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Hotel Moscow

Talia Carner (Goodreads Author)

3.51 · Rating details · 685 ratings · 139 reviews

From the author of Jerusalem Maiden comes a mesmerizing, thought-provoking novel that tells the riveting story of an American woman--the daughter of Holocaust survivors--who travels to Russia shortly after the fall of communism, and finds herself embroiled in a perilous mafia conspiracy that could irrevocably destroy her life.

Brooke Fielding, a thirty-eight year old New Yo ...more

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Paperback, 464 pages

Published June 2nd 2015 by William Morrow Paperbacks

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Jun 02, 2015 Raven Haired Girl added it

Shelves: 2015

As the story unfolds I found myself questioning its plausibility, partly due to its presentation which comes across in a rather brusque manner. I wavered back and forth as to the occurrences and situations given. What left me in suspended doubt, piquing my curiosity even more – Carner was in Moscow months after Communism tumbles along with Yeltsin stomping a rebellion. Carner was part of a group of American female business professionals as portrayed in both the lead protagonist and narrative, lo As the story unfolds I found myself questioning its plausibility, partly due to its presentation which comes across in a rather brusque manner. I wavered back and forth as to the occurrences and situations given. What left me in suspended doubt, piquing my curiosity even more – Carner was in Moscow months after Communism tumbles along with Yeltsin stomping a rebellion. Carner was part of a group of American female business professionals as portrayed in both the lead protagonist and narrative, loosely the plot is based on Carner’s experiences. I wish she mentioned this factoid in the beginning as opposed to the end, I certainly would have approached the book differently.

Compelling narrative of the difficulties and harshness post Communism complete with portraying the undeniable misogynist attitude of Russian men, the rampant corruption, the struggles of citizens.

The solidarity of women determined to educate, seek social justice, change and empower themselves despite the misogynist attitudes and discrimination surrounding them is inspiring and affecting.

The mafioso aggression by means of sexual assault, horrific torture, vandalizing business property as well as the businesses themselves appears far fetched, strictly inserted to shock the reader. However, after reading of Carner living in Moscow during the fall of Communism lends credibility to the horrendous acts described. A case of I wasn’t there, very well could have occurred, can’t rule anything out during this period of turbulent transition.

Brooke Fielding failed to woo me, mixed feelings about her. Wasn’t a fan of the romance portion and Brooke’s ‘secrets’ ALL felt misplaced especially due to the bleakness and severity of the narrative, would have been received better if these two nonsensical and unnecessary instances were omitted. The entire narrative had a rough, awkward feel, detered from the deliery as well as impact. Difficult to delve into completely.

True to its billing it is an eye-opening portrait of post-communist Russia and a profound exploration of faith, family, and heritage.

For this and other reviews visit http://ravenhairedgirl.com ...more

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May 22, 2015 Neil McCrea rated it it was ok

Shelves: thriller, historical-fiction, first-reads, romance, economics

The two stars are for competence. This is a novel that has been polished to a shine, a novel that has been workshopped until the structure was bulletproof. This is the writing of a successful business person who, after deciding they had a story that needed telling, took creative writing course after creative writing course until a methodology for storytelling became clear. It is a novel devoid of any troubling idiosyncrasies and arguably devoid of any style.

It is 1993 and Brooke Fielding is a su The two stars are for competence. This is a novel that has been polished to a shine, a novel that has been workshopped until the structure was bulletproof. This is the writing of a successful business person who, after deciding they had a story that needed telling, took creative writing course after creative writing course until a methodology for storytelling became clear. It is a novel devoid of any troubling idiosyncrasies and arguably devoid of any style.

It is 1993 and Brooke Fielding is a successful investment manager and the daughter of Jewish Holocaust survivors. When she is forced into an involuntary paid she from her job, she accepts an invitation to go to Russia to teach entrepreneurial skills to Russian businesswomen. She arrives just as Yeltsin is about to fire parliament and the newly post-Communist Russia is in an uproar. Corruption is rampant and the new economy is in the hands of the Russian mob. Brooke not only finds a variety of obstacles to what she expected to be a straightforward job, but an unexpected degree of danger as well.

A quick glance at Talia Carner's bio reveals her to be smart, successful and likely more accomplished than I'll ever be. Moscow Hotel is to an unknown degree based on the events she encountered doing the same volunteer work at the same time as the protagonist. I applaud her volunteerism and bravery in taking such a position, and I find myself hesitant to question the validity of her depiction of the state of Moscow at the time.

