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bridgetwf's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written! Maybe not the best book in the world but I really enjoyed it.
nicolebonia's review against another edition
5.0
The Little Russian by Susan Sherman is the story of the self-absorbed and dauntless Berta Alshonsky, a The Little Russian Readings: The Little Russian by Susan Sherman,The Death of Bees by Lisa ODonnell, The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiroyoung Ukrainian woman coming of age at the turn of the century in Moscow, Russia, and Ukraine- known as Little Russia. Chosen to live with wealthy relatives as a companion to their daughter, she is unceremoniously returned to her life as grocer’s daughter in Mosny under the guise of time off to to visit her family. Unhappy and unaccustomed to her old way of life, she flouts traditions and holds herself apart, an outsider in the town, until she marries Hershel Alshonsky, and achieves something approximating the life she once led. However, Hershel’s covert activities to arm Jewish citizens against frequent and unpredictable pogroms threatens the life they’ve built and the understanding in their marriage.
Alshonsky is not and easy character to like but I loved her and her story. She has her own ideas about life and she never backs away from what she wants and how she want to live despite the fact that many of her choices aren’t backed by others’ vision or common sense. Berta grows through hardship but she does so in a way that is true to the core of who she is. Sherman is an excellent writer, and though Berta’s point of view is dominant throughout, key chapters with other characters give greater background to the history of the Jews in Ukraine, and their tenuous relationship with Russian peasants over several wars and regime changes. Sherman will suck you into the story, and place you firmly in the romance, and the terror of the time. A gorgeous treat for historical fiction lovers, and not to be missed, but this holds especially true if you are enamored of Russian history. Highly Recommended. Seriously.
Alshonsky is not and easy character to like but I loved her and her story. She has her own ideas about life and she never backs away from what she wants and how she want to live despite the fact that many of her choices aren’t backed by others’ vision or common sense. Berta grows through hardship but she does so in a way that is true to the core of who she is. Sherman is an excellent writer, and though Berta’s point of view is dominant throughout, key chapters with other characters give greater background to the history of the Jews in Ukraine, and their tenuous relationship with Russian peasants over several wars and regime changes. Sherman will suck you into the story, and place you firmly in the romance, and the terror of the time. A gorgeous treat for historical fiction lovers, and not to be missed, but this holds especially true if you are enamored of Russian history. Highly Recommended. Seriously.
denishaskin's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn't say it was compelling, but I did pretty much read it straight through without diversions to other books or magazines, so I guess I liked it!
desirosie's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up off the new releases shelf because I didn't have time to go looking for a book that was on my to-read list. I've found some fantastic books that way, but this one left me feeling "meh." The setting was fascinating and the book was well-written, but I just couldn't identify/sympathize with the main character enough to care, so I just plodded along with her to see how it all ended up.
pmg227's review against another edition
4.0
This book was sad; sometimes more than sad as it told of pogroms in Russia in the early 20th century. But the strong character of Berta Alshonsky makes the story as she goes from wealth to poverty; from happiness to heartache; always determining to keep going and do what she can to save her family.
leighnonymous's review against another edition
4.0
I knew going into this book that things weren't going to go well for the main character; she was a Jewish girl in Russia in WWI. That's why I wanted to read this, though - that's a part of history that I don't know that much about. Everyone knows about the treatment of Jews in and around Europe in WWII but what was going on in Russia 30-40 years earlier? This novel will certainly drive that revelation home.
I liked Berta from the beginning, very concerned with rising above her birth circumstances to become the person she believed she was meant to be. The girl had ambition and didn't like to be judged based on how she was born.
As the novel progressed, I saw the same Berta severely humbled into relying on everything that made her a self-made woman (minus the money). She never compromised her principles and did manage to keep her head up despite some pretty grave situations.
By the end, I came to realize something about Berta that she seemed to realize at the same time about herself: she can't deny from where (and from whom) she came; who she is, is a little cairn of people and events and attributes - she arranges those beneath her but she may not remove any of them.
Exhausting read but worth it. As historical fiction goes, this one is sweeping.
