Nikolaevsk-on-Amur was a peaceful, frozen hamlet in Eastern Siberia, isolated from the rest of Russia and its political unrest. Until the winter of 1920, when Bolsheviks found their way into the town, arresting opposition party members, business owners, foreigners, and Jews. This idyllic village was suddenly turned into a war zone. Ilya, a well-known and respected newspaper editor and lawyer is among those arrested and imprisoned, leaving his wife, Luba, alone to defend the lives of their young children and that of his mother.
Luba’s story is nothing short of heroic as she finds her life of comfort and privilege turned upside down when her home is billeted by Bolshevik invaders, making a mess of the home and laying waste to her family’s winter provisions. Seeking help from what friends remain to her, she is forced to hide her family in pigsties, an opium den, and an abandoned warehouse.
This work of historical fiction is based on the author’s own family history. The fictional character, Luba, was based on her grandmother, who survived the Russian revolution.
Luba’s tenacity and resourcefulness are really incredible. Living in a household with her domineering mother-in-law, who still very much takes charge of the day to day running of their household, with the assistance of servants who are tasked with preparing meals, cleaning, and caring for her children, Luba is able to live something of a charmed life. Her transition in the wake of the Bolsheviks invading her town and her home, is really remarkable. When faced with such challenging circumstances, she shows unbelievable strength.
I’ll close by saying I enjoyed the author’s use of vivid imagery and careful attention to historical accuracy. This is well-worth adding to your reading list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the August Short Story Feature Contest. The winning entry is: Becoming Italian…Or Trying To by Kyra Robinov A native New Yorker, Kyra is an author and lyricist. Her first novel Red Winter was inspired by the true story of her family and their escape from Red partisans…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
April Short Story Feature One of the highlights of my tenure as a member of Toastmasters was coordinating a Murder Mystery theme meeting. Keeping members engaged and motivated to continue working toward their goals can be a challenge. So in an effort to liven things up a bit, I worked with a few other members …
Attention writers! This month's short story contest theme is: A Short Story Inspired by Your Career Entries must be received by midnight April 24th, cst. Selected stories will be featured during the month of October. Read on for further guidelines. Short Story Contest Guidelines Stories are to be 1,500 to 3,000 words. All genres welcome. …
Read Along with Me This week, I'm looking forward to enjoying a pair of thrillers. The first is a spy thriller, The Man in the Corduroy Suit. Author James Wolff draws on his own experience working in the British government for this series. And my second selection, The Hand that Feeds You by Mercedes Rosende, …
Attention writers! This month's short story contest theme is: A Short Story Inspired by Your Career Entries must be received by midnight April 24th, cst. Selected stories will be featured during the month of October. Read on for further guidelines. Short Story Contest Guidelines Stories are to be 1,500 to 3,000 words. All genres welcome. …
Are you enjoying the interviews, book reviews, and short story features? All of this is offered at no cost to the authors I work with. Please help me keep it free by making a contribution. Thank you for your support!