The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 05, 2010 Elizabeth added it

Shelves: russia, fiction

I'm not going to rate this book, because I think this novel was simply a genre mismatch for me.

The first moment I knew something was up was when Tatiana met Alexandra. The interaction was so...well, emotional. Oddly so. Schmaltzy even. I thought, "How odd." But, I kept going. Then we got to a love scene and I thought, "Wait a minute." Is this a romance novel? It was so...graphic. But, I dismissed that and kept reading.

Then we diverged into true bleakness. The bleakest setting for any novel you I'm not going to rate this book, because I think this novel was simply a genre mismatch for me.

The first moment I knew something was up was when Tatiana met Alexandra. The interaction was so...well, emotional. Oddly so. Schmaltzy even. I thought, "How odd." But, I kept going. Then we got to a love scene and I thought, "Wait a minute." Is this a romance novel? It was so...graphic. But, I dismissed that and kept reading.

Then we diverged into true bleakness. The bleakest setting for any novel you can imagine. The author does a great job describing starvation. I was stressed.

But then, I arrived at Book II, which was basically copulation. And the copulation kept going. I mean, for like, 100 pages. Bodices were coming off right and left--only in this case they were Russian peasant outfits and the Russia/American guy from the 1940s kept saying things like, "babe" and "I love your blondness." There were so many pages of this I started to feel cagy. Uncomfortable. Profoundly bored. Did I say profoundly bored? Can I repeat that just one more time?

I put the book down. "This has to be a romance novel," I concluded. I started Google-ing "Avon Harper Collins." "Oh dear God, it was."

I don't think I've ever read a romance novel, until now. Ever. (Although I'm sure someone will start mining through my shelves and tell me that, yes, I have.) I've certainly read lowbrow books and I enjoy a good chick lit tome now and then, but this was on another level.

Is this what bodice rippers are like? It was like listening to Britney Spears for me. Over and over again. And whenever clothes came off we were suddenly transported from 1940s Leningrad to something that felt suspiciously contemporary. The "babes" bits were painful.

And it's a shame, because I think with some editing--i.e. cutting out almost all of the bodice ripping and the comments where our heroine, Tatiana thinks about how young she is (Does anyone young ever think about how young they are? and comment on it to themselves?), you have a really nice book in there. The descriptions of war and the life are vivid and interesting, but those offending 100 pages nearly killed me.

So, next time I'm going to check the imprint online before I buy a book that promises history and a little bit of romance. I thought I liked romance, but not quite that much.

...more

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Jan 17, 2010 Kat (A Journey In Reading) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-books, read-in-2010, historical-fiction, wwii, favorites

The Bronze Horseman is a story that takes place as the bombing of Russia in WWII begins. Throughout the story you become mesmerized by the war torn Leningrad, the starvation that the people endure, and the fear of being taken out of their homes. You are entranced by the relationship between 17 yr old Tatiana and Alexander who is an officer in the Red Army. The story is one of growth, strength, courage and love. I was completely blown away by this book. Even at its large size I finished it under ...more

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Jul 05, 2014 Karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-chunky-book-challenge

The Bronze Horseman is an epic love story born out of the tragedy of Hitler's Operation Barbarossa (invasion of Russia). Paulina Simons is a wonderful writer, and a good story teller, but I just didn't love this book. I think it just has too much romance in the story, and I am not a huge fan of romance. I did love the historical and literary references in the book. I would recommend this to someone who loves historical romances. ...more

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