The novel never stops cheerleading for Capitalism. Rah! Rah! The free market will save us all! Gooooo Invisible Hand! If ever there was a time to express the virtues of Capitalism in this manner, without caveat or nuance, it would be when looking down on the aftermath of the ruined Soviet state. . . . and yet this uncritical, unwavering cheer still manages to grate. Brooke's character doesn't seem to grow much throughout the novel. She begins incredibly naive about Russia's ability to adapt to Capitalism and the degree of its willingness to do so, and she ends a bit more savvy to the situation. Brooke struggles with the balance between her secular Jewish identity and the possibility of embracing a spiritual Jewish identity. She concerns herself with how to go about confronting anti-Semitism. In the end Brooke doesn't really change or modify her convictions, she just reinforces them. There is also a semi-romance subplot in the novel that seems to be included just to check off the romance box.

It took me ages to write this review for two reasons. I'm congenitally unhappy writing negative reviews, and I wanted to talk with a few Russian friends who had lived through the events described in the novel. After a couple of spirited discussions, my takeaway is that Hotel Moscow is a type of poverty porn akin to the way the media portrays sub-Saharan Africa. The widespread corruption is true, the open actions of the mob is true, the conditions of Svetlana's communal living situation would be quite common even if it is not the way the majority lived. The problem is not with the veracity of these things, but that the unrelenting focus on only these things makes for a distorted lens in which to view the Russia of the time. Here is a depiction that revels in pointing to how backwards Russia was in comparison to the US. There is truth there but the depiction should never be so easy.

This is not an awful novel, just a narrow one. ...more

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Mar 11, 2015 Cold War Conversations Podcast rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: russia, politics

A taut thriller set in Russia in the immediate aftermath of the Soviet Union.

American businesswoman Brooke Fielding joins a friend on a mission to Moscow to teach business skills to Russian women, but finds corruption blocking her efforts at every turn.

Brooke's parents fled Russia in the 1940s as a result of the persecution of their jewish faith and the underlying anti-Semitism still prevalent in Russia pervades the storyline throughout.

I hadn’t realised until I read the end notes that the autho ...more

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Jun 28, 2015 Talia Carner added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: jewish-fiction, general-fiction, wrote-it

Endorsed by Nelson DeMille, Tami Hoag, Andrew Gross and other NYT bestselling suspense authors! Please check a few Q&A's about the novel (as well as interesting photos of Russians' lives in a communal apartment) on my website at http://www.taliacarner.com/hotel-mosc...

“A finely-drawn tale of a country emerging from its dark Soviet past into a present overshadowed by a new kind of terror and lawless corruption... Will keep the reader mesmerized.” (Nelson DeMille)

“Talia Carner sweeps us away along ...more

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Oct 12, 2017 Sharron E. rated it liked it

Shelves: okay-ish

Read this for my English assignment. Politics is so not my forte especially international politics.

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Aug 10, 2015 Ioana rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction, communism

In a nutshell: after the fall of the USSR, Russia was a lawless place in which everyone experienced at least a crime daily or watched their friends and neighbors get attacked while doing nothing about it, in which many husbands beat their wives and all men looked lecherously at women while wanting to rape them, in which union workers refused to serve tea at hotels because it was not part of their job description, in which people were lazy and hopeless and helpless (except for those women who dre ...more

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Jun 24, 2015 Melanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-tours, historical-fiction

In 1993, Brooke Fielding heads to Russia, with a group of other women, to teach entrepreneurial skills to Russian business women. It's nothing like she had envisioned it would be. She quickly learns that the women over there live under difficult circumstances and the mafia is in control.

This was such an interesting book! I was feeling sorry for Brooke and all she was dealing with. Then we meet two Russian business women, Svetlana and Olga. They put up a front for the Americans but their personal ...more

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Jun 23, 2015 Katie/Doing Dewey rated it really liked it

This book wasn't at all what I expected from the description on the jacket. Typically when that happens, it doesn't end well, but in this case, I thought the jacket description really undersold the story! To begin with, the book was awesome in all the ways I expected from the description. It takes place during a fascinating time period in Russian history and I learned a lot from reading the book. It was about impressive female entrepreneurs, both Brooke and the women she was working with. The pa ...more

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May 13, 2015 M rated it really liked it

Hotel Moscow, by Thalia Carner is the story of life in Russia during the break up of communism. Brooke Fielding is a thirty eight year old investment manager working for a company in New York City. While her company is in the middle of a take over she is given a two week vacation. She joins a group of women going to Russia to teach business skills to Russian women starting up small businesses.

