The Bronze Horseman

I like it when people recommend books for me to read. Quite a lot of people have recommended "The Bronze Horseman" for me, and because I like big, epic stories a while ago I put it in my stack and a few days ago I tried to read it. Notice the word tried.

This is a book that could have been great. The premis is great-love triangle between two sisters and a soldier during the siege of St. Petersburg (then known as Leningrad) with secrets on the soldier, is nearly classic. Tatiana and her older sister Dasha live together with their parents and grandparents, and Tatiana's twin brother in two bedrooms and Tatiana had just turned 17 when she and Alexander meet in a romance filled haze. War against Germany was announced only a few hours before and Tatiana is supposed to be buying food for her family-but it's nearly impossible to find. Alexander helps her buy food at the army supply store and he and his creepy friend Dimitri carry them home for her. But it turns out that Dasha already knew Alexander and thinks she's in love with him.

Tatiana, not wanting to hurt her sister, refuses to stand up for her relationship with Alexander, which continues to advance in secret through the siege. The rest of the novel is hardship and terrible times-people surviving on no food with no heat and bombs bursting overhead all the time. The author manages to capture the desperation and the terrible, tired acceptance of the war conditions in the city very well.

But her writing style is so annoying! I have never, ever, read a book that had as much day to day detail as this one did. You could almost pull out a calendar and write down what the family ate for each meal, each day, for months. I never knew so much about Russian food before-anfd I'm half Russian! The same thing happens with Tatiana's thoughts, and very occasionally, at completely random intervals, Alexander's. And the way they focus on their relationship-during a WAR-is almost crazily self centered. Dimitri comes off as more a menace than the Germans, more than hunger even!

I really wanted to like this book-I already had the two sequels lined up and everything but it got to the point where I just could not go on reading of Tatiana and Alexander obsessing and fighting and making up and cooking cabbage pie and blueberry ice cream and marinating mushrooms and drink vodka....This author doesn't know how to skim over anything. It was tiring, exhausting to read. Still some part of me wants to get the book back out and see if we can make it work. It did have an appeal, even if it was an exhausting one.

I know almost everyone who starts this book loves it so no doubt I will get hate mail and un-helpful votes for daring to say a bad thing about it and I do almost feel I should apologize for my feelings about it but I must tell the truth.

Two stars. I really didn't like this. (There, I said it.)

I was surprised to see the many raving reviews about this book. It seems that many people don't notice - or don't mind - its obvious shortcomings. First, the general story idea - a moving love story in war-beaten Russia - is wonderful. The history is well-researched and equally well-presented. Actually those parts that concentrate on describing the effects of the blockade on Leningrad and the current events are the best of the book and would deserve five stars. One can feel the despair, the hopelessness and the desparate will to survive. Great writing, riveting story. However, this great five-star-deserving part unfortunately stands out alone next to the other parts of the book which range from medium to simply unbearable.

The first threehundred pages of the book have a tendency to be slightly repetitive and the setting of the love story is not really believable. Tatiana - who is so altruistic that it gets annoying - falls in love with Alexander - who in the beginning is a bit too perfect to be true. However, Alexander is the boy-friend of Tatiana's sister Dasha and so Tatiana and Alexander agree (or rather: Tatiana insists) that they hide their feelings for each other in order to protect Dasha's feelings. The lengths to which they go for this are unrealistic and slightly unnerving. The arrangement also sets the stage for an ever-repeated pattern of conversations between Tatiana and Alexander which goes like this: one of them does something in order to hide the love between them - the other one doesn't get the true intention and is annoyed - they argue without clearly saying what's actually bother them. Sometimes they make up, sometimes they don't. If one stops being annoyed, the other starts being annoyed. If they get ready to actually talk openly to each other, some kind of interruption prevents them. This happens a bit too often to still be interesting and actually by page 300 I was ready to stop reading, but forced myself to go on.

The pattern of using the same scene over and over again with slight alterations dominates most of the book, be it the above-mentioned misunderstandings or the family meal situations. The most blatant use of this technique is to be found later in the book: after the wonderful and thrilling historical bit, the story plunges deeply into the smutty romance-novel level. On 90 pages of the book, the same scene happens 33 times (!) - yes, I counted, because I thought I was suffering from a deja-vu. There are slight alterations in background and dialogue, but basically its thirty-three times (!) the same: young couple talks to each other while enjoying some leisure activities or doing daily chores, conversation becomes slightly teasing and either ends with ambiguous remark or with ambiguous remark followed by deatils about their physical intimacy. After a while I was terribly bored by the repetitions and felt ready to throw the book down and explain "Yes, I got the point, they're crazy about each other and enjoying the carefree days they have together." I seriously can't understand why no editor shortened this passage. The tendency of the author to make her point again and again seriously got over the top there.

