SPOILER ALERT: I have just started The Bronze Horseman from Paullina Simons!
OK - so I just started The Bronze Horseman. They have just made the announcement about Germany attacking...and Tatiana's family is wondering whether to send her brother away to avoid him being taken.
Can somebody please give me some mentoring here? Because I am kindof bored (ducks). And I'm assuming it'll get better and I know there's romance...but right now I'm a little "meh"...and I need someone to say "Nooooo...keep reading...it gets awesome." Gracias.
PS - Just for the record - I never felt this way about Outlander. I admit, early on you're a little "OK...yeah...mmm hmmm" but I love Scotland, so I was pretty into it immediately.
POST SCRIPT: Years later, this post makes me giggle. Not only did I LOVE The Bronze Horseman trilogy (and prequel(s))...but I have a blog for that, too. :) ENJOY!
OK - so I just started The Bronze Horseman. They have just made the announcement about Germany attacking...and Tatiana's family is wondering whether to send her brother away to avoid him being taken.
Can somebody please give me some mentoring here? Because I am kindof bored (ducks). And I'm assuming it'll get better and I know there's romance...but right now I'm a little "meh"...and I need someone to say "Nooooo...keep reading...it gets awesome." Gracias.
PS - Just for the record - I never felt this way about Outlander. I admit, early on you're a little "OK...yeah...mmm hmmm" but I love Scotland, so I was pretty into it immediately.
POST SCRIPT: Years later, this post makes me giggle. Not only did I LOVE The Bronze Horseman trilogy (and prequel(s))...but I have a blog for that, too. :) ENJOY!
Well... I loved the book so I would definitely say hang in there, it gets better. But better is not... happier... always. Do you know the story of Leningrad? I am big on WWII history, and knew about the Eastern Front before reading this. It's a great story and felt very "Russian" to me having been there 3 times for work. You're still very early in the book IIRC, it picks up quickly.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely keep reading. I finished all three in less than a month and can't get them out of my mind. Russia becomes alive during the war and Alexander and Tatiana . It's an amazing love story, a love triangle, with many twists and turns. This is a series you can read over and over again.
DeleteKEEP GOING!!!!!!! TRUST ME!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the first part is a wee bit confusing. I'll give ya that. But seriously, it picks up RIGHT away. Honest. Tatiana goes on a very interesting shopping trip...........oooohhhhhhhh!!
I'll do a reread (again). I'm sooooooo excited you finally picked this book!! Yeah!!
Carol I am with you, I just got it from the lib and I am kinda bored too. I know I need to give it a chance - I will try.
ReplyDeleteYippee!!!! I am super excited you are finally getting to TBH!
ReplyDeleteAs the others have said it will definately pick up soon and will suck you in.
True it is not a warm and fuzzy happy story (but not many stories about WWII are happy) but there is emotion, romance and steamy goodness. Then again Outlander is not always sappy love and goo and we still LOVED IT!
Please blog more about TBH. How about My TBH Purgatory? :) You'll wish you did.
JenniferTN
Carol - I tried to get into TBH and put it down...even tho it got rave reviews.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Pamela Clare's Surrender yet? It's the only book ever that I say even remotely comes close to the impact of Outlander. Try it - trust me on this one.
I've said it before: snoozer of a book. I was not impressed. But, to each their own...
ReplyDeleteMeant to say - I think one of you read "Unbroken"? I'm reading that now, and if you haven't, its esp. cool if you've read "Leaf on All Hallows"! I think Unbroken would make an awesome movie, too. Any plans for that?
ReplyDeleteYup, I read "Unbroken" and LOVED it--and yes, it totally gives you great insight into what life was like for Jerry Mac... ;-) Looks like Universal has optioned it for a film, but still too early for much more news that that.
ReplyDeleteAnd in other book news, I finished "Shanghai Girls" for book club--MEH. Let's just say it starts out really strong but finishes way weakly, IMO. Am also slogging my way through "Clan of the Cave Bear"--I'll tell you, if one of those caves doesn't see some action soon, I'm drop-kicking the book out the window!
As for Bronze Horseman--it's sitting on the shelf waiting for me to start it, along with Discovery of Witches....