Brooke is the child of holocaust survivors. She has been affected by the legacy of her parents, who sur Hotel Moscow, by Thalia Carner is the story of life in Russia during the break up of communism. Brooke Fielding is a thirty eight year old investment manager working for a company in New York City. While her company is in the middle of a take over she is given a two week vacation. She joins a group of women going to Russia to teach business skills to Russian women starting up small businesses.

Brooke is the child of holocaust survivors. She has been affected by the legacy of her parents, who survived the war when so many others did not. Brooke grew up hearing the stories and fears of her parents. Her parents are Russian Jews who were persecuted during the war and sent to concentration camps. As she travels through Russia, Brooke feels the fear and trepidation her parents felt back during the prewar years. As the story progresses Brooke grapples with her feelings about being Jewish. As her character grows she becomes more understanding of her parents and more comfortable with her Judaism.

Brooke is traveling with a group of women entrepreneurs who will be teaching businesswomen in the newly free Russia skills that will help them succeed in the emerging market.

Traveling in a communist country things are not always what they seem. The story develops with many layers and different perspectives of life in Russia during the 1990s.
The reader follow the thoughts and feelings of Brooke as she interacts with the women she is trying to help and educate about independence and business skills. She also runs into a criminal scheme being practiced by a group of upper level government employees. Brooke begins to understand her mother better and feels more connected to her Judaism than she ever has before.

This novel is based on personal impressions this author had while traveling in Russia during the political uprising of the Russian parliament against President Boris Yeltsin. Carner has used her own story to write this novel. In an essay written in December 2011, Carner writes, "There were so many women desperate to provide for their children in a country where the majority of households were run by women because the men often drank, beat their wives, and died of alcoholism at the average age of fifty-seven."

Motivated by the Russian women's courage Carner makes a second trip to Russia in October 1993 landing in Moscow two hours after the uprising begins against President Boris Yeltsin. Using the art of the novel, creating wonderful female characters and the intrigue of illegal business dealings, Carner gives the reader a realistic feeling for what it was really like to be in Russia at this time in history.

Also quite fun are the patterns of speech used by the Russian women. Here are some examples of the sayings used by the characters: When the character of Olga is explaining to her husband that she wants to help build a better country for her granddaughter, she is outraged that Yeltsin puts out a directive to give all available jobs to men. She says, "it is easier for a donkey when a woman gets off the cart." Another beautiful saying, "Even nightingales can't live on fairy tales." Then later in the story as the women are figuring the criminal scheme that the mafia is putting together Olga tells Brooke, "Even a blind horse can pull a cart, if he 's being lead to water." One last wonderful quote, as Olga tries convince a friend to help make Russia a better place for women to live and work says, "Make yourself into a sheep, and you'll meet a wolf nearby." ...more

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Feb 16, 2021 Darlene Golbitz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This harrowing novel of courageous women in Moscow 1993 kept my attention throughout the the entire book. My admiration goes to Talia Carner for telling this important story, based on her visit to Russia.

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Jun 19, 2015 Gaele rated it really liked it

Shelves: avon, edelweiss, reviewed

An interesting mix of historic elements, a mystery and self-discovery are highlights of this story that flashes back to the fall of the Soviet State formerly known as the USSR. Brooke is traveling to Moscow with a group of Americans, intending to share their business acumen and help establish some level of capitalist-style businesses run by Russian women. The daughter of Russian Jews that are also Holocaust survivors, the history and stories about ‘mother Russia” were a constant companion in her An interesting mix of historic elements, a mystery and self-discovery are highlights of this story that flashes back to the fall of the Soviet State formerly known as the USSR. Brooke is traveling to Moscow with a group of Americans, intending to share their business acumen and help establish some level of capitalist-style businesses run by Russian women. The daughter of Russian Jews that are also Holocaust survivors, the history and stories about ‘mother Russia” were a constant companion in her childhood, and the whispers of those stories are omnipresent. Brooke’s uneasy relationship with her Russian family roots and her determination to provide the women she is working with the best possible advantages, she’s an interesting character to learn about.

