm definitely going to check those out...

Tina, I looked up the books you recommended. If you like The Bronze Horseman, you have to read City of Thieves, which is a fantastic little book about the siege on Leningrad during WWII. I added Catherine the great to my wishlist. If you want to add to the Peter the Great discussion, please do so, I just finished it last month...

My name is Bridget and have been interested in the Romanovs (and Russia in general) for a long time. one of my favorite books is The Kitchen Boy.

Welcome Bridget!

Hi! My name is Annie and I also found this group through the Tudor page! I've always been interested in the Romanovs, I think it's a fascinating piece of history, one that I know I need to learn about more to understand. I know it's definitely not accurate, but Anatastia is still one of my favorite cartoon movies :)

Anybody have any recommendations for somebody getting started? Preferably focused on Anatastia or Nicholas II?

Besides Nicholas and Alexandra to start with....after that read The Last Tsar. Both wonderful readings. Also there are numerous books on Alexandra, the last Empress.

Welcoome Annie. I've added several books to the group bookshelf that you would enjoy, but I have to agree with Marjorie that Nicholas and Alexandra is the best starting point. If you like fiction, I would recommend this month's group read, The Kitchen Boy. Next month's book will be The Tragic Dynasty, which will be a good overview of the Romanov legacy spanning 3 centuries.

I have The Tragic Dynasty in my library. It's very readable and sooooo interesting. Julie....did I mention that I had met Alexander Kerensky in 1960? I was amazed he was still alive. He was giving lectures at Stanford.

So Julie, here I am. Another Tudor and History of Royals lover joining the group. I have been fascinated with the Romanovs ever since I read Nicholas and Alexandra when I was in high school in the seventies. I am looking forward to reading more about them, and I already own The Kitchen Boy, so I should be set for September.

You made me laugh, Lyn, both with your post here and on the Tudor forum.

BTW fellow Romanov members, check out the poll I added a few weeks ago and feel free to add your own...

I'm Heather, also wandered over from the Tudor group... haven't read anything about the Romanovs yet, but have been meaning to for quite some time. I figure I'll actually get around to it if I'm in a group with other people who are doing it. It's all about the peer pressure.

I'm Donna. Wandered over from the Tudor group and Russian literature group. Love the Romanov's, especially Peter the Great. I'm looking forward to reading more about the family. I'm currently reading about Alexandra's sister, Ella.

Hi Donna! Welcome and please feel free to make recommendations.

Has the group read "Most Beautiful Princess" by Christina Croft?

I had actually just added that one to my wish list no more than a month ago! I need to do some catching up on assigning group reads...

That certainly sounds like a fun class Nicholle! Welcome...

Hello everyone! I'm Melissa, and I've always been fascinated with Russian history, especially the Romanov's. I was actually able to travel to Moscow and St Petersburg a few years back and it was fabulous! I'm looking forward to reading more books with this group!

Thanks for your enthusiasm, Melissa, and welcome!

Hello, I'm Saturday's Child and I have joined your group as I really enjoy reading about the Romanov Family. Like many people my interest began after I read Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie. I not only read as many non-fiction works as I can get my hands on I have more recently I have taken up reading fiction that has the Romanov family in the plot. I can highly recommend The Last Tsar by Edvard Radzinsky and The Fate of the Romanovs by Peter King and Penny Wilson. My interest in the Romanov family has also lead to me enjoy reading about Faberge which the family were very fond of.

Thanks for the reccommendations, Saturday. Feel free to add them to the group shelf, and we can always take them into consideration for a group read!

Hi, I'm Olga Bernice. I've been interested in the Romanovs for a long time, particularly OTMA (Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia). I've read The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller (which, btw, is really good) and would like to know of some more books on OTMA?

PS: For all you members of the Alexander Palace Forum, I'm Olga Bernice on there, too :)

Hi, I'm Susan Higginbotham. I don't know much about this period but I just finished The Lost Crown and loved it. Any other reading suggestions? I did read Nicholas and Alexandria decades ago.

Hi Susan! Check out our bookshelf for suggestions and feel free to add, too.

Hi, I'm Peggy. I'm new to the group, but have read Nicholas and Alexandra and have been interested in the Romanovs for a long time.

