Welcome to Litsy!

This one has been staring at me from my shelves for several years and I finally read it! I really enjoyed the Cold War setting as well as the dual storylines in both the US and Russia. I did find it a little uneven, dragging in places, so it‘s a low pick for me. And look at the pretty surprise under the jacket!

The story of three women: the famous mistress of B. Pasternak, the author of Dr Zhivago; a typist at the CIA and a WW2 courier asked to serve again. Each is constrained by the mores of the times and each has an outsized impact on a masterpiece. There is a lot to like about this novel that reminds us of Olga‘s sacrifices for Pasternak and how US women were in the room and in the field during the Cold War. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whaaaaa?! I never win anything! And now this too (I also won the #cbbc bingo 😄😄)

Yay!! (And my chosen book) 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽

#ReesesBookClub

I can see why Reece picked this book. It is full of strong female characters. The structure and pacing made it difficult to understand who was who, plus some characters were never named. But once I got used to it, I flew through it. In fact the structure, pacing, and no-named characters were perfect for a spy novel. I also ate beef stroganoff but forgot to take a picture. I want to re-read Doctor Zhivago now. #foodandlit @Texreader @Butterfinger

Spy thriller? Not really. Romance? Almost. I never took the time afterwards to research how much of the story framework of how [ Doctor Zhivago ] came to be published in the West, but it was fascinating to have this demi-romance wrapped up in that tale.

#MuseumPlaceBookGroup
#HistoricalFiction
#Spies

The audiobook kick continues...I‘m liking this book more than I did Doctor Zhivago! The book and its author are at the center of the story. I liked the 1965 movie, but the book was another matter. I‘ve read very little Russian lit, but I think it‘s possible that it‘s just not for me. I‘m liking the narration, but it took me some time to realize that there are 3 perspectives, not just 2. Perhaps that wouldn‘t have happened with a physical book.

My #bookspin selections for June

Bailed on the last one... this one hooked me from the get go

Finished this audiobook yesterday, and I loved it. Really enjoyed Lara Prescott‘s writing. She invested me in these characters. If I had any gripe, it‘s that I want to learn more of these characters‘ lives beyond the espionage and intrigue surrounding the novel DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. Irina‘s character blindsided me with how much I liked her, and I‘d love to read her later adventures. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holy crap. That might just be one of the best prologues I‘ve ever read. Lara Prescott does an amazing job establishing the setting, the tone, the rules, and even some of the dominos you know she‘s just waiting to topple. And technically, not a damn thing happens in this prologue. Wow!

I had this on hold from my library on Libby, so I was super excited when I finally was able to read this. I ended up enjoying the part of the book that took place in Russia more than the stateside spy story. Olga‘s story gets way more resolution than Irina does. I thought it was clever the way the chapter titles were used to emphasize the character development through the novel. Now I just want to read Dr. Zhivago!

#BookGaydar

The writing of doctor zhivago. The author and his mistress‘s love story interspersed with the story of two typists who work for the cia during the Cold War when the book is being written.

My final read of 2019 was one of my favorites of the year. I loved this spy novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book! Secrets and spies and Soviet work camps and the power of poetry to hearts, minds, and the world. A book for book lovers and spy lovers alike!

Returned four library books and came out with three. Progress? #libraryhaul #library

Wow! What a month. Here‘s a look back at what I read in September. I know it looks like a lot but several of them were Amazon or Audible short stories. My favorite was The Secrets We Kept. I would recommend that book to everyone.

Based on true events, this is the story of Typists turned CIA operatives during the Cold War with Russia. These brave women had one mission: “to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dare publish it, and help Pasternak‘s magnum opus make its way into print around the world.” Pasternak‘s own story is as intriguing and romantic as his fictional creation. I absolutely have to read Doctor Zhivago again after reading this! 5-stars

Based on the real person, Boris Pasternak, this is a possible story of how the famous novel, Dr Zhivago was smuggled out of the Soviet Union.

https://orlando-books.blog/2019/09/12/the-secrets-we-kept-by-lara-prescott-book-...

Reese's September bookclub pick