I liked Berta from the beginning, very concerned with rising above her birth circumstances to become the person she believed she was meant to be. The girl had ambition and didn't like to be judged based on how she was born.
As the novel progressed, I saw the same Berta severely humbled into relying on everything that made her a self-made woman (minus the money). She never compromised her principles and did manage to keep her head up despite some pretty grave situations.
By the end, I came to realize something about Berta that she seemed to realize at the same time about herself: she can't deny from where (and from whom) she came; who she is, is a little cairn of people and events and attributes - she arranges those beneath her but she may not remove any of them.
Exhausting read but worth it. As historical fiction goes, this one is sweeping.
mimima's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting history, but I found the book to be an unsatisfying read. The main character was often unlikable and scenes would build to a climax and then end without resolution and the next chapter would pick up a few months later.
laharder's review against another edition
3.25
A young Jewish woman in prewar Russia has high aspirations for herself and her life. She initially achieves them then her life is destroyed by the war. She ends up reunited with her husband in the US. Decent
abookishaffair's review
4.0
Since visiting Ukraine two summers ago (I went to visit a friend in the Peace Corps and on top of that, my ancestors were from there as well so my visit was really for two purposes), my affinity for reading about all things Ukrainian, Russian, and Soviet Union has really grown so I was excited to dig into this book merely because of the setting. What I found within the pages, was so much more than just a setting!
The setting itself was very intriguing. It really made me understand why my great, great grandparents left the country (interestingly enough, they probably would have been making their way to the U.S. via Canada when this book opens up). Ukraine was not the happiest place to be in the early 20th century. Sherman captures so much of the country. You can see the little stores in Mosny. You can see the fields. You feel like you're there!
Even though it took awhile, I really ended up liking the character of Berta. Berta kind of rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning. At a young age, she goes to live in glamorous Moscow with a rich family as sort of a companion for her cousin and pretty much thinks the world of herself when she comes back to her small town in Ukraine for what she thinks is just a visit back home. I didn't like how stuck up she was and how she wanted to try and pretend that she was from some place else. She marries a man who intrigues her with his mysteriousness, which proves to truly be a double edged sword, as he is engaged in some illegal activities. Fortunately (perhaps unfortunately) for Berta, she learns a little humility but only after she makes a dumb decision to stay behind in a war torn country with all of her worldly possessions (bright, she is not sometimes). But eventually she wises up and grows. I love, love, love when you can see changes in a character over time. You really feel like she is growing and maturing.
This book will be fascinating to history lovers. It focuses on what the newly formed Soviet Union was like before religion was essentially removed. Many of the characters are Jewish, a religion that was definitely villified under Soviet rule. Sherman does a great job of capturing the crazy amount of chaos that there was in this rapidly changing environment
The setting itself was very intriguing. It really made me understand why my great, great grandparents left the country (interestingly enough, they probably would have been making their way to the U.S. via Canada when this book opens up). Ukraine was not the happiest place to be in the early 20th century. Sherman captures so much of the country. You can see the little stores in Mosny. You can see the fields. You feel like you're there!
Even though it took awhile, I really ended up liking the character of Berta. Berta kind of rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning. At a young age, she goes to live in glamorous Moscow with a rich family as sort of a companion for her cousin and pretty much thinks the world of herself when she comes back to her small town in Ukraine for what she thinks is just a visit back home. I didn't like how stuck up she was and how she wanted to try and pretend that she was from some place else. She marries a man who intrigues her with his mysteriousness, which proves to truly be a double edged sword, as he is engaged in some illegal activities. Fortunately (perhaps unfortunately) for Berta, she learns a little humility but only after she makes a dumb decision to stay behind in a war torn country with all of her worldly possessions (bright, she is not sometimes). But eventually she wises up and grows. I love, love, love when you can see changes in a character over time. You really feel like she is growing and maturing.
This book will be fascinating to history lovers. It focuses on what the newly formed Soviet Union was like before religion was essentially removed. Many of the characters are Jewish, a religion that was definitely villified under Soviet rule. Sherman does a great job of capturing the crazy amount of chaos that there was in this rapidly changing environment