Has anyone read the Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead in the Family? It has a Romanov twist, which made it extra interesting for me.

I haven't read Dead in the Family it, but one of my friends was telling me about the Romanov twist. I'm new to the group as well. Welcome!

My name is Tim. I first became interested in the Romanovs when I saw Anastasia as a child. Since then I've taken several college courses on Russian History, and read Robert K. Massie's wonderful biographies of Nicholaus and Alexandra and Peter the Great.

Hello, I'm Virginia Rounding, a historian & biographer. My last book was about Catherine the Great, & it is with some trepidation that I'm letting you know that my new book about Nicholas & Alexandra will be published by St Martin's Press in January. The trepidation is because many people who are passionate about N&A are likewise very knowledgeable, & sometimes have quite an emotional investment in the subject (understandably so). Anyway, I hope to engage with Romanov afficionados over the coming months, & also hope that my book will add something to appreciation of their story - while being well aware that many good books about them already exist.

Hi Virginia - I am sure some of our members will read your books with enthusiasm. It's nice to have an "expert" on board in our group. Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome, Julie.

I am Cara, an ex-librarian who has been obsessed about the fate of the Romanovs for years. My ex-husband's grandfather either was a Romanov or served them in some manner. I know this because when he was tired or drinking he would reply only in Russian. While I don't speak Russian, I did recognize OTMA's names.
Another great book about this period is The Snow Mountain by either Gaskin or Gavin.

Hi, I'm Duarte and like most here whenever I'm learning anything related to and about the Romanovs my curiosity has the best of me. I first became interested when I read Steve Berry's "The Romanov Prophecy". I guess the whole aspect of how his story could be true since the Romanov's fate is unknown really got me hooked.
Well, thats it! I hope to learn new things and possibly share a littlebit aboutn this great part of Russian history.

Welcome Duarte!

Hi! I'm Jo and I've read everything I can get my hands on about the Ronanovs and the Russian Revolution. I'm thrilled to find this group and hope to learn and make some new friends....I'm also Tudor crazy, although the Russian Royal family is my favorite...thanks for having me!

Hi! I have spent the last four years reading and writing about Catherine the Great and I am still not finished with her. I read everything I can find about her, trying to understand her as well as I can. I'd love to talk about Catherine and her descendants... share what i have learnt and get your views.

Thanks Eva! Please feel free to start a new discussion thread...

Hello. My name is Nikoline and I'm addicted to the Romonovs. I'm twenty years old and I'm just about to start university and study global literature. I' from Denmark and I spend all my time reading. I've always been coo coo for coco pops about the Russian Royal family ever since I watch the non-disney film Anastasia as a child. I even know the One upon a December in three different language that's how much I enjoyed the film.

Welcome Nikoline!

Thanks Julie!

That's one I haven't read yet, Logan. Let us know how it is! And feel free to post a link to your review here on the forum...

Hey! I am Jennifer and have a huge interest in the Romanov family. I am reading Ressurection of the Romanovs by Penny Wilson and Greg King. I have many other books and am planning to read those, and have been studying the family since 2010.

If anyone goes on the Alexander Palace forum, I'm Jen_94 on there :-)

Super, thanks, Jennifer. Feel free to add books to our group shelf. We haven't done a group read in a long time, so maybe we should reignite that...

Howdy, everybody! I'm Mark, and I teach Russian politics and history at Villanova University. Much of my research deals with the Romanov era and the Russian Revolution, and I'm always happy to meet people with similar interests!

Awesome to have an expert in the Forum, Mark. Welcome!

Hello Everyone! My name is Rebecca and I first got interested in the Romanovs for about five years now. I love Russian literature and the history of thee country. Always happy to meet people with similar interests!

Hi everyone! I have just joined the group . . . I became interested in the Romanovs many years ago when I saw the amazing movie based on Robert Massie's book "Nicholas and Alexandra". That final, silent scene still gives me goosebumps! I went out immediately to buy the book and have been reading and collecting ever since. I now have over 70 titles in my collection, the earliest dating back to around 1918. (I am a librarian by profession, so collecting books is something of an obsession.) I look forward to being a contributing member of this group.

I'm a Royal-history buff-especially Romanov. Looking forward to the 2013 readings. What in store for us? Happy New Year and Happy reading to all!