tonywalt
07-12-2012, 04:20 PM
The Madonnas of Leningrad is a novel about Marina, a young tour guide at the Hermitage Museum, during the siege of Leningrad(St. Petersberg) in World War II and her losing battle with Alzheimer’s in present day Seattle.
The book moves back and forth from Marina’s battles in Leningrad with starvation and extreme cold and her present day battle with Alzheimer’s, comparing and contrasting the two experiences. During the siege, Marina memorized details of the paintings in the museum, in order to keep her own sanity.
Both Marina and her daughter Helen serve as narrators, fairly effectively.
Although Marina's short term memory is leaving, she maintains vivid memories of the siege and the paintings in the Hermitage Museum. Dean does a good job comparing the past with the present and describing the exquisite details of the paintings.
In the book Debra rather quickly mentions that Marina’s fiancé, Dmitri, is captured and brought to a German prison camp/labour camp, Debra too quickly rushed this part of Marina's experience (details of which would only act as a Spoiler). Certainly the picture is not painted as fully as one one like.
This is very very good book and Debra Dean (new author) has great potential. I look forward to her next book, which comes out shortly.
The book moves back and forth from Marina’s battles in Leningrad with starvation and extreme cold and her present day battle with Alzheimer’s, comparing and contrasting the two experiences. During the siege, Marina memorized details of the paintings in the museum, in order to keep her own sanity.
Both Marina and her daughter Helen serve as narrators, fairly effectively.
Although Marina's short term memory is leaving, she maintains vivid memories of the siege and the paintings in the Hermitage Museum. Dean does a good job comparing the past with the present and describing the exquisite details of the paintings.
In the book Debra rather quickly mentions that Marina’s fiancé, Dmitri, is captured and brought to a German prison camp/labour camp, Debra too quickly rushed this part of Marina's experience (details of which would only act as a Spoiler). Certainly the picture is not painted as fully as one one like.
This is very very good book and Debra Dean (new author) has great potential. I look forward to her next book, which comes out shortly.