With the political and social climate in upheaval as power brokers scramble for new advantageous positions, the seemingly open opportunities: Carter uses those multiple elements to fuel the story’s emotional texture layering it with caution, optimism and fear. Changes are scary, and particularly so for those who hold power, and it is just that fear and greed that motivates the mystery / suspense portion of the story, bringing Brooke into danger.

I’ve got several friends and acquaintances who had left Russia just before and during this era, and many shared the stories of life and attitudes. Hotel Moscow brought some of those stories forward again, even as I was intrigued with the freshness and perspective of the book. Several secondary characters bring depth and background as the search to answer the mystery build the setting and add to Brooke’s curiosity in her own family history. It was an interesting journey as all the elements combined, clashed and sometimes ignored one another as the story came to an end. A huge twist and some interesting revelations for Brooke that brought her unexpected answers to questions she didn’t know existed.

While not a ‘couldn’t put it down’ book for me, I kept wanting to get back and see more: do the women succeed with their businesses, will the culprits behind the sabotage ever be found, and where will all of the new experiences lead Brooke are all answered for me, and done with a sense of rightness. As a political junkie, I loved seeing a foreign insider’s point of view of the time that was simplified and sanitized in much of the media of the day.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
...more

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May 25, 2015 Lynn Cheryl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-review

Having studying 20th century Russian history in high school, this title piqued my interest because this book is based after the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union; some years after I finished my education. The fact the plot is built around some of the author's own experiences at this time added to my curiosity.

Bertha Feldman or Brooke Fielding as she's now called is the daughter of two Russian Jewish holocaust survivors who escaped to America. Growing up was difficult as she was burdened Having studying 20th century Russian history in high school, this title piqued my interest because this book is based after the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union; some years after I finished my education. The fact the plot is built around some of the author's own experiences at this time added to my curiosity.

Bertha Feldman or Brooke Fielding as she's now called is the daughter of two Russian Jewish holocaust survivors who escaped to America. Growing up was difficult as she was burdened by her older parents experiences whilst wanting to embrace her cultural background. She escaped and move to the west coast to study at Berkeley but a change of circumstances meant she had to do all she can to survive; to achieve her goals.
Years later, she jumps at the chance to go to the very place her parents escaped to help the women of Moscow re-build their lives and livelihood after the fall of communism, not realising that the experience would have a profound affect on her own life.

What shocked me was how quickly post-communist Russia turned even more sinister. I naively thought that the corruption came later, although common sense should have told me otherwise.

I loved Brooke Fielding's go-getting attitude even when the challenges became just too big and how easily she developed such empathy with the women she met. She's naïve to believe she can change things for the better for Svetlana and the women at the factory. It is also interesting to understand how these women of Moscow perceived Brooke too.

“Thank-you for not judging me,” she whispered.
“But I do. And I find you an amazingly accomplished woman who's gone through a lot but never allowed it to defeat you.”

The romantic aspect of Brooke's story is subtle, but there all the same; Judd Kornblum...what's his secret?

The ending is thought provoking. Will Brooke meeting Sage? A relationship with Judd? Svetlana & Natalia's new life in Germany? The fact I have so many unanswered questions is down to the author engaging me sufficiently to think about what happened after Brooke arrived back in the U.S. I wonder too if Irina exploited the market successfully using stolen goods? What became of Sidarov?

Hotel Moscow is well written, intelligent and interesting read that kept my attention. A very welcome and enjoyable diversion from the fiction I usually read.

4½ stars

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher William Morrow*** ...more

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Jun 15, 2015 Maggie Franz rated it it was amazing

Books contain an intense magic, so powerful that it can transport us to a different time and place. Their authors wield the wands and the cant the spells that craft these journeys for readers. These wizards of words have the ability to not only teach us about history, to but make us live it, to feel it. They weave together the threads of history, humanity, thought and perception to create the most vivid tapestries, which tell the stories of places, people and the events in which they partake. Ta Books contain an intense magic, so powerful that it can transport us to a different time and place. Their authors wield the wands and the cant the spells that craft these journeys for readers. These wizards of words have the ability to not only teach us about history, to but make us live it, to feel it. They weave together the threads of history, humanity, thought and perception to create the most vivid tapestries, which tell the stories of places, people and the events in which they partake. Talia Carner’s wand has created such a tapestry that vibrantly depicts a time and a place that most of us know almost nothing about. In her new book Hotel Moscow Carner tells us of the exciting yet tumultuous and dangerous time that she spent in Russia. During the year 1993, when she visited Russia she became caught up in a rebellion against President Yeltsin. Her story, Hotel Moscow is a vehicle to tell of the corruption, the violence and the hardships faced by Russian women and their families. I was very glad to have read this story as it taught me a history that I never would have known. It taught me lessons about humanity, about what we as people are capable of, both good and bad. And in the darkness, the corruption and the hardship, it demonstrated the indomitable power of hope.

