There are some shocking and upsetting twists, and the ending was quite unexpected. A totally compelling, beautiful story with so much wonderful commentary on the themes of hopes and dreams, freedom, love, revenge and sacrifice. There's so much packed into this book! Definitely recommend for everyone to read.

This was a unique read for me. I'm ashamed to say I'm still broadening my horizons when it comes to reading books from around the world, rather than those based in the UK or USA.

At first, this felt like a slow burner and I wasn't sure if i was going to stick with it. Sasha's pondering thoughts over Marik and Andrei, as well as dreams of being an actress, seemed superficial and convoluted.

However, as I got into the story, I realised so much the importance of what these stories represented. Sasha's dreams of being an actress were a symbol of the Russian dream for freedom of opportunity and freedom of expression. Sasha's dreams of being with Andrei were intertwined with her own complex feelings about love, home and identity. These reflect struggles that so many Russian people felt during the time this book was set, and this book only scratches the surface when it comes to exploring this.

Having said that, it's not a criticism as the fact that this story is so character driven and emotional is what makes it so readable and ultimately addictive .

By the end of the story, I was an emotional wreck. There are some shocking and upsetting twists and the ending was quite unexpected - so much so I felt there could be a sequel, as Sasha's story for me was not complete.

A totally compelling, beautiful story with so much wonderful commentary on the themes of hopes and dreams, freedom, love, revenge and sacrifice. There's so much packed into this book - I adored it!

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

This book is hard for me to review. It had some very good, intriguing parts and characters, but then had some dragging parts. Its style is what I consider the culture of the USSR, or "Soviet-era"ish, if that makes sense- the story reads like a Soviet novel I guess. It's very interesting to read about life during this era from an actress' point of view. Ultimately, this is a novel of secrets, family, censorship, and tragic love. It is not a happy story, but it offers an intriguing and unique view into life in Leningrad during the USSR. If this time period is of interest to you, then I'd recommend, but it's not a light or quick read.

Plot:

* Set in Post WWII Russia
* Centered around Sasha, a girl reconciling with a tragic past
* An uncovered hidden war journal exposing Stalin
* A successful artist returning home and confronted with decisions/uncovering secrets that could steer a new course in life

My Thoughts:

This was such a beautiful and memorable historical fiction read. The story is slower paced but it truly kept me drawn in the entire time. There was so much I learned here about this specific time in history and the USSR, as well a much I walked away with. This to me is always the mark of an excellent read. A coming of age story of sorts, it was tragic and heartbreaking at times, yet powerful and poignant. This is one of those books that feels important to read and it’s definitely one that I won’t forget my time with anytime soon.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

I hate to say that I DNF'd this book but I just did not connect with any aspect of the story. I am a huge huge fan of Russian historical fiction and I'm gutted that this one just didn't work for me, though I can't quite identify why.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my copy of A Train to Moscow by Elena Gorokhova in exchange for an honest review. It published March 1, 2022.
If you are going through a USSR historical fiction phase, definitely give this one a read. I've been on said phase, and this one felt very similar to Russian classic literature, without it being 1000 pages long. It definitely felt like a saga, and I found it very interesting to read about the USSR post-Stalin during "vegetarian" times. I felt like I learned a lot about that time period in history.
The writing was well-done, and it was well-researched. I liked the coming of age aspect as well.

Set in Russia Post World War ll. I thought the writing of this book was beautiful yet tragic. This was a slower paced book in my opinion.  The second half felt a little bit quicker. But overall, this book was well done!




Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC  for an honest review!

Now this was beautiful. The story is set in Post-World War II Russia, where the social and political landscape has vastly changed from the time of the Tsars. Sasha is a young girl from the countryside who dreams of becoming an actress, and escaping her small town life.

I loved this book. It started out a bit slow for me, but then most historical fiction does. You don't know where the story is going until you've reached the ending, but that's what makes historical fiction interesting reads.

The writing was the highlight of this book for me, and I'd recommend this for that alone.

I give this 4 stars.

Thank you for the e-arc, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley!

"𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴." – Vladimir Mayakovsky, Lilichka.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
In post-WW2 Soviet Union:
🪆Sasha finds a hidden war journal written by her MIA Uncle Koyla, exposing the truth and lies of Stalin.
🪆She dreams of becoming an actress and leaves her small town to attend a prestigious drama academy in Moscow.
🪆Years later, a successful actress, she returns home after her grandmother's passing and uncovers painful secrets about the past that will force her to make life-changing decisions.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
My initial reaction after receiving this book was to wonder how readers would accept a book set in Russia given the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine. After reading the book, I hope that people will choose to read this debut novel for the poignant, tragic, and heart-wrenching story it tells of a young woman's coming of age under the harsh reality of life under Communist rule.

There is much to admire about the protagonist, Sasha, and, with one exception, the story seen through eyes. Inspired by a radio play of Chekhov's Three Sisters, a passion ignites in seven-year-old Sasha that goes far beyond a desire of fame but the need to "live a thousand lives" on the stage as a performer. Undeterred by her lack of resources or connections, she moves steadfastly toward her dream, defying her mother's wishes and leaving her love, Andrei, to take the train to Moscow and audition for the drama school.

This is a slower-paced book, yet I was thoroughly engrossed by Part 2 and remain haunted by Sasha and the depiction of the lives in her world.

In the aftermath of World War II, Sasha lives in a restrictive small-town in Russia where she dreams of becoming an actress. Before leaving for drama school in Moscow against her family’s wishes, she finds the hidden journal of her uncle Kolya who disappeared during the war. The secret journal reveals the truths about war that no one is allowed to mention. After drama school when Sasha begins working as an actress, her childhood love, Andrei, becomes an official in the Communist Party, and Sasha has to grapple with the secrets she’s uncovered about Russia’s past, Andrei’s role as a censor of her art, and the guilt she feels about abandoning her family and hometown. As new secrets are revealed, Sasha learns the cost of freedom and what we must sacrifice to follow our dreams.

