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Gloria ~ mzglorybe's Reviews > Winter Garden
Winter Garden
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Gloria ~ mzglorybe's review
bookshelves: favorites, general-fiction, historical-fiction
Jan 05, 2010
bookshelves: favorites, general-fiction, historical-fiction
Be patient during the first half, it gets very good and emotional the second half. This is written in the past and present tense, which is a common format in many novels, but one that I enjoy. It's like reading two different novels.
What starts as a dysfunctional domestic situation between 2 sisters (American born) and their Russian-born mother ends up being so much more. Grief and a deathbed promise brings these unhappy women reluctantly together, and what seemed like a familial dysfunction becomes an intimate look at the mother of these two sisters who was raised in Russia during the war. Primarily they learn about a side of her they never knew. Her story of war-torn Leningrad, paints a vivid picture of the atrocity of war. One cannot fathom the pain, hunger, starvation and death all around the survivors, the terror of small children being taken by train away from their parents, starving, cold, crying and afraid. Your heart sinks and you feel your throat all choked up. Don't be surprised if your eyes smart a few times and tears cloud your vision as you're reading this emotional rendering. This part of the novel is truly heartbreaking. I found it very moving, and well written.
In the present-day story the description of Sitka, in Alaska and its history was depicted such as one can easily visualize it. Kudos to author Hannah. She carries the reader through the scenes effortlessly. You feel yourself there and want to see it for yourself some day. The characters are flawed but believable, the novel hard to forget and the ending entirely satisfying to this reader. Definitely recommended.
Gloria Bernal - Murrieta, CA.
What starts as a dysfunctional domestic situation between 2 sisters (American born) and their Russian-born mother ends up being so much more. Grief and a deathbed promise brings these unhappy women reluctantly together, and what seemed like a familial dysfunction becomes an intimate look at the mother of these two sisters who was raised in Russia during the war. Primarily they learn about a side of her they never knew. Her story of war-torn Leningrad, paints a vivid picture of the atrocity of war. One cannot fathom the pain, hunger, starvation and death all around the survivors, the terror of small children being taken by train away from their parents, starving, cold, crying and afraid. Your heart sinks and you feel your throat all choked up. Don't be surprised if your eyes smart a few times and tears cloud your vision as you're reading this emotional rendering. This part of the novel is truly heartbreaking. I found it very moving, and well written.
In the present-day story the description of Sitka, in Alaska and its history was depicted such as one can easily visualize it. Kudos to author Hannah. She carries the reader through the scenes effortlessly. You feel yourself there and want to see it for yourself some day. The characters are flawed but believable, the novel hard to forget and the ending entirely satisfying to this reader. Definitely recommended.
Gloria Bernal - Murrieta, CA.
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Winter Garden.
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Reading Progress
January 5, 2010
– Shelved
Started Reading
January 13, 2010
–
Finished Reading
November 8, 2011
– Shelved as:
favorites
February 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
general-fiction
February 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
Comments Showing 1-41 of 41 (41 new)
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Laura
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rated it 3 stars
Jan 17, 2011 02:49PM
thanks for the "be patient" comment. I was pretty close to giving up on this book, but am encouraged to know that the story picks up. I am just now at the part where Anya agrees to tell her story.
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I loved this part, it is very emotional.
I agree...I almost gave up in the
first half when at times I felt like I was reading a soap opera...the second half more than compensates.
Thanks for saying we have to have patience cause I was on the verge of quitting. I am where she for the first time tells more of the fairy tale. I will give it a bit more. Just checked to find out I have read 40% already!
Come back & tell me what you thought after you've finished it.
I had not read your last comment but I wanted to come back because you were so right. I think 3 pages after I replied to you I started to really get into the book. Loved the Russian part of it. She tried to mingle Contemporary with Historical Fiction but to me The latter was so much better. (Hey that rhymes?)lol. It was so good that at the end I was on the verge of tears, she got me good. Glad to see your review had 24 likes. Thanks to it I kept reading.
You're welcome. Hannah usually doesn't disappoint me. This is definitely one of my favorites. I just got back from Alaska and was disappointed we didn't get to Sitka. Next time. I do want to go back. Glad you enjoyed it, Marlene.
Unfortunately I returned it to the library before I read this comment. I hated the first half so I'm not sure I would have liked the 2nd.
