Irish Readers discussion

Really disappointed with this book. Read like a tired Tom Clancy novel. Harris resurrecting the "age-old enemy" to spit out another low grade, cliched, stereotypical "QUICK, BEFORE THE COMMUNISTS KILL US ALL" novel.
Although, it does what it says on the tin; it's a page-turner, and there was some interesting facts about Comrade Stalin I wasn't aware of (bit mental that guy eh?), but the idea of Stalin having a "secret son" living where he did and how he did, was too fantastical for me. Damn communists.

The last hundred pages were easier to get through. I enjoyed the ending.

I liked Zinaida, but I was appalled she told where the others had gone. It also seemed clear what was going to happen at the end. I'm not saying it was a bad ending, or that it was wrong. Just that it was a bit obv. Nicely done, mind.

I liked the old Russian woman. I think that (ch.23) was the first chapter I wholly enjoyed since ch.3 which is sad.

The start was wholly too slow. Then it just dragged on for me. This could have been aided by the fact I'm not used to reading anything about Russia and I was a while getting used to the names and the who's who. Also I felt every now and then the story was lost in the detailed descriptions of just about everything.

I liked Rapava so it was a shame he was out of it so fast. I also got annoyed reading the book how little there actually was to do with Mamantov considering he was consistently being brought up. I mean I get the whole oh he was working it behind the scenes but bleh. Everyone's all "he's coming to get us. he's going to get them", but there's no mention of what it is he's actually doing until the last few moments.

Up until Suvorin found Fluke in Archangel every time I began a chapter about Feliks I wanted to put the book down.

O'Brien's character didn't seem to know who he was meant to be until the car journey.

I could go on of course but i'm bored just reviewing this book. 2* means OK so that's what i'm giving it. I won't say it's bad. It's well written and some people do enjoy not having to imagine anything with the 'lino floor, with a table on it, with glasses on it, with ...'

Too much description for me, too bluntly put in. Too long waiting for something to happen. And the characters I liked didn't seem to do much. Or sometimes they felt very mixed up with how I had imagined them to be when reading about them. So yeah. I think maybe I enjoyed it a bit less because I took so long to actually read it. But that was because every time I read a bit I got bored so it was a constant loop.

two stars anyway.

I enjoyed this book throughout. Unlike some of you, I didn't enjoy the ending, very much. Especially compared to other Robert Harris books I've read. I liked the idea that The most powerful totalitarian government in recent history was on the brink of revival, but I wasn't convince that Stalin's mini-me was the necessary catalyst. For me, the last 80 pages could have been better.

Do you think already being a fan of Robert Harris may have influenced your liking this book? Even a little?

Or, I could just like his style. Just because someone doesn't have your taste doesn't mean that they are wrong. And, also, If you read my comments you'll be aware that I had my disappointments with this book. Apart from Star of th Sea, I think this is the best read of this book club, so far.

I WASN'T BEING A CREEP WHEN I ASKED THAT. I was actually just like. wondering if he gets any points in his favour automatically. because it's him.

Because I definitely do that with authors.

You may have a point. I tend to follow authors closely if I enjoy their work. Fatherland and Lustrum are my favourites. If I find an author poor/uninteresting on the first encounter, I tend to avoid them in the future.

Yeah the "Mini-me Stalin" was a bit ridiculous in my opinion. The premise that Stalin had a son who was hidden away for years was plausible, but I found it hard to believe that he would act precisely like his father. Yeah I know he was brainwashed and blah blah, but nah, not believable to me.

Didn't really enjoy the beginning of the book too much either. I found it very slow to get to the meat of the plot, and I couldn't warm to ANY of the characters at all.

I feel that there was a good concept here, but that it wasn't executed very well. I'll probably try Fatherland in the future though, I'v heard good things about it.

Finally finished.

It took me a bit to get into it, like a lot of people have mentioned the first 100 pages were a bit dull, but once I sorted out who was who I started to enjoy it.

Enjoyed it more that I thought I would, it was a bit long though could have got rid of at least 100 pages.

I would defo recommend this book to male friends and I think it would make a good film, I can picture Gabriel Byrne as Kelso and Kevin McKidd as O’Brien :-)

Sam wrote: "I can picture Gabriel Byrne as Kelso and Kevin McKidd as O’Brien :-)"

Good casting call!

Will there eventually be a poll for us to vote on like there was for American Gods or is that put up when the end date for this book is ? ... I had thought it was on the spoiler thread, but i'm probably wrong as I didn't join the group read that month when American Gods won and i'd read it only a year ago and couldn't put myself through such the long ordeal quite so soon again. D;

TOTAL RUBBISH. YES. YES. YES.

why were you in hospital ? ._. I take it you're all good if you're ooot anywho.

'Read of the Week' at Eason's this week. A heartbreaking read by all accounts, but Goodreads rating quite high. Set in Stalinist Russia so might be a good read if you're interested in delving into more Russian history ...

Did you read it ? / Like it ?

Jackie wrote: "Between Shades of Gray

'Read of the Week' at Eason's this week. A heartbreaking read by all accounts, but Goodreads rating quite high. Set in Stalinist Russia so might be a good r..."
I read this book and its really good, I gave it 5 stars, its YA but still a great novel and a good insight into Stalinist Russia.

olittlebear wrote: "Did you read it ? / Like it ?"

No, haven't read it yet. Saw it on Eason's FB and thought I'd share it in case anyone else was interested given the setting (I thought the insight into Stalinist Russia was the only redeeming feature of Archangel!). Added it to my to-read list but not sure I'm up to a heartbreaking read at the mo ...

Fair enough. (: Good to know what's for sale where. haha. Cheers!