Tracey .. You have to read Discovery of Witches!! I just started Sunday afternoon and really like it so far. The Bronze Horseman is next on my list. There are at least 20 books on my reading list for this summer!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I'm so happy that you're finally reading this!! In fact, I'm rereading it again (4th time), just put it down a minute ago. Just read on a little further, the action picks up momentarily. The love stuff is hot, but the historical aspect is just as interesting. It was a real eye opener to experience life under Stalin during WWII.
ReplyDeleteCarol: Keep going. Trust me. Please.
ReplyDeleteEveryone else: STOP TRYING TO TALK CAROL OUT OF READING THIS BOOK!
Yes, there are lots of other awesome books for us all to read but Carol needs TBH... she needs it like meat needs salt.
Again. Please. Trust me.
Oh Carol, you have no idea how lucky you are to be discovering Tatiana and Alexander! I love "under promise overdeliver" as a guideline, so I don't want to talk it up to much.
ReplyDeleteThis book is NOT a Discovery of Witches. This is not even a Lord John type of thing. This is a fully formed epic storyline with believable characters, beautiful epic writing (cheeses it on sometime but i grew to love it!).
I'm SO with Christie. There are many books out there but rare is the series that compares to Outlander for addictiveness, a badass heroine, equally badass hero, and historical backdrop of epic proportions. I hope you stick with it through book one - read it slowly, there are only three books in the series and unlike Outlander no more to come :-) Enjoy......
PS, my word verfication to post this comment is Rogie.... RogerMac on the brain, are we, Blogger comment moderator?
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ReplyDeleteOK crap, totally didn't hew to my Under promise, Over deliver guideline :-(.
ReplyDeleteHere's a cooler more low-profile response:
Oh Carol, you're reading TBH? I think you'll like it, I did. It's a'ight....
NOOOO!!! It gets better... keep reading!!!! How's that? :)
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way for about the first 25 pages, then it picked up and just got better and better. You definitely need to give it a chance. Please. I've read this book a bazillion times.
I read Outlander right afterwards and I kept picking up TBH instead because I couldn't get into Jamie and Claire!! I know, shocking! It took me about 70 Outlander pages, before I could push Alexander out of my head and let Jamie in. However, they are very different characters, and it's a very different story. Try not to compare. You have to let the story unfold.
Paullina does have a dark, Russian soul. I loved the history.
I would advise everyone, if you love Scotland, you have to read the 44 Scotland Street Series by Alexander mcCall Smith. I adore this series as much as-don't hate me-Outalnder.
ReplyDeleteWow, some strong reactions here! Looks like I know what my next book will be after I finish this Cleopatra biography!
ReplyDelete(BTW, I'm FINALLY rekilting for the first time! Though I'm beginning with Echo, since my sister is reading it for the first time. I'm enjoying it so much more, now that I've read all of the LJ series!)
You must keep reading, Carol. You simply must. This was one of those books (along with Outlander and DiA) that caused me to stop eating for 2 days while I absolutely lost myself in it!
ReplyDeleteI agree, you should blog a bit as you read it. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about Alexander. I sort of have a love/hate thing with him.
Had to come to the rescue Carol. PLEASE PLEASE push forward. If after the first 50 pages or so you don't find it's gripped you, then I have no hope for your soul! Trust. It's a historical romance like no other.
ReplyDeleteI am reading Game of Thrones. Really, really good. Haven't read The Bronze Horseman - but I might try it after reading some of the comments.
ReplyDeleteI love you guys. I seriously do. Those of you who dig the book - and those who don't. You guys all came to my RESCUE on this! Thank you SO MUCH! :)
ReplyDelete@Nelson-n-Pam Me, too! Listening, actually. It is good! I could get into a Game of Thrones Purgatory...much to discuss, hint hint.
ReplyDeleteDid you push forward with it yet Carol? Would love to hear your opinion once things pick up.
ReplyDeleteYes, what is your verdict???????
ReplyDeleteadventures north,
did you read the whole book? It is a looooong, beautiful-brick-of-a-book. And you read the one by Paullina Simons, right? Not Pushkin? Sorry, it just baffles my mind that an Outlander fan would not fall head-over-heels for Tatiana and Alexander. My universe no longer makes sense.............