What began as a treasure hunting holiday for one American business woman quickly became anything but. Brooke Fielding, an investor for a large firm in New York, cashes in her vacation days when the firm undergoes an acquisition. Unsure of what the future holds, Brooke travels to the newly opened Russia in search of potential business opportunities. Brooke is unsure of what she’ll find on her travels, as she returns to the land that her people fled not too long ago. In no way would she be able to prepare herself the situation that awaits her group in Moscow. Hoping to teach local women about business, Brooke quickly becomes the student as the group teaches her about the corruption, the mafia and the dangers that they face as business owners. As friendships grow Brooke finds herself being drawn into their situation, looking for a way to get to the bottom of the corruption and intimidation, and provide a better life for these women. I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book, as I believe that no one can better describe what Russia in 1993 was like better than Talia Carner.
...more

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Jul 27, 2015 Andie rated it did not like it

Since this book is based on the author's experiences in Russia during the events depicted in the novel, this should have been a compelling read. Instead, what I found was a disjointed, poorly written book totally lacking in character development or plot cohesion

Brooke Fielding is a 38-year-old investment manager in New York and the daughter of Russian Holocaust survivors who harbors not one, but two BIG SECRETS. When her firm is being taken over by another, she is told to take vacation and not c Since this book is based on the author's experiences in Russia during the events depicted in the novel, this should have been a compelling read. Instead, what I found was a disjointed, poorly written book totally lacking in character development or plot cohesion

Brooke Fielding is a 38-year-old investment manager in New York and the daughter of Russian Holocaust survivors who harbors not one, but two BIG SECRETS. When her firm is being taken over by another, she is told to take vacation and not come into the office so the acquiring firm's bankers can do due diligence on the purchase. To fill her empty hours, she volunteers to go to Russia to teach entrepreneurial skills to Russian businesswomen & also, while she's at it, add some stellar points to her resume.

The group, seemingly composed of one clueless woman after another, embarks on their journey without any briefings on the current political situation in the country, no Russian speaking members or any idea of the local culture. Naturally disaster ensues almost immediately and things go from bad to worse over the seven days they are in the country. The leader of the group is some kind of starry-eyed New Age thinker who thinks burning scented candles will solve all their problems and another vulgar member of the group seems more interested in making sexual liaisons than in helping the Russian women. Our heroine, Brooke, is reckless in the extreme and totally in the dark as to how she is endangering the very people she has come to help. The villains in this story are stereotypical caricatures who are almost laughably unbelievable. I kept thinking about Boris Badenov twisting his mustache and and saying, "First ve must get Moose and Squirrel." There is a "love interest" of sorts who is also a cartoon character and pretty unlovable in my opion.

As the reviewer in the Philadelphia Jewish Voice wrote in her review of this book, it "ill serves the thousands of courageous Eastern European and Western women who serve in, and benefit from, the support of NGO’s—-non-governmental organizations bringing aid, training and spiritual support to post-Soviet states. It was disturbing to see the very well-portrayed narcissism of the main character attributed as an issue among children of Holocaust survivors." If I hadn't received this book as part of The Library Thing's Early Reviewer program, I would have quit reading it after the first 50 pages. This book is a mess. ...more

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Aug 20, 2015 Sarah rated it really liked it

Very well written. Interesting story of a woman travelling to Moscow and the issues she encounters under the suspicion of the Russian police. She also has her own prejudices to overcome (her parents were Polish during WW2)
Brooke Fielding, a thirty-eight year old New York investment manager and daughter of Jewish Holocaust survivors, finds her life suddenly upended in late September 1993 when her job is unexpectedly put in jeopardy. Brooke accepts an invitation to join a friend on a mission to Mo Very well written. Interesting story of a woman travelling to Moscow and the issues she encounters under the suspicion of the Russian police. She also has her own prejudices to overcome (her parents were Polish during WW2)
Brooke Fielding, a thirty-eight year old New York investment manager and daughter of Jewish Holocaust survivors, finds her life suddenly upended in late September 1993 when her job is unexpectedly put in jeopardy. Brooke accepts an invitation to join a friend on a mission to Moscow to teach entrepreneurial skills to Russian business women, which will also give her a chance to gain expertise in the new, vast emerging Russian market. Though excited by the opportunity to save her job and be one of the first Americans to visit Russia after the fall of communism, she also wonders what awaits her in the country that persecuted her mother just a generation ago.Her mother was the only survivor from her family as the others died in a concentration camp. Her father’s first wife and three children were killed. Thus, Brooke has grown up hearing of the anti-Semitism in Russia.

