Comments on: The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:33:07 +0000

It took me awhile to get used to the flashbacks and her writing style, but I really liked this one. I hope it's okay that I linked to your review on War Through the Generations.

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:13:12 +0000

Wendy, oh yes, I’m glad I read it. I’m looking forward to allowing myself to read more modern fiction. It is refreshing to read a short book that makes me think of things differently, even when I don’t love it!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:53:49 +0000

Thanks for the link to my review…I loved this book because of its sense of place and also the fine writing. I like these short books from time to time…quite satisfying! Sorry you did not love the book, but it sounds like you are glad you read it!

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:08:11 +0000

Lezlie, I’d be interested in your thoughts when “someday comes.”

Heather J., I’m glad I’m not alone in my thoughts on this one!

By: Heather J.

Heather J. — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:59:12 +0000

I agree with you about everything you said about this one. It was one of the first books I reviewed when I started my blog - you can read my (rather lame) review here.

By: Lezlie

Lezlie — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:40:30 +0000

I’m another one who has had this in her sights for a while but haven’t quite gotten to it. Someday. . .

Lezlie

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:35:38 +0000

Kathy, it is a great premise!

Jenny, It’s not that I didn’t like it so much as I didn’t love it. It just could have been so much better! But I understand abandoning it. I had borrowed it from my mom and I knew she’d ask about it so I figured I might as well persevere.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:38:19 +0000

I read a glowing review of it somewhere, and so I got it out of the library and read a whole bunch of it, and I never really got to like it. Eventually I abandoned it – I’m pleased you didn’t like it that much. It makes me feel better about not finishing it.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:57:44 +0000

The premise of the book sounds fascinating to me. I’d like to give it a try.

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:33:02 +0000

Nymeth, I skimmed the other reviews I linked to and it didn't seem like anyone else noticed it being superficial. Maybe I'm being too hard on the book. I just felt like I was getting in to the characters and the story and then it ended. I don't know. Rose City Reader, I do think it's worth reading. I'm glad I stuck with it. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts when you do get to it, of course. Is it the cover influencing you decision? I'm just curious. I don't what it is about that cover, but I was so not interested in it. My mom lent it to me, though, and I felt I needed to get it back to her. Anyway, I much prefer the hardcover picture. I think it's a lot more relevant to the story and more elegant.

By: Rose City Reader

Rose City Reader — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:53:28 +0000

This one has been on my TBR shelf for a while now. It sounds like it’s worth reading, but it never catches my attention when i am looking for my next book.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:40:24 +0000

I actually am interested in all the things you mentioned, so I’ll keep this one in mind! It’s too bad it was superficial, though. It’s always frustrating when a novel introduces lots of themes but never really gets to the bottom of any of them.