Only Time Will Tell

SPOILER ALERT - Don't read unless you've reached 34% on your reading device - or the Germans have gotten close enough to hear the bombs - but not so close that they are evacuating. 

I just had to point out how fantastic Paullina Simons' writing is.  "It was a small solace to think the gunfire wasn't as close as it had been at Luga.  Alexander wasn't as close as he had been at Luga either."

Everything this woman says hits HARD.  I feel like I grew up with Tatiana...it's written that well.

ALSO - remember I said I hear words and they remind me of the book?  I was in yoga yesterday and my instructor was talking about her daughter taking part in an Ellis Island event at school...and she said she had to dress up and was wearing a "babushka".  Of course I immediately perked up...and then could think of nothing but Alexander during Downward Dog.

And speaking of "Babushka"...Babushka #2 is moving in with them!  No more Dasha telling Tania to hit the road while she spends time alone with Alexander!  How much does that rock???  I cannot allow myself to believe anything hard core is going on in that room.  If he can't even be with one of the barracks floozies (aka Dasha) at the barracks - how can he bring himself to be with Dasha??

22 comments:

  1. You're done for Carol. Welcome to the world of us women ready to submit our minds and bodies to Alexander. SUBMIT indeed. He just has that powerful way about him, the strength, the command. *SIGH*. And your 100% right about Paulina's writing. You can almost taste the bread, the weak tea, feel the cold. She puts right in the heart of Leningrad and the heart and soul of the characters.

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    1. OMG just reading your comment puts me there all over again! I want to reread...but I'm afraid to. Seriously. But I HAVE to. It's killing me!

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  2. Oh god Carol! I found you here!! Yay! I'm reading this book and DYING because I can't talk anyone into reading it with me! Are they all just stupid?! Yes!
    Anyway, like you, I am "utterly obsessed"! I can't stop reading it. I have kindle on my iPhone. Carry it around with me everywhere and find myself sneaking a page or two at completely inappropriate times... Oops!
    Well, my house looks like a bomb hit it. Yesterday my husband asked me what I did all day.... Ummmm, orthodontist, grocery store... I made up a few things. Really, I read for about, oh FOUR hours! I am now 77% through. I'm getting excited to find out what happens, but I don't want it to EVER be over!

    Sorry this is so long. I just have no one To talk to about this. And every time I say to a friend "Oh in my book..." they just roll their eyes and tune me out (I'm sure)!!!!
    :)
    ~Michelle

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    1. Girllllll - a blog comment can never be too long. I am the same way with Kindle on the iPhone. When you are willing to squint at that little thing to read a book, you know said book is awesome. ;) PS - "I made up a few things"....ROFLMAO! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!

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  3. Paullina is an incredible writer..........especially considering English is her second language! I'd say she's got the hang of it, ha.

    Michelle,
    no worries. Your family, and mess will all be there in two weeks when you are done the series, right? When I recommend TBH series, I say,"Only read this when you can ignore your family and NOT cook anything healthy for 3weeks." Oh, and I found the 30min. tidy works well with husbands. Force yourself to put the book down a half hour before hubby is scheduled home......I know this will be hard. Then rush, rush, rush around and do what you can. You will look all frazzled when he walks in, and at least a minimum of house work will get done. Of course, if hubby should happen to come home early......well, you're screwed.

    Oh, and investing in an ereader is a wise decision. When I was reading the Outlander series last year, my husband would say, "There's ANOTHER book in the series?" The sheer enormity of the books, and ever changing covers gives you away. BUT with an ereader, the cover is always the same.............and they have NO idea what you are reading, or how quickly you are reading.

    Just a few "tips" from one addict to another...........

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  4. Michelle, I know what you mean. There are a few of us here who follow Carol but came from a fan board on Robert Pattinson's IMBD page. We have constant discussions on this book, and others. Feel free to come and squee with us. I'm MzLicious. Hildy and Talldede are from there too. "IMBD Robert Pattinson" to "discuss robert pattinson" to "The Bronze Horsmeman and Outlander and other books thread". We love to relive these books with everyone who experiences them for the first time. And there's spoiler tags so nobody will see what they don't want to see. Hope to see you there! You too Carol - you have many admirers there!

