moirwyn's review
5.0
For a full review, see:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/the-mirrored-world-by-debra-dean/
Just some brief notes here, especially since nobody's really talked about this book on Goodreads yet. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"The Mirrored World" tells the story of Xenia, a Russian Orthodox saint renowned for her charity to the poor. The story is told from the perspective of her cousin Dasha and recounts their entry into Petersburg society. Xenia falls in love and marries, but when a tragedy strikes she begins to descend into madness. The historical detail in this novel is wonderful, highlighting the excesses of the court while telling the story of a saint.
Highly recommended.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/the-mirrored-world-by-debra-dean/
Just some brief notes here, especially since nobody's really talked about this book on Goodreads yet. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"The Mirrored World" tells the story of Xenia, a Russian Orthodox saint renowned for her charity to the poor. The story is told from the perspective of her cousin Dasha and recounts their entry into Petersburg society. Xenia falls in love and marries, but when a tragedy strikes she begins to descend into madness. The historical detail in this novel is wonderful, highlighting the excesses of the court while telling the story of a saint.
Highly recommended.
brittwake22's review
2.0
Thought the description of the book was misleading in the fact it said it was all about St. Xenia and her life as a saint of the poor and unfortunate, however the book really focuses on her cousins outlook and her life more than i felt it portrayed Xenia.
skigirl1689's review
2.0
This was a quick read; I read it in about 3 hours. It was well written, but I found it weird that it was marketed as being about St. Xenia, a most-revered Russian saint, but it focuses on her cousin's life that intersects with Xenia's. I found the novel moved way too fast, spanning the narrator's lifetime in 256 pages. I found myself pretty lost in the first third of the novel, not sure why the cousins' childhoods were relevant to the rest of the novel.
The novel does raise the question if St. Xenia went insane after she lost her husband, feeling burdened to give the poor all of her earthly possessions for a life on the streets, or if she was inspired by God to do this. I'd like to think it was the latter, but I am not sure.
The novel does raise the question if St. Xenia went insane after she lost her husband, feeling burdened to give the poor all of her earthly possessions for a life on the streets, or if she was inspired by God to do this. I'd like to think it was the latter, but I am not sure.
lazygal's review
3.0
Prior to reading this, I knew nothing about St. Xenia (she's not a "character" in Massie's Catherine the Great), so this was my introduction to her.
As historical fiction goes, this is well done. There are enough elements to set the time and place, while the political scene is touched on lightly, with references to the King of Sweden and other foreign rulers to reinforce the timing. Because this was an ARC, I don't know if there will be more information included about the succession - it got confusing as to who ruled when (we start with Empress Anna and end with Catherine, having gone through Elizabeth and - briefly Emperor Peter II).
At first we're in the sweep of the court life, with Xenia and Daria (her cousin, through whose eyes we see the events) attending balls in order to attract husbands. Xenia marries a singer, her "nightingale", and has problems conceiving. She eventually does give birth but within a few months the daughter dies, throwing Xenia into a depression. This depression only worsens when her husband dies in a freak accident, hitting his head on some steps. She emerges from her semi-catatonic state to start playing the role of "holy fool", giving everything - even, literally, the clothes off her back - to the poor of St. Petersburg, and developing a reputation for healing and prophecy.
The role of "holy fool" in Russian Orthodox life is not going to be that easy for those unfamiliar with the religion to understand. Likewise the role of serfs in the daily life of upper class Russians. Little Russia is mentioned, but I didn't know it was Ukraine until I looked it up. And then there's Gaspari, clearly a castrati but not named as such (he's called a musico, which may not have the same meaning to readers) Again, these things may be covered in additional material in the final book.
What will stay with me is the overwhelming sense of loss that Xenia feels, and how that loss turns to a holy madness.
ARC provided by publisher.
As historical fiction goes, this is well done. There are enough elements to set the time and place, while the political scene is touched on lightly, with references to the King of Sweden and other foreign rulers to reinforce the timing. Because this was an ARC, I don't know if there will be more information included about the succession - it got confusing as to who ruled when (we start with Empress Anna and end with Catherine, having gone through Elizabeth and - briefly Emperor Peter II).
At first we're in the sweep of the court life, with Xenia and Daria (her cousin, through whose eyes we see the events) attending balls in order to attract husbands. Xenia marries a singer, her "nightingale", and has problems conceiving. She eventually does give birth but within a few months the daughter dies, throwing Xenia into a depression. This depression only worsens when her husband dies in a freak accident, hitting his head on some steps. She emerges from her semi-catatonic state to start playing the role of "holy fool", giving everything - even, literally, the clothes off her back - to the poor of St. Petersburg, and developing a reputation for healing and prophecy.
The role of "holy fool" in Russian Orthodox life is not going to be that easy for those unfamiliar with the religion to understand. Likewise the role of serfs in the daily life of upper class Russians. Little Russia is mentioned, but I didn't know it was Ukraine until I looked it up. And then there's Gaspari, clearly a castrati but not named as such (he's called a musico, which may not have the same meaning to readers) Again, these things may be covered in additional material in the final book.
