Reviews tagging 'Death'
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
5 reviews
kaiciemesser's review
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, War, Death, Murder, and Child death
kamrynkoble's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I have been fascinated by the Romanovs and Imperial Russia my entire life. Of course, like most everyone else, it started with Anastasia. But just this last year I fell into a rabbit hole about how brutal their assassination actually was and wanted to learn more. This was the audiobook my library had available now, but I will most definitely be picking up others.
This one still glossed over a lot of the tragic details. I hadn't realized it was technically YA nonfiction. It's succinct, unintimidating, and easy to follow; it would be the perfect introduction to this era of history, for young readers or anyone looking to get their feet wet. It covers everything from Nicholas's childhood (I blame his father for much of his failings as a ruler, ugh), his courting of Alexandra, their rule, WWI, the rebellion/abdication, their assassination, and then a brief chapter about everything surrounding them since. That being said, I will definitely be reading other nonfiction books on this topic.
Fleming is a fabulous writer, and her prose truly carries this account. She expertly weaves diary passages and quotes with her own voice that paints a clear picture of Russia at this time for both the peasants and the nobility. There were frequent "beyond the palace gates" sections that made it quite obvious why the people were so desperate for change.
I also LOVED this audio version. The main narrator was fantastic, as well as the other narrators with Russian accents. I would highly recommend listening to this one.
I can't even begin to type out all my thoughts about the Tsar, Tsarina, and their five children. I am deeply disturbed by what happened to them (especially the children), and how everything played out is particularly devastating. The way their bodies were treated was what alarmed me the most, even though this account really skimmed over that aspect of their deaths.
This particular book isn't very graphic, so don't be frightened if this is your first delve into this topic. But I have already spent a few sleepless nights caught up on the Romanovs and the Russian peasants who suffered because of them, and after them. I think my husband is tired of hearing about them, haha! I'll be back for more!
This one still glossed over a lot of the tragic details. I hadn't realized it was technically YA nonfiction. It's succinct, unintimidating, and easy to follow; it would be the perfect introduction to this era of history, for young readers or anyone looking to get their feet wet. It covers everything from Nicholas's childhood (I blame his father for much of his failings as a ruler, ugh), his courting of Alexandra, their rule, WWI, the rebellion/abdication, their assassination, and then a brief chapter about everything surrounding them since. That being said, I will definitely be reading other nonfiction books on this topic.
Fleming is a fabulous writer, and her prose truly carries this account. She expertly weaves diary passages and quotes with her own voice that paints a clear picture of Russia at this time for both the peasants and the nobility. There were frequent "beyond the palace gates" sections that made it quite obvious why the people were so desperate for change.
I also LOVED this audio version. The main narrator was fantastic, as well as the other narrators with Russian accents. I would highly recommend listening to this one.
I can't even begin to type out all my thoughts about the Tsar, Tsarina, and their five children. I am deeply disturbed by what happened to them (especially the children), and how everything played out is particularly devastating. The way their bodies were treated was what alarmed me the most, even though this account really skimmed over that aspect of their deaths.
This particular book isn't very graphic, so don't be frightened if this is your first delve into this topic. But I have already spent a few sleepless nights caught up on the Romanovs and the Russian peasants who suffered because of them, and after them. I think my husband is tired of hearing about them, haha! I'll be back for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Chronic illness, War, and Murder
librarymouse's review
informative
reflective
3.75
This is an interesting look into the lives of the last imperial family of Russia. The last time I learned something specifically about them was in 11th grade history class, so I'm glad that I found this book. The way that they are described using excerpts from diaries and letters makes them oscillate really hard between being people that you can empathize with, and them being just horrible, out of touch royalty at a time when their people were starving and dying by the hundreds and thousands. To know how infantilized the future czar and the grand duchesses were, and how isolated their upbringing was is really interesting. They were children and when left without their titles especially near the last few months of their lives they befriended other children/their guards, played and cleaned. The family is disgustingly antisemitic, the description of such beliefs being what first left a bad taste in my mouth on the topic of the family. The issues leading up to them blaming Jews for a revolt that did not involve very many Jewish people to begin with could be explained as some thing Czar Nicholas couldn't be blamed for because father didn't train him for the role he then took on. The object hatred of a cultural religious group really grinds my gears. I know historically it was even more acceptable to be so hateful than it is today, but the knowledge of just how antisemitic the imperial family was was shocking. The family being killed at the whim of their jailer and against the initial orders of Lenin was an intentional act done to harm the those in support of the Czar and the white army. We were people being used as pawns after they've been knocked from their pedestal. They'd already been humbled and their deaths weren't necessary. If Nicholas had never become Czar, and was instead allowed to live out his life as a member of the nobility with minimal responsibility, Russia may have continued to be run as an oligarchy with an imperial family to this day. It's easy to look back and see all of the little things that could have been changed that would have had a resounding impact across history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, and Gun violence
nisha_23's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Confinement
ifersinklings's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was an interesting biography of the Romanov family. It was easy to follow and read like a fiction book more than a non-fiction book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, and Violence
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