tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944301210319144166.post8891882627547298541..comments2023-09-25T08:06:45.198-04:00Comments on Quick Brown Fox: The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak, reviewed by Charlene JonesBrian Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477347092587248351noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3944301210319144166.post-73017510774176211192014-01-31T10:04:41.662-05:002014-01-31T10:04:41.662-05:00Good summary! Hard to narrow down the epic scenes ...Good summary! Hard to narrow down the epic scenes & schemes & themes in this one. Good story. Good writing. Just finished reading this recently and my library copy was 440pgs. Best lines were near the end ... "You never speak of people" says a bookseller to Barbara. She replies "I don't have to lie". I love the simple exhaustion of the main character, having to hold up her protective facade for so long. Also, although I understand the theme of mothers shaping their unborn, my impression was that Peter went to the museum due to his tutor's request, and asked if Barbara could come along (since she read to him daily), not Sophie. The tutor was trying to impress on Peter, that his grandfather gathered these displays to allow his people to study the science of the deformities, not the superstition. Peter the Great was unlike his daughter Empress Elizabeth in this way, since she was terrified of superstition and the threats of the unknown, which is why her entire reign was shrouded in secrecy, and her power in the deceptions she unearthed. Either way, I have my name down at the library for the March2014 release. I am not at all into politics or history, and waded through this epic novel at light speed. The mark of a great writer. My mouth watered at the description of place, as always. No one will be disappointed with this one, but a hundred pages could be cut off the book just from the russian names of people and places alone! The frequent repeats of seven word royal titles were my only complaint. F.H.LeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com