The story begins in 1993 just weeks after the fall of Communism. Left as a country with no laws, the Duma is busy making up laws as they go. However Yeltsin is frustrated and impatient with them and fires them. As the members of their Duma are democratically elected, Yeltsin did not have the authority to fire them. Thus, a stand-off develops between the members of the Duma and Yeltsin as he calls in the Army to remove the Duma.
Brooke’s early family history is revealed slowly, like layers of an onion being peeled away, layer by layer. Being in Russia makes her face parts of her past that she had been running from her entire life. There is a possible love interest for her but she is very distrustful of men. Her past relationships are also slowly revealed making it understandable why she is so distrustful of men. Brooke carries secrets that she is afraid of revealing. One of the secrets could cost her her job. She also struggles with the question of “What does it mean to be Jewish?” Should she hide her Jewish identity in this land that is rampantly anti-semitic?
...more

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Feb 11, 2015 Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition

I received an ARC from the publisher - the book will be published in June 2015. This was very different from the other "Russian" novels I've read recently. The story centers around 38-year-old Brooke Fielding, the American daughter of Holocaust survivors, who goes on a citizen's mission to Moscow to teach business skills to Russian women. But its October 1993 and she ends up in the middle of a war zone when there is an uprising of the Russian parliament against President Boris Yeltsin. I didn't ...more

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Aug 09, 2015 Tara Chevrestt rated it it was ok

Shelves: arc, 2015-release, librarything

I think this story had an excellent and heart-pounding start. Immediately, readers are immersed in a world of greed, bribes, rape, bullying, corrupt banks, and mafia hold ups, not to mention dirty police/security. We see the plight of women in Russia in the nineties, right after the fall of communism. It's educational. Enlightening. I had no idea women were dealing with these issues in what one does not consider a third-world country.

Women are not being encouraged to work. Anarchy reigns, openin ...more

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Jun 16, 2015 Sharon Chance rated it it was amazing

Plunging her readers into the early 1990s and post-communism Russia, author Talia Carner presents a dramatic, fast-paced rollercoaster of a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats to the very satisfying ending.

Combining the main character's background as the child of Holocaust survivors with her present-day position as a woman executive on a mission trip to advise Russian women on how to start up businesses of their own, Carner has molded a fascinating and admirable character wh ...more

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Jul 09, 2018 Literary Redhead rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, historical-fiction

I was thrilled when author Talia Carner contacted me on Facebook to ask for my review of her newest historical novel, “Hotel Moscow.” The day the package arrived from HarperCollins Publishers, I eagerly tore open the manilla covering and just knew by the lush cover that this was a book I would love. And I do!

It is a gorgeously written, beautifully conceived story of a New York woman who goes to Russia for a business opportunity after the recent collapse of the Iron Curtain. Talia is painterly in ...more

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Apr 25, 2015 Susan Csoke rated it it was amazing

This is a novel about an american woman of russian jewish decent. Her parents had been holocaust victims who watched horrifically as their relatives were murdered, and barely got away alive. Brooke travels to Russia with a group of women, they are on a mission to help reform russian business women and teach them business savvy. When Brooke and her companions arrive at Hotel Moscow they are shocked to see that it is not what they expected. Through complications and violence they begin to fear for ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Pratibha Suku rated it liked it

Shelves: russia

Story is set in post disintregation of USSR,collapse of commusiam. The brutality of time is bared out totally. It was as low as it can go. At time it is heart wenching. You get of see the ugly face of human and greed. Nice work done by author for that part. Especially the photographs. It is taxing to go in this in one go.

I have my problem with how the the the main protogonist comes and than do some stuff . It was too filmy and too unbelieavable.

All in all an informative reading.

