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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Historical fiction and I often get along well, and I was very hopeful going into this book. I remember being charmed with the characters and style of Rutherfurd's [b:The Princes of Ireland|28867|The Princes of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, #1)|Edward Rutherfurd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463409215l/28867._SX50_.jpg|1526130], [b:The Rebels of Ireland|51433|The Rebels of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, #2)|Edward Rutherfurd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388283043l/51433._SY75_.jpg|1314775], and [b:Sarum: The Novel of England|1853145|Sarum The Novel of England|Edward Rutherfurd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415831399l/1853145._SY75_.jpg|1952547], as well as awed by the scope Rutherfurd was able to cover so wonderfully about the history of these places through a web of interconnected families. However, this was missing the key element of charm for me.
Despite the fact that [b:Sarum: The Novel of England|1853145|Sarum The Novel of England|Edward Rutherfurd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415831399l/1853145._SY75_.jpg|1952547] covers a more encompassing timeline and essentially the same formula, I really found the pacing of Russka to be a problem. The span of the novel is too great. The speed at which time is covered varies so much from story to story and family to family.
There were times when the story stretched and covered only a handful of months over a hundred pages, while other times suddenly decades will zip past. The inconsistency was often jarring. The young woman you thought you were following closely is suddenly an old woman, mentioned only in passing, and it's hard to figure out where she fits on the family tree. The others seeming no more important than the ones skipped.
The events in Russia's history that are touched were so distant and removed from the events directly covered in the novel that I found it hard to find my footing when something significant was mentioned by a character in either passing or passion.
That indefinable quality of character attributed to Russia, the difficulty in defining and categorizing aspects of the country and its history, ultimately led to Rutherfurd's inability to hold my attention and help me stay engaged. With a third-person narrator staying so far removed and emotionally distant from its story and characters, it was very difficult to keep the families straight, get my bearings on the correct era, and ignore the fact that Rutherfurd was doing a lot of telling and very little (to no) showing. He flat out told how each character was feeling in the most succinct and to-the-point language as was possible. This was a glorified history lesson, and while I would absolutely still recommend a Rutherfurd novel, it just wouldn't be this one.
Audiobook version, as read by [a:Wanda McCaddon|1167728|Wanda McCaddon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518045098p2/1167728.jpg]: The audiobook performer here, Wanda McCaddon, did a phenomenal job. With a varied and rich voice, she brought life into this novel that I don't know I would've found at all, otherwise. Every slight change of her voice and each affected accent was seamless and without fault. I would look forward to listening to another read by her if the occasion arises.
Despite the fact that [b:Sarum: The Novel of England|1853145|Sarum The Novel of England|Edward Rutherfurd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415831399l/1853145._SY75_.jpg|1952547] covers a more encompassing timeline and essentially the same formula, I really found the pacing of Russka to be a problem. The span of the novel is too great. The speed at which time is covered varies so much from story to story and family to family.
There were times when the story stretched and covered only a handful of months over a hundred pages, while other times suddenly decades will zip past. The inconsistency was often jarring. The young woman you thought you were following closely is suddenly an old woman, mentioned only in passing, and it's hard to figure out where she fits on the family tree. The others seeming no more important than the ones skipped.
The events in Russia's history that are touched were so distant and removed from the events directly covered in the novel that I found it hard to find my footing when something significant was mentioned by a character in either passing or passion.
That indefinable quality of character attributed to Russia, the difficulty in defining and categorizing aspects of the country and its history, ultimately led to Rutherfurd's inability to hold my attention and help me stay engaged. With a third-person narrator staying so far removed and emotionally distant from its story and characters, it was very difficult to keep the families straight, get my bearings on the correct era, and ignore the fact that Rutherfurd was doing a lot of telling and very little (to no) showing. He flat out told how each character was feeling in the most succinct and to-the-point language as was possible. This was a glorified history lesson, and while I would absolutely still recommend a Rutherfurd novel, it just wouldn't be this one.
Audiobook version, as read by [a:Wanda McCaddon|1167728|Wanda McCaddon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518045098p2/1167728.jpg]: The audiobook performer here, Wanda McCaddon, did a phenomenal job. With a varied and rich voice, she brought life into this novel that I don't know I would've found at all, otherwise. Every slight change of her voice and each affected accent was seamless and without fault. I would look forward to listening to another read by her if the occasion arises.
With the current state of affairs between Russia and Ukraine this becomes a timely read. Spanning 1800 years of Russian history of wars, politics, religion, trade, social class, education and the arts it's a gem to read. Having spent more than a month in the country this book is both reminiscent and inspiring for future travels.
Whilst I raced through this I cannot say it grabbed me in the way that, say, Sarum or London did. The first 1600 years or so are linked so slightly (mostly by the overused desciption of ‘almond-shaped eyes’) that I almost gave up. The familial chain is stronger for the final third fo the book and it’s much stronger because of it.
Rutherfurd readers will enjoy although casual readers may wish to begin with a stronger entry in his canon.
Rutherfurd readers will enjoy although casual readers may wish to begin with a stronger entry in his canon.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Russka is the epic tale of Russia, from the Slavic tribes to the fall of the Soviet Union. The book tells this story through characters who directly descend from the characters of the previous chapter. While much changes, from systems of government to technology, there are some notable consistencies. Life in Russia is brutal: one must be thankful for a full plate of food and a roof over one's head. Most people do not care about politics, insofar as it affects them. Despite achievements in technology, war, and the economy, social inequalities persist. It seems that, no matter, what happens, Russia is a land of a wealthy few and a poor many. In a land where many different economic systems have been attempted, it makes one wonder why they have all failed and if there is one that could possibly succeed. There are other important themes to note. The book alternates settings between the big city and small town, showing that what is decreed in the big city is not always the case in rural Russia. Despite this, authority from the center is accepted almost unquestioningly. Rutherford refers to Russia as distinct from Europe, a distinction drawn from different religions, governments, and attitudes, and one that has proven prescient in recent years. When civil strife breaks out, the catalyst is almost always a poor economic situation combined with war. While rebellions begin due to these reasons, they do not end that way, often being co-opted by those with ulterior motives, such as nationalists and communists. Finally, the book makes one feel the power of the choices that one's ancestor makes. While it may seem like our great- and great-great-grandparents have little effect on our lives, them and those before them have shaped our present-day being. Life is path-dependent: the choices we make now will reverberate for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
It got a little more interesting near the end, but took about 600 pages to get there. Rutherfurd's theories about Russian identity are interesting, though, and although the book is 25 years old, they have some resonance with current politics.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not rutherfords best books, falls a bit flat during some of the "great" moments in history.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
http://www.girllostinabook.com/2014/01/review-russka-by-edward-rutherfurd.html