Reviews

Η πεταλούδα των Μπολσόι by Daphne Kalotay

Only show reviews with written explanations

kstar902's review against another edition

3.0

If you are patient enough to wait for it, this book becomes pretty interesting at the end. Russian Winter unravels the connection between a former Russian ballerina who is auctioning off her jewelry, and a 50-year-old widowed translator of poetry.

rociovoncina's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Titulo: Invierno rojo
Autor: Daphne Kalotay
Año publicado: 2010
Motivo de lectura: #HelloSummerWinterReadathon
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Fisico
Mi edicion: Tapa blanda, 491 paginas, Debolsillo
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 4/5

Adoro leer libros de autores que no conoce practicamente nadie y llevarme gratas sorpresas.

Una bailarina de ballet casada con un poeta, que podria salir mal?

Invierno rojo es una historia que mantiene el interes del lector, por momentos muy dramatico, por momentos tiene el alivio de cierta estabilidad que puede traer la vida.
Me gusto mucho el desarrollo de los personajes (hay algunos que se desarrollan mas que otros). Tambien me gusto mucho como se fue planteando el conflicto, la complejidad en capas, las relaciones humanas y el momento exacto que sabes que es tiempo de partir..

De todos los personajes, diria que Grigori fue mi favorito, el y su eterna lucha por la verdad.
Otra mencion especial seria para el diario del abuelo de Drew, que belleza de palabras, envueltas en puro amor y dolor al mismo tiempo.
Definitivamente es una historia que vale la pena, sobre el amor, la amistad, la pasion, los sueños, la traicion y el desengaño. Mi unica critica es el final, demasiado abrupto.

booksarebetter's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Good writing but the story wasn't fitting my mood. I might pick this up again in the future. 3

cemoses's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The book held my interest but not enough to say I would read another book by this author. I found the main character the ballerina interesting but not the other two characters.

The book touches on the question of what is it like to be an artist in a totalitarian state but in many ways skirts the issue.

kirstenrose22's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I really enjoyed this - I know so little about the Soviet Union or Russia. Or the ballet. I loved both story lines here, which is rare for me. The middle did feel draggy, although I was always engrossed. And I loved the ending.

libraryofdreaming's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Russian Winter doesn't have much historical exposition but it does paint a very vivid picture of Soviet Russia through the eyes of Nina, a talented ballerina. I could really feel her fear & hardship, but also her passion for dance. In the secondary modern narrative, Nina is a crippled old woman confronted by her past when she decides to auction off her jewels. Two other characters share the narration with Nina past & present, but it does balance out and work in unraveling the mystery. It was rather interesting to see the characters impressions of each other juxtaposed against their own narrations and how their personalities come out from their own perspectives. Although I don't think my pain is quite comparable, I sympathized a lot with Nina's horrible arthritis and her struggle with it.

Unfortunately, the book ends very abruptly and while the younger characters do get some resolution Nina is sort of left out in the cold. The revelation of the mystery has such awful repercussions on Nina's life I don't know how she could possibly overcome it. And it makes me sad.