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An incandescent love story—a thrilling debut novel—that moves from Romania to America, from the Carpathian Mountains to Chicago, from t...
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Feb 23, 2009
Michael
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The protagonist discovers love as a teenager in the repressive Romania of Ceaucescu and then flees the demons (real and imagined) that haunt her to find a new life in America. Although she gains a mature sense of self, she remains nostalgic for the land she has left and the life and love she has lost by leaving. Her appreciation for the land and its people infuses her passion for her lover with a chthonic power which imprints itself on her soul as an innate releasing mechanism that abides until
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Feb 08, 2009
Jen
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A teenager named Mona & her parents are living in Romania during the communist regime.
Her father is secretly working against the regime and he is putting his family in a lot of danger. Therefore, they arrange to have Mona escape to the U.S.
Once she gets to the U.S. she lives with various people and has various jobs. However, she is always thinking of her long lost love, Mihai.
She gets married in the U.S. to a guy named Tom and they have 2 boys. Her parent More...
Her father is secretly working against the regime and he is putting his family in a lot of danger. Therefore, they arrange to have Mona escape to the U.S.
Once she gets to the U.S. she lives with various people and has various jobs. However, she is always thinking of her long lost love, Mihai.
She gets married in the U.S. to a guy named Tom and they have 2 boys. Her parent More...
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Jan 17, 2012
Jana
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Domnica Radulescu' semi-autobiographical debut novel, "Train to Trieste," is a fascinating page turner, full of contrasts. She describes, with nostalgia and much love, her homeland, Romania, with its physical beauty, it's mountains, plains, rivers, forests, and extraordinary seaside resorts and homes on the Black Sea. She writes of "one beautiful summer," with its "linden trees and vodka made from fermented plums and stars and mountains and raspberries...." The scen
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Jul 08, 2010
Kathrina
rated it: 
Wow.
This was exactly the book I was searching for -- a book that brings the beauty of the Romanian landscape, the consciousness of the contemporary Romanian with all the poetic perspective that comes so naturally through the language, with an American sensibility to honestly portray the harrowing daily trials of life under tyranny, and wraps it all up with an uncharacteristic dollop of hope. I use the word "uncharacteristic" because there are so few Romanian authors brave enough More...
This was exactly the book I was searching for -- a book that brings the beauty of the Romanian landscape, the consciousness of the contemporary Romanian with all the poetic perspective that comes so naturally through the language, with an American sensibility to honestly portray the harrowing daily trials of life under tyranny, and wraps it all up with an uncharacteristic dollop of hope. I use the word "uncharacteristic" because there are so few Romanian authors brave enough More...
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Oct 01, 2009
Lance Greenfield
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One feels that there is a LOT of the author in this book. She brings out both the beauty and the ugliness of Romania. During the years leading up to the 1989 revolution, there was a justifiable culture of distrust amongst friends combined with a strengthening of family bonds. This is brought out so well by the writing of Domnica Radulescu. Eventually, the contrasts with American society, and its very different values, are brought to the fore, and you'll come to truly understand the meaning of th
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Aug 09, 2009
Nancy
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"In the summer of 1977, seventeen-year-old Mona Manoliu falls in love with Mihai, a mysterious, green-eyed boy who lives in Brasov, the romantic mountain city where she spends her summers. She can think of nothing, and no one, else. But life under the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu is difficult. Hunger and paranoia infect everyone; fear, too. And one day, Mona sees Mihai wearing the black leather jacket favored by the secret police. Could he be one of them?"
The story tak More...
The story tak More...
Sep 12, 2011
Dayna
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I absolutely LOVED this story! The first thing that caught my attention was the form in which it was written. Domnica Radulescu did an awesome job in telling the story in first person, present tense. I had never read a story where an author had done that, so it was something that really caught my eye. And her style was like poetry. I honestly can not think of another author that can describe a character's surroundings in such a visual way while making it flow like a song. The only thing I
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Apr 25, 2011
Christine
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Overall, I did not really enjoy this book. Upon picking it up, it sounded interesting, but when opening it, not so much. The story is written choppily, almost like a child writing in fragmented sentences. I am not sure if this was on purpose or if it was just written poorly, but it was what I found most distracting. As the story goes on, it gets easier to bear, though. I enjoyed the latter part of the book far more than the former, but I still felt kind of ripped off at the end, because the endi
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Mar 11, 2011
Pamela
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Although I found the author's writing style a little hard to read, I still found myself being pulled into Mona's story. Probably like most of us out there, I've read very little fiction about Romania so I really have no baseline to compare it to. The author is very knowledgeable about Romania during the 1970s through 1980s and I found the story very informative. Although another reviewer has panned this book stating the story was more of a person's of priviledge (unlike most Romanians during th
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Nov 13, 2008
Christina
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Train to Trieste
'I am lying on the floor and I want this moment to last forever, this Romanian Summer in a small city in the Carpathian Mountains'. As much as the author wants her moment to last, I want this novel to last forever. After reading the last words of the book, I want to read her next book. I am afraid I have to wait for a while because this book has been published in 2007.
Never before have I read a book about Romania. And I probably knew as much about this co More...
'I am lying on the floor and I want this moment to last forever, this Romanian Summer in a small city in the Carpathian Mountains'. As much as the author wants her moment to last, I want this novel to last forever. After reading the last words of the book, I want to read her next book. I am afraid I have to wait for a while because this book has been published in 2007.