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Nov 13, 2020 BookishStitcher rated it liked it

3.5 stars

This is another example of the book was just okay. The writing and plot wasn't anything special, but then I found out at the end that the author based it off of an experience she really had when she was younger and it became more interesting. ...more

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Mar 07, 2017 Barbara rated it liked it

This book had the potential to be a gripping novel--set during the fall of the Soviet Union and the upheaval and near-anarchy that followed before the modern Russian government got on its feet. The fact that the author was a visiting consultant during those times lends credibility to the story, if only she hadn't kept trying to force a connection to Nazi persecution of Jews which was a weak connection, in my opinion. The frequent Nazi referrals really detracted from the story; the main character ...more

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Mar 23, 2016 Lisa Barr rated it it was amazing

I read this thought-provoking, incredibly well-researched novel in just a few days. Carner provides an unique glimpse of Old World versus New World, a running theme throughout the remarkable "Hotel Moscow". The protagonist, Brooke Fielding, 38 — with who, I fell in love—is modern, savvy, smart, progressive, idealistic, fearless and strategic. She is the daughter of Holocaust survivors, a truth that subconsciously guides her actions, shapes her. She struggles with the handed-down violent memories ...more

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Apr 19, 2016 Angie Mangino rated it it was amazing

Hotel Moscow
By Talia Carner
2016
Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Rating: 5 stars

It’s September 30, 1993 when Brooke Fielding disembarked at the Moscow airport.

“The significance of the moment billowed in Brooke’s chest: She, an American, was arriving in Russia mere twenty-one months after the collapse of communism.”

This daughter of Holocaust survivors was there to help Russian women by sharing her business expertise in a group formed by her friend Amanda Cheng. Yet arriving stirred up other more personal ...more

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Aug 17, 2015 Gwen rated it it was ok

Brooke Fielding, nee Bertha Feldman, travels to Russia shortly after the fall of communism, to teach Russian women about business and entrepreneurship. Brooke's baggage includes worries that she's about to lose her job, and feeling that she's betraying her parents, Holocaust survivors from Russia who lost first families and suffered tremendously at the hands of both Russians and Nazis. The world Brooke enters is no less non-linear: things are not what they seem, and glastnost doesn't mean an end ...more

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Nov 29, 2015 Barbara Loggia rated it really liked it

4 stars for giving a realistic view of Russia in the fall of 1993, after the fall of Communism when the country was in another war in the control of their country. Under the guise of presenting capitalistic business seminar to women, the daughter of Holocaust survivors experiences the truth of the Russian mindset 20 months after the Revolution. Well educated women are now attempting to start their own businesses to survive this new world but are under the power of corruption, extortion, from men ...more

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Jun 29, 2017 Dad rated it it was amazing

This is the story of Brooke Fielding, a young woman who is invited with a group of women to go to Moscow, and teach entrepreneurial skills to women there. Communism has fallen, and Brooke, the daughter of Holocaust survivors is anxious to go. Her mother is from Russia. Upon her arrival to Moscow, nothing is what the envisioned.

This was a very good well written novel, based on the author's actual visit to Russia in 1993. ...more

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Aug 05, 2015 Erin Cataldi rated it liked it

Shelves: reading-between-the-wines, 2015

As someone whose traveled to Russia, studied Russian history, and read a multitude of books on the country, I still managed to learn a lot! My studies generally ended around the fall of communism, so I was generally aware of the corruption that seeped into the country afterwards, but I had no idea the extent of it, and especially aimed at women! This novel explores what life was like for young entrepreneurial women (and women in general) in post communist Russia. It was no cakewalk as American f ...more

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Jul 01, 2015 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: historic-fiction

Brooke Fielding, a financial analyst agrees to participate in a women's mission to Moscow in October, 1993. Caught in the middle of an uprising against Yeltsin, she finds herself in danger as she investigates high levels of corruption and attacks on women owned businesses. As the daughter of survivors she also learns that her Judaism is something to be proud of. Interesting read about relatively recent historic events and the fear that all Russians lived with for so manynyears ...more

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About Talia Carner

Talia Carner

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Formerly the publisher of Savvy Woman magazine and a lecturer at international women economic forums, novelist Talia Carner’s heart-wrenching suspense novels, PUPPET CHILD, CHINA DOLL and JERUSALEM MAIDEN and HOTEL MOSCOW have garnered rave reviews and awards. As each touches a social issue never explored before, they are often the choice of reading groups in the USA and abroad.

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