The book I just finished, Lost Roses: A Novel, is getting a lot of attention as the prequel to Lilac Girls, both by Martha Hall Kelly. Thanks to NetGalley I got access to this book in advance, and I’m ready to tell you more about it.
I liked this book though I had a couple of issues with it. Perhaps my expectations going in were a bit off, so I hope to help out with that in this post (for your future enjoyment). I do think it’s worth reading!
I knew this book had “something to do” with Lilac Girls but note it is a prequel not a sequel, meaning it “happened before” in time. Lilac Girls was set during WWII, so I was still associating this new novel with WWII. But it’s actually set after WWI and leading up to and during the Russian Revolution where the Bolsheviks overthrew the Tsar and terrorized and killed the royals (known as the white Russians). While reading this new book, I thought a lot about Animal Farm by George Orwell which I haven’t read for decades but has a strongly memorable theme.
Like Lilac Girls there are three perspectives, one from the United States, and two others (on opposite sides) that cross paths in Europe.
At first I found this book a bit hard to follow because I have not read much else in this setting, so it took more mental energy to process. Eventually (maybe half way through) I settled in and became invested in the story and appreciated learning more about this time and place in history. Actually one of my favorite books ever is set after and as a result of this part of history.
There are some other interesting intersections specifically Alva Vanderbilt makes an appearance, who has been in two other recent reads.
My other issue with the book besides having a confusing start (for me) is that some of the romantic relationships seemed unrealistic and too quickly formed. But all in all it is a solid read, and I would recommend picking it up.
Although it is a serious and disturbing topic and setting I want to move from that to finish off with some lighter information I picked up from the book:
“You know, in Russia we have a name for a friend you make while drinking vodka.
“‘Very drunk,” as I am now?
Nancy laughed, her eyes bright with tears. “No. ‘Sobutylnik’ is the word.”
from lost roses by martha hall kelly
If you choose to read this book I’d love to know what you think!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
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