Well for me the change happened in 3 pages! So funny really. Maybe I will try some other books by her.
I, too, felt the first half to be a bit tedious, but could not put I'd down during second half of book. Excellent!
I'm so glad I read this review and all the comments. I'm having a hard time in the beginning too, but have been trying to hold on and will continue to do so!
Amy, let us know if you do finish it and what you thought. The 2nd half is the best part.
Yes I hope you will agree with us and enjoy the second part.
I agree with you here. I was very turned off at the beginning of the book but it slowly got better. I'm glad I stuck through it as I did enjoy it.
Interesting... I didn't have any trouble getting into the book from beginning, but agree that the second half is the best part.
I loved this book! This is the 6th book from Hannah I have read. It was very moving and with the story I wanted more! One part I wish was different but the ending of the epilogue made up for it! Excellent book in my opinion.
She knows how to string those words together, doesn't she? ;)
great review! spot on. I agree
Great review! I felt the same way
Exactly how I felt about the book, Gloria Bernal. I thought I might have to start taking antidepressants before I got through the first hundred pages, but very glad I hung in there. I know Russian history and have been to Russia twice, but it bugs me that I can't remember that specific bridge. St. Petersburg is a city of beautiful ironwork bridges, each in a different design. I'm definitely ready for an Alaskan cruise!
Judy Harralson: since I wrote this review, over 6 years ago, I still vividly remember this novel and have visited Russia, including St Petersburg. I was in awe of the opulence of yesteryear, and in dismay for the common people who had so little back then, and the tumultuous history of it all. I'm happy to have read this before my trip and would love to go back and spend more time there. A cruise excursion just doesn't allow enough time. I loved Estonia too. Thanks for posting your comments. It pleased me that other readers are still finding my review helpful.
I couldn't agree more! At page 150, I was ready to quit. So glad I didn't! This book and The Nightingale are my favorite books of all time! Kristin Hannah is amazing!
Jessica McGahan - those two are my faves also. Loved The Nightingale. Winter Garden was exasperating in the first part what- with the sisters bickering, but redeemed itself in the last half. Very touching and well done.
I agree! Beginning was a little slow but oh my gosh how it took off. This & the Nightingale have become my favorite books. Thank you Kristin Hannah!
Can't wait for a new one, seems like a long time since Nightingale.
Thank you. I am in “first half” and so far am rating it two stars only due to Repetitive sentences, repetitive descriptions, & characters who are remarkably un-self aware. Bur Because of your review, I’ll stay with it!
yes! so glad i didn’t quit reading!
I'm so glad to see others feel the same way I did... seemed like the Russia story could have started at least 50 pages sooner! I too almost put it down!
I stopped reading. I usually give it about 100 pgs. This book was not great in the first half, kept waiting for her to get to it. oh well.
Thank you for your review. I'm on page 76 and I feel like ??? Am I missing something. It feels so empty. But I love this writer so I'll keep going!
Amy - don’t give up on it. The first part is all the bickering that makes one roll their eyes. Be patient. It’s one of her best. Let me know what you thought.
Definitely another book where it took a long time to pull me in fully. She has this tendency to build slowly and then have an incredible, tear inducing second half. Glad i did not give up (the nightingale was in my top 5 reads last year so i trusted this would improve with each chapter)
Thank you!!! I am on page 95 & thinking I really don’t like spending time with Meredith or Anya. But because of your advice, I shall stoically soldier on....
Shelly wrote: "Thank you!!! I am on page 95 & thinking I really don’t like spending time with Meredith or Anya. But because of your advice, I shall stoically soldier on...."Hang in Shelly -- I think you'll be happy you did. Please let me know.
Really agree with your review. I thought this somewhat lagged up until the 40% mark but so worth it. I share the same desire to see for myself every place she writes about: St Petersburg & Alaska (after this one and The Great Alone)!
I’m having a hard time getting through this book. I keep reading and hoping something will change but it’s too depressing. It’s well written but at this point I’m finding hard to keep reading. I’m going to put it down and then go back and try reading it again at another time.
I agree. It took about half the book for me to really get fully enthralled by it.
Agree .. I almost put it down but continued on.
Suzette, what did you think?
A book should grab the reader in the first pages. I'm too old to wait and have too many other books I want to read.