What will stay with me is the overwhelming sense of loss that Xenia feels, and how that loss turns to a holy madness.
ARC provided by publisher.
libkatem's review
3.0
I don't know that much about Orthodox saints, and I had never heard of St. Xenia, but the period of time in which she lived... I am very familiar. It's pretty much the rise and rule of Catherine the Great. This time period is told through the eyes of Xenia's cousin, Dasha. What this book contains is a look at Russian life just outside the Court, a glimpse at what faith and mental illness might mean in 18th century St Petersburg.
I didn't find this to be as strong as The Madonnas of Leningrad but there is a quiet sort of urgency that compels the reader from beginning to end.
I didn't find this to be as strong as The Madonnas of Leningrad but there is a quiet sort of urgency that compels the reader from beginning to end.
diannel_04's review
5.0
Rich and spoiled Xenia has everything she could want in life and more. When her beloved husband dies in freak accident she gives up all her worldly possessions to the poor. After giving her house to her cousin, the story's narrator, she goes to live with them as well. There she becomes what is known as a holy fool, a transient blessed with the second sight.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
necessitteem's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! I found it much more engaging and atmospheric than Debra Dean’s other book, The Madonnas of Leningrad. I loved how real this story felt and I love how connected I became to the characters. Such a lovely book!
vicki_s's review
5.0
This books is beautiful. The pace is so intense and I was so moved by the second half of Dasha's story. Watching the life of the saint descend into grief fueled madness or the embrace of divinity was so raw, I'm glad it was from an outside perspective. That was intense enough for me.
beckylej's review
3.0
Dasha and her cousin Xenia were raised together almost like sisters. Now, all grown up, Dasha recounts their life together.
Xenia was like any other child -- almost. She had an uncanny prescience, sometimes able to predict certain things simply based on her dreams. When she met and fell madly in love with Andrei, her life seemed complete. They longed for children and when they finally conceived it seemed as though Xenia would have everything she dreamed. Life had other plans. Tragedy struck and Xenia retreated into herself. Dasha tried desperately to help, but when Xenia finally emerged she became fixated on helping those in need, finally giving away all of her possessions. She would disappear from Dasha's life only to be discovered wandering the most destitute area of the city, clothed in her husband's uniform and spouting predictions and helping those around her.
Like THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD, THE MIRRORED WORLD as historical fiction is fantastic. The images of eighteenth century Russia -- especially the whims and excesses of the royal family -- are fascinating and richly portrayed. But, again like MADONNAS, I found Xenia and Dasha's story very sad.
Perhaps it's something that comes with age. I can recall as a teen being utterly disappointed in coming to the end of GONE WITH THE WIND (the movie). By the time I was in my twenties I'd gone from loathing it to adoring it. Similarly, while both MADONNAS and MIRRORED WORLD deal with undoubtedly woeful subjects, I can see how the stories would be considered less melancholy by other readers. By the end of MIRRORED WORLD Xenia herself is in a much more peaceful, if not outright happy, place and I think even Dasha has come to appreciate this as well.
All that said, I kind of wish that MIRRORED WORLD had been about twice as long as it actually was. It's a very slim read -- and a quick one at that. I would have loved for parts of the story to have been fleshed out more. By the the end of the story everything wraps up very quickly. In truth, Catherine's fear of Xenia is barely touched on at all.
Xenia was like any other child -- almost. She had an uncanny prescience, sometimes able to predict certain things simply based on her dreams. When she met and fell madly in love with Andrei, her life seemed complete. They longed for children and when they finally conceived it seemed as though Xenia would have everything she dreamed. Life had other plans. Tragedy struck and Xenia retreated into herself. Dasha tried desperately to help, but when Xenia finally emerged she became fixated on helping those in need, finally giving away all of her possessions. She would disappear from Dasha's life only to be discovered wandering the most destitute area of the city, clothed in her husband's uniform and spouting predictions and helping those around her.
Like THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD, THE MIRRORED WORLD as historical fiction is fantastic. The images of eighteenth century Russia -- especially the whims and excesses of the royal family -- are fascinating and richly portrayed. But, again like MADONNAS, I found Xenia and Dasha's story very sad.
Perhaps it's something that comes with age. I can recall as a teen being utterly disappointed in coming to the end of GONE WITH THE WIND (the movie). By the time I was in my twenties I'd gone from loathing it to adoring it. Similarly, while both MADONNAS and MIRRORED WORLD deal with undoubtedly woeful subjects, I can see how the stories would be considered less melancholy by other readers. By the end of MIRRORED WORLD Xenia herself is in a much more peaceful, if not outright happy, place and I think even Dasha has come to appreciate this as well.
All that said, I kind of wish that MIRRORED WORLD had been about twice as long as it actually was. It's a very slim read -- and a quick one at that. I would have loved for parts of the story to have been fleshed out more. By the the end of the story everything wraps up very quickly. In truth, Catherine's fear of Xenia is barely touched on at all.