Keep going Carol! I understand what you mean about the beginning. I actually checked it out from the library and only read about the first 20 pages or so, lost interest, and took it back. A few months later I tried again. I'm SO glad I did. Wonderful epic love story. The details about WWII-era Russia are some of the most heartbreaking I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteSo keep going girl! You'll be blogging about making Russian blinchiki and cabbage pie in no time;)
~Beth
dedamce - just ordered (used) the first in 44 Scotland Street series since you say you enjoyed it so much - looking forward to it!
ReplyDelete@JenniferJ, I'm sorry, but I did read the whole book. I suppose that we probably all like Outlander for different reasons - maybe some like the history, some the prose, some the romance, some the medicinal portions, some the storyline etc. (OK, we're all there for Jamie, though, right? Ah-ha!, common ground!) So, I'm guessing that BH taps into a common vein with Outlander that wasn't the main pull for me. The characters and writing style never grabbed me. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just commiserating with Carol's 1st impressions. Its a great thing to love a book, and kudos to the author for making that magic for so many people.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePS, Tracey, re: Clan of the, i think it picks up when good ol' Jondalar makes an appearance - ahem :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd Anonymous up above - totally with you on the blinchiki and cabbage pie :-)! Ah, the blinchiki!
Sirena I don't know where your comment went, but THANK THE GOOD LORD. OMG, I was afraid Ayla was going to be 8 forever. LOOOOOOOORRRRRD THE CHILDHOOD.
ReplyDeleteOh, there it is! :-)
ReplyDeleteCarol, what's happening? Have you read any more?
ReplyDeleteLOL- had to add on about the blinchiki and other russian food I never thought I'd be interested in before TBH came on the scene.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teen reader :-) Jondalar seemed quite the fellow :-)
Before Jamie and Alexander, of course...
ReplyDeleteSirena,
ReplyDeleteyou have a way with words!! Do you have "Tatiana's Table" yet? It's a MUST for Alexander and Tatiana fans.
adventures north,
you didn't rain on anyone's parade. I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. Ha. I think I may understand what you are talking about. I feel like the only person in the world who couldn't get past 51%(Kindle) of "Pillars of the Earth". A major contributing factor could have been that I had just finished Echo (read all 7 DG novels in succession) And really, nothing holds a candle to those......But after reading the Compuserve discussion on "Pillars, etc." I at least understand _why_ I just couldn't get into it. (even though everyone else I know loooooved it).
Hildy,
I'm assuming it takes time for Carol to create a BH blog. Hee hee. Goodness knows she will have quite a following..........
I really want to read Tatiana's Table. I need to just finally order it. I've read snippets though.
ReplyDeletePaullina has some interesting stuff on her FB page today. :)
I enjoyed Pillars but definitely no where near Outlander and TBH.
@ Hildy, Read Paullina's news yesterday.. It's exciting, but I really don't think I like those characters but it will be interesting to read their development.
ReplyDeleteI understand that you are having trouble reading TBH. I wanted to really like it since so many Outlander fans gave it good reviews. I got about 3/4 of the way through and gave up. I just didn't care what happened next.
ReplyDeleteSince there's no TBH Purgatory (yet :-)?) I wanted to be sure to check in and keep cheering you along, Carol! I think that if it "clicks" it's going to be a major click and you'll want to read anything you can about the book :-)
ReplyDeleteThus, am including a link to a great NYT article on the White Nights of St. Petersburg - something I never thought would be at the top of my travel list but thanks to TBH is pretty high up there! if TBH works for you, you'll be wanting to stroll along the banks of the river Neva someday too :-)
http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/travel/russias-white-nights-in-st-petersburg.html?src=me&ref=general
@Erin, those characters wouldn't be my first choices for a book but I bet it's going to be wonderful. I'm so looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteRe. Follet - I, too, read Pillars...all of Pillars...and felt every stone of that cathederal. I never fell in love with the characters. I did like his Man from St. Petersburg, though, so maybe you who are on a Russian kick would find it worth the read?
ReplyDeleteI just started "Caleb's Crossing" and its very good so far! (historical fiction, colonial America)
IT'S HERE!!!!!! BH PURGATORY IS HERE!!!!
ReplyDeleteJennifer J.