Amid an excessively crowded pool of World War II-era novels, this one emerges with a unique perspective that I haven’t heard before. In a story that feels disturbingly timely, we learn what it’s like to live in a censored world where you never know who you can trust and even those closest to you are a potential threat.

It took me several chapters to get into this novel. The story begins when Sasha is in elementary school and ends when she is in her early 20s, and I found myself more invested in her as a character as she grew and developed a stronger voice. By the end of novel, I was fully gripped by Sasha, the complexities of her relationships, and the impossible decisions she finds herself facing. The ending was stunning. Do not read this for a light-hearted, good time. But anyone interested in historical fiction, Soviet history, or sobbing uncontrollably will love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Train to Moscow by Elena Gorokhova. Pub Date: March 1, 2022. Rating: 3.5 Stars. Set in post WWII Russia, this story is about a girl named Sasha who lives in a post war world and exposed to family secrets, war torn regions and a changing landscape. She has aspirations of being an actress and leaves to attend drama school and follow her dreams. Before leaving, she finds a journal of her Uncle that exposes secrets of war under Stalin's rule. This story paints a picture of a region struggling following war, filled with political strife and resistance. Through the eyes of a young girl, the reader is taken on a journey of survival, dreams, Soviet Union culture and what it means to grow up in this environment. I enjoyed this novel, but did not love it. I think it is an important novel with history of the Soviet Union and Cold War and its influence for years to come. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Another good book with many, many ratings and reviews, for which I can nothing hew/helpful. Historical fiction fans are likely to really enjoy this one. Recommended.

I really appreciate the free review copy from the publisher!!

My first book to read by this author but definitely not my last! Such a gripping novel that made it hard for me to put his book down once I started it. Highly recommend!!

“I often think about how we itch to run away from home and then keep searching for it for the rest of our lives.”

What reigned me in to picking this book up were its stunning cover and captivating premise but I never thought the process would be arduous. The writing was a bit drawn out in the beginning that it lost its compulsion on me. Moreover, I did not connect with the main character which may had influenced my indifference toward this book. Nevertheless, the words written in these pages are lyrical and powerful in its essence as it provides a narrative which humanizes the gruesome history people had to experience during the post WWII Russia.

“I often think about how we itch to run away from home and then keep searching for it for the rest of our lives.”

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an earc for an honest review.

I liked the book quite a lot, it shows the situation in Soviet Russia well. Sometimes I needed time to understand all the information, it simply took some time to get all the connections. It was better to the end of the book and I could understand it better.
The described situations are sometimes not easy to read, it is not a nice read, but it shows the reality of war well. I also liked the descriptions of the party system in Soviet Russia and the way you could make career.
I can recommend this book.

I apologize, my Kindle broke and I didn't download this in time! I will purchase this book in the future.

This is Ms Korokhova's first foray into fiction and she has made a excellent job of it.

The main character, Sasha, leaves her village which is still reeling from it's past, to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. This is in opposition to the opinion of her mother and grandfather, who expect her to pursue a more useful role in Soviet society.

However, what the author skilfully does, through Sasha's rebellion, is to use theatre as a metaphor for that which was happening in post war Russia.

What the reader quickly realises is that Sasha is not only leaving behind her family and village, but family secrets that neither she, nor the reader can fathom at this point. She takes with her diaries which were written by her uncle who went missing during the war. The diaries were subsequently hidden away until being discovered by Sasha. We can read the diary entries alongside Sasha, and understand what life was like during Stalin's regime.

This book has been intelligently created by an author who is insightful and astute. I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

A breathtaking novel that I was immersed in… In post–World War II Russia, a girl must reconcile a tragic past with her hope for the future in this powerful and poignant novel about family secrets, passion and loss, perseverance and ambition.

Okay, I’m just gonna say it. This book BROKE MY HEART. I could not handle the tragedy. I just couldn’t. It was too much for my fragile soul.

I’m warming up a lot more to historical fiction, but I do find that they all start to feel the same after awhile. Because of this, I thought I knew generally what this book would be about. Aaannndd I was completely wrong.

Sasha is our main character and she wants to be an actress, which I just thought was too cool. And she actually makes it happen for herself! But there’s all this other stuff that’s going on in her life. So much tragedy and discontent. The relationship she had with her family was beautiful and horribly raw and very real.

The hardest thing for me was the romance. I had absolutely no desire for them to end up together but I think that may have been the point? Like I don’t think it was meant to be your typical love story. But anyway, I kept internally yelling at Sasha to knock it off. So yeah, I got a bit frustrated with the whole thing.

Also, the ending was wonderfully written but it left me feeling SO unsettled and just very sad. I guess it’s just one of those books! Which is a compliment, of course.

If you enjoy historical fiction and having your heart ripped out, you will love this book! I have posted a review on Goodreads and my Bookstagram account with a link provided.

I stumbled across A Train to Moscow by accident, yet I am so glad that I did. At a time where Russia is, again, involved in a military conflict, it gives some insight into the lives of Russian people, who may not agree with their government.

This novel gives an inside look at life in Russia during the 1950’s and 1960’s, where the author actually grew up. It illustrates how the Russian people felt about their “victory” in WWII.

It also illustrates how little they know of life in the West. It captivated me from start to finish.

Sasha's journey is at the center of the narrative but Andrei's larger role midway made for a stronger second half. This novel is described in vivid detail making it easy to visualize where it is happened.

Thank you @netgalley for an Arc copy!