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  5. Well see, I really don't care if the house is straightened when I come home and I have very rarely thought (and much more rarely said) "What did you do all day?" But I must admit I have used the 30 minute tidy when my wife is out, and will attest to the "Oh Sh!t!" feeling when she pulls into the driveway early.

    Too funny Carol.

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  6. @ Jennifer J. OMG, seems like you have spent some time in my house!! I have done the 30 minute clean-up so many times, it's really hysterical that I'm not the only one using this tactic! These books are all consuming, even on the re-reads. I just don't want to put them down once I start them.

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  7. I went to bed after reading this, "Can you hold my weapon?" then I woke up to read about Alexander doing the Downward Dog! Gawd I love this blog!!! I've had a smirk on my face all day. How am I supposed to concentrate at work?

    I love Paullina's writing but it's even better on every reread.

    My husband knows better than to complain about my reading. He could kiss Paullina! ;)

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  8. 1 more helpful hint:
    -Do NOT allow your children to answer the phone. Or, quite possibly, Daddy could call at 2:00 in the afternoon and your child (with whom you had morning sickness for 9months, 3days.....and was 10lbs. at birth), MAY tell him, "No, she's still in her pyjamas reading in bed." Little traitor.

    Train them early.

    Clay,
    you rock!

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  9. Ohhhhhhhh, thanks JenniferTN!!
    I sent in Avril Lavigne's "I don't like your girlfriend". Ha. 'Cause I don't like Alexander's girlfriend. Nope. I really don't.

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  10. Alexander awe I love him.

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  11. Ok. I really dislike Dimitri. Even more so than stupid Frank!
    And I'm totally in love with Alexander!!! Why can't he be real!?!?

    Michelle

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  12. I don't think there really is a comparison between Dimitri and Frank. Dimitri is the real villain. He's selfish and vindictive. I'm not sure if you're finished the book yet, I don't want to give away any spoilers. Frank, on the other hand, while certainaly not my favorite, can be a rather sympathetic character. That could be a real interesting discussion!

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  14. Erin - I do agree with you (about Dimitri and Frank), though I have not finished the book. I'll probably finish either tonight or tomorrow. Then I think I'll feel sad (that it's over).
    :)
    Michelle
    ps... I'll try to find IMDB...

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  15. Michelle, You must have the next book (either Tatiana & Alexander or The Bridge to Holy Cross) ready to go. It's an absolute necessity!!

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  16. I'm on my first read of this book :)
    Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" really reminds me of what's going on at this point.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw

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  17. I just finished Part 1. Shura and Tatia have resigned themselves to make Dima and Dasha think that they don't care about each other at all. I'm not sure that will be successful. Why the hell didn't Shura just leave Dasha from the start? I know that Tania didn't want him to hurt Dasha but don't they realize that the longer he leads her on the more hurt she will be? When is Dima going to the front so he can just die already and leave my Shura alone?! (oops, I mean Tatia's Shura) He is such a creepy little parasite, I can't stand him.

    Carla

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  18. LOL Carla - you sound like me re: "my Shura". Isn't it delicious? Oooh that Dasha. Doesn't she get on your nerves? And then you feel bad because she has no idea what's up! Ew and Dima - yuck. (But what a tremendous character to cast in a Bronse Horseman film/series!)

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    1. Dasha really gets on my nerves with her annoying, clingy, selfish, being mean to Tania self. I wanted to slap her when she was joking about Tania sleeping next to Alexander. I feel bad for her a little because she doesn't know what's going on but then I don't feel that bad because she doesn't deserve Alexander.

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  19. I am late to the reading party again, but this time only by a year and a half, rather than 2 and a half years.
    I am reading this book because it was all the rage on chat. As usual, Carol, you are the voice of reason (and hilarity) when it comes to what is being unanswered in the book. WHY THE F- IS ALEXANDER STILL KNOCKING DASHA!!! It is beyond reprehensible. I've read his argument and his defenders that if he's not around Dasha, he can't be around Tatiana. And to do it in Tatia's bed while she's upstairs shivering on the roof! But it's bullshit... and sickening... and I'm really mad about it.... but I'll still keep reading.

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