Another issue that spoiled the reading for me was the partially bad writing. I noticed that some reviews here mentioned it as well. This bad writing is amazing, because parts of the book are written so extremely well and other parts are almost embarrassing to read because of the bad writing - mainly the dialogues.

This could have been a marvelous book - the historical details, the story idea, the well-described characters, the ability of the author to really create the atmosphere. But it has so incredibly many terribly weak points - the partly bad writing, the repetitive scenes, some extremely annoying characters (the four old village women, for example) and the plunges into the depths of a smutty schmaltzy romance novel - that it takes away too much reading pleasure. A real pity, but apparently it didn't harm the commercial success.

Understand that I really did want to be able to give this book 5 stars. It was beautifully written and the emotions were real, distinct and powerful. The Leningrad backdrop is a perfect setting for this ambitious book. I felt the characters and I felt the pain.

Yet, two things stop me from giving it 5 stars. Firstly it was the 100 page honeymoon interlude where the same sex scene was repeated over and over again. Incredibly unrealistic, repetitious and somewhat anticlimactic in its appeal. It felt flat to me. Sure, sex is fun, but come on? Sex is certainly an incredible extension of a relationship, not the be all, end all of things. I was hoping for a little more depth than just youthful lust being satiated over and over again.

The other thing that bothers me is that is boarders on religious and capitalistic pandering. The authors opinion seeps through over and over again. By the end of the book, I was almost wishing for myself to find this enlightened and beautiful 'America' blessed by God himself, until I remembered I live here. Its just too black and white. Russia, communism & atheism equals darkness and American, religion & capitalism equals light. Amen.

Understand that I really did want to be able to give this book 5 stars. It was beautifully written and the emotions were real, distinct and powerful. The Leningrad backdrop is a perfect setting for this ambitious book. I felt the characters and I felt the pain.

Yet, two things stop me from giving it 5 stars. Firstly it was the 100 page honeymoon interlude where the same sex scene was repeated over and over again. Incredibly unrealistic, repetitious and somewhat anticlimactic in its appeal. It felt flat to me. Sure, sex is fun, but come on? Sex is certainly an incredible extension of a relationship, not the be all, end all of things. I was hoping for a little more depth than just youthful lust being satiated over and over again.

The other thing that bothers me is that is boarders on religious and capitalistic pandering. The authors opinion seeps through over and over again. By the end of the book, I was almost wishing for myself to find this enlightened and beautiful 'America' blessed by God himself, until I remembered I live here. Its just too black and white. Russia, communism & atheism equals darkness and American, religion & capitalism equals light. Amen.

Review of The Bronze Horseman, by by Paullina Simons
Reviewer: Mark Lamendola
This is one of the most spell-binding books I have read in a very long time. Actually, I heard it on cassette, narrated by Kate Burton. Ms. Burton, a stage presence in her own right, is the daughter of Richard Burton. Obviously, the publishers thought highly of this book. And they had good reason to.
Ms. Simons was born and reared in Leningrad, and immigrated to the USA. She's written other books, including a sequel to this one. Unfortunately, the sequel (Tatiana and Alexander) is available in some countries (e.g., Australia) but not yet in the USA.
As a reader, you can't help but yearn for Tatiana and Alexander to realize their hopes and dreams. Yet, they face so many obstacles along the way that it's never certain they will. Their immense and powerful love for each other is evident, time after time.
The siege of Leningrad, in World War II, is something few American history books talk about. But, those of us who have read about what happened know how horrific it was. Ms. Simons lived there, and was able to talk to people who had--barely--lived through it. And that siege formed the backdrop for this intense tale of passion, betrayal, and danger.
It all began when 17-year old Tatiana was eating an ice cream on a beach when she noticed a Red Army soldier staring at her. Events moved forward from there. As Tatiana suffered one loss after another--her twin brother, her father, her mother, and her sister--Alexander showed his love for her. He often did so at great risk.
In fact, Alexander risked everything for Tatiana at the end of the novel. But, this love was not one-sided. Tatiana gave of herself, repeatedly--and also took great risks. This story is not about two young people who survive war. It's really about two young people caught in a complex web spun by other people--like the devious Dmitri--while the circumstances of war also bear down on them.
The Bronze Horseman brings romance, suspense, and adventure together into a story that is memorable and moving. That it's also entertaining, breathtaking, and heartbreaking is simply icing on a very tasty cake.
Ms. Simons has a few books published. I hope she writes many more of this caliber.