Never before have I read a book about Romania. And I probably knew as much about this co More...
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Sep 10, 2009
JoJo
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Honestly, In the beginning i skipped over some(somethings seemed to wordy&unnecessary) BUT! once o got passed the unneccessaries i was hooked! I really enjoyed it. Mona & Mihai's love was crazy i loved mihai's character =) In the end i begged for more i felt so cut off i was a bit dissapionted, i just wished there was abit more.However, i think how it ended was perfect b/c i guess that was all that was left ( her &mihai) hopefully i made sense XD
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Apr 30, 2011
Barbie
rated it:
Liked it. Story of a Romanian teenager, Mona Manoliu during the 70s and 80s. Her eventual flight from Romania to America (alone) -- and the not-always fulfilling life she lives there. Strong themes of family and love woven throughout the story - and the inescapable effect that life in communist, oppressive Romania had on her. Would read this one again.
Oct 15, 2009
Patricia
rated it:
The story of a young girl who escapes Communist Romania and makes her way to italy, and eventually to Chicago. The main character is not very warm or likable, and some of the situations seem contrived, but the author describes well the hardships endured by Romanians under their oppressive and ever-watchful former government.
Jan 25, 2011
Dezarai
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This book was just beautiful! It was well written and descriptive without being overly wordy. It flowed like poetry and made me feel the sadness of loving and mourning a country in such turmoil. This book is 100% about the journey not the beginning or the end. I could not put it down.
May 20, 2009
Sarah
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I have mixed reveiws of this book.
One one hand, the plot is very interesting and I like the historical aspect of the plot.
On the other hand, the writing seems juvenile and sub par for an adult. I am trying to keep in mind that English is not the authors first language.
One one hand, the plot is very interesting and I like the historical aspect of the plot.
On the other hand, the writing seems juvenile and sub par for an adult. I am trying to keep in mind that English is not the authors first language.
Apr 25, 2009
Nicole
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This was poetic, evocative, passionate and filled with longing. I learned about a time and place I knew very little about (1970's Romania) without feeling as if dry facts were being crammed down my throat. One of the best books I have read in a long time.
May 17, 2010
Marji
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I listened to this on audio, and the narator really added to the experience. It was quite interesting reading about the Romania during the communist time, and the experience of one who escaped. However, I found the ending quite unsatisfactory.
Jul 05, 2011
This is a horrific mystical fairytale. Every word the author wrote was beautifully chosen but I did find it seemed to skip over certain subjects. Feelings were a big part for me. I felt so disconnected from Mona and how she was feeling throughout the whole tale. I really liked the plot line it was a true love story and was really easy to get into.
Mar 05, 2009
Jill
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Started out really strong and engaging but then lost the urgency and attentions to detail towards the end that left the story somewhat unraveled and lost. Overall an interesting narrative and good read.
Dec 24, 2009
Lauren
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Radulescu conveys well what it is like to live in an environment of paranoia--with all relationships being affected by it. I couldn't relate as well to Mona's longings for the home she lost.
Apr 25, 2011
Amanda
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This was a really well written book. I finished it in 1 day. A love story, a story of immigration and of coming of age. I found it compelling to read and it sucked me in instantly.
Dec 17, 2008
Lisa
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I enjoyed this book. The writing was rich with words and pictures. The story was gripping and told from the first person which really kept it very personal. Fascinating look at communist Romania and the life of a refugee.
Aug 10, 2009
Cynthia
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I loved this book. It is a gorgeously written love story set in Romania during the time of Chowcesco (I listened to it on CD so I don't know how to spell his name)
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Aug 15, 2011
Biliana
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A bit melancholic at times but overall it was a good insight into the political and daily struggles of Romania in the 70's and 80's and the emigration and assimilation of life in America.
Aug 07, 2008
Liviu
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Very disappointing book - as someone who lived through the period described in the book in Romania, I found the atmosphere very inaccurate - focused on the ultra-dramatic miseries of the privileged rather than the day to day numbing hell of 5 hour food lines for milk and bread, lack of water, electricity and so on that afflicted regular people.
Living under Ceausescu's regime was hell but not for the reasons of the book - unless of course you were part of the privileged who wanted More...
Living under Ceausescu's regime was hell but not for the reasons of the book - unless of course you were part of the privileged who wanted More...
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Aug 27, 2011
Bill
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Much like the Americans described by Mona Maria (this book's narrator), my awareness of Romania doesn't extend far beyond Nadia Comaneci and Dracula. So, just learning about the brutal and absurd living conditions under Ceausescu made this book a worthwhile read. Even though I was drawn right into the plot and I loved the ending, I found myself feeling bored through a significant portion of the book. I didn't respond well to the numerous dream-like memories and fantasies that our narrator desc
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Nov 29, 2008
Philomena
rated it:
Great story about lost love, leaving your homeland, and trying to find peace.
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Dec 10, 2010
Whitaker
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A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for
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May 11, 2010
Angie
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Very moving. I think the characterization was good, but knowing the author made it difficult to separate the autobiographical fiction from the person I sort of know. I do not think this is the fault of the author. I was just my problem. I could just HEAR her voice in every anecdote, yet I know some of it was complete fiction. It was a very good read.
