What did I think about this book? Grrr. I love books that mesh history with fiction to bring historical events to life, and in some ways this book accomplished that. I learned things I didn't know about the Russian Revolution, and the story was engaging, especially toward the end (it starts off a bit slowly). But it proclaims itself to be based on the true story of the only LDS family living in Russia during this time. The problem is, it's not really about them. It jumps around a lot, but it's focused on a fictional character who knows and is influenced by this family, and we don't get to know the family as well as I would have liked. Also, the author frequently twists historical fact to make it fit her story, especially in regards to the activities and fates of some of the real characters. Yes there's always some speculation in historical fiction, but that's not the same as throwing out the truth and then giving the real story in the footnotes (which I found distracting and would have preferred at the end anyway). Still, reading this as straight historical fiction, it makes for decent, uplifting story; its real weakness was trying to make the LDS characters more involved with all the grand events than they really were, and not developing their characters very deeply. This is a great historically based novel that tells of the first LDS family in Russia and the trials they go through living in Russia during the First World War and the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution. I love history but have never really gotten into Russian history. Not only did I love this book because of the characters and their examples of faith in trials, but it should a real-life version of this time in Russia and has made me want to learn more about Russian history.
Do You like book The Silence Of God (2010)?
Important history, but got bogged down by the detail. I wish it moved along faster.
—oddgrlout56
I give up. 40 pages. Life's too short to read badly written novels.
—Raffy
What an absolutely fabulous book. Worth the read.
—oopy