I was so engrossed in this novel that I was losing sleep until it turned into a trashy smut novel. In fact I'm on page 700 and don't know if I can bring myself to finish it **SPOLIER** becuase from page 500 on every single paragraph leads to Tatiana and Alexander engaging in some sexual act. I'm an adult and I'm not against adult fun but when it becomes every single paragraph it starts to make me feel like I need a shower. I was so into the story of everything, her family, the red army, Alexanders secret but then its like the book totally changed gears and not in a good way. I didn't have any problems with Alexander in the beginning at all but **another SPOILER** after they got married I had a real problem with how Alexander man handled Tatiana to where it seemed like she became his sex slave. Ick. If you love these types of historical novels and don't want to feel like you need a shower after the intimate scenes go read The Tea Rose series by Jennifer Donnelly. Not sure if I can bring myself to suffer the last 100 pages of this and I certainly will not be reading further books by the author.

This is hands down the worst book I have ever read. There is abostuletly no character development, the characters are ..., and as a reader you don't really like or sympathize with any of the characters.... Due to the lack of character development, the story line is implausible and laughable. This book is a poorly written harlequin romance novel set in Russia. Don't waste your time reading it.

If you enjoy reading romantic novels but also want depth then this has to be the one. It's loaded with sexual tension. I'm glad I read this after the sequel was released. You won't regret buying it!

I was warned this book was a bit of a 'chick thing', but told it was so good I should 'give it a go'.
Well, it only confirmed in my mind that men are from mars and women are from venus.

Parts of this book are excellent, such as descriptions of the blockade on Leningrad and the resulting crushing cold and hunger but the problems for the male reader are legion.

- The sugary prose. eg pp75 'There was an indentation in his bottom lip, almost like a soft nesting crevice-'
- The characters were so extreme in their characterisation as to be unbelievable.
Alexander is the sort of knight in shining armour every prepubescent girl imagines marrying.
Tatiana is the selfless damsell unfalteringly sacrificing all until everyone is dead around her.
Dimitri the evil friend has no redeeming characterists at all (again, just unrealistic and too obvious)

- Light on any technical detail and often unrealistic in its portrayal
Tatiania uses a flame thrower to preheat a diesel engine (Mcguiver would be proud)
Alexanders accuracy shooting planes down
Alexanders ability to survive a tank breaking though river ice (yeah I know the hatch was open)

- Repetitive (see other reviews)
So much so I sped read about 1/3 of the book

- Not detailed enough.
For example, Tatianas father dies in half a page of underwhelming detail. Paraphrased :- Her father is in the drunk ward, a bomb hits it, the fireman can't put it out, he dies in the fire. She had ample opportunity mention the type of plane that dropped the bomb, how they navigated there, what type of bomb, how the building caught fire, how the fire dept responded, why he couldn't be rescued. Instead we get boring repitition!

So, in summary, Girls get this book because it is Prince Charming rescues Cinderalla turned up to 11. It's a 'mills and boon' on crack wraped around Russian war history.
Boys tread wearily

I read this book in a couple of days, rarely putting it down. The first half of the book is worth 5 stars and more. It grabs hold of you and sucks you in! The tension between Alexander and Tatiana is so strong you get goosebumps. It feels just like falling in love yourself, you really have your own love affair with this book and these two characters.

I think the 2nd half doesn't quite live up to the standard of the beginning, but is still very good. As others have mentioned the sex scenes in the middle are way too repetitive and definitely lose the impact that they gave the first time - to the point of becoming boring. From this point I also found it never quite felt as exciting to read as it had earlier... but maybe that's just me, I loved the tension between the characters earlier in the piece.

Saying all that however, I did love the book, I would still recommend it as brilliant reading to anyone and everyone. If some of the sections where a little shorter (it does feel dragged out at times with a lot of similar scenes) I would have definately given this 5 stars.