The Spoils of War

SPOILER ALERT - Don't read unless you are 44% through The Bronze Horseman.

I am withering away almost as fast as Tatiana.  I can't sleep.  For the past two nights, I've had a hard time falling asleep...woken up dreaming about the book in the middle of the night...laid there and thought about the book - or sat up and read more of the book...and then finally fell asleep again, knowing I'd have to get up soon to fetch my rations...I mean kids.

Every time I read a line like this, I feel like I am there in the room with these people:

"He grabbed his rifle, his coat, his rucksack and was out the door without even brushing past Tatiana."

"Brushing past Tatiana".  Wow.  So secretive.  So endearing.  Just a little gesture to let her know he cares.  But he's so mad at her for getting 

The night I met my husband, we were at a party with a ton of people and every once in a while he'd catch my eye from the other side of the room or "accidentally" brush by me.  I can't help but think of that every time Alexander and Tatiana have a moment, unseen by others' eyes.  I feel like I "get" this book like none other.  Never, in all my reading years, have I ever seen anything that says - no, screams so much - in such small, subtle ways.  You could miss something if you didn't realize what is going on.

Paullina Simons is my hero right now.

Although - I mean it when I say I feel almost as beaten down as Tania and her family.  I am heartsick over their rations and their weight loss...and the horrors of war.  The last book I read that drove the point home so well was "Those Who Save Us" by Jenna Blum.  She interviewed Holocaust survivors for 4 years at the Shoah Foundation, which served as incredible research.  It's a wonderful book; I suggest you check it out. 

OK I can't even believe I am pressed for time and stopped to blog...but I must!  I MUST, I tell you!

4 comments:

  1. The sawdust bread gets me every. single. time. I've read this book. It's so vivid, so descriptive. For about a month, I couldn't make my children a sandwich without explain how some people used to have eat sawdust bread. Her writing is truly genius.

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  2. Carol, your enthusiasm... your passion... for this book and the Outlander books are pure joy to read. I have less than 0 interest in Twilight but find myself a little tempted to read them if only to enjoy your posts about it with some idea of what's going on. Naaah, just have to enjoy this.

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  3. Erin,
    They _know_ it's sawdust, but they eat it anyway. It's unbelievable.

    Carol,
    These books truly change you..........in so many ways. Or at least they changed me. That's why I was so confused by a few of the reactions from MOP. *shaking head* I still think those people were reading a different book.

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  4. It's so good to read all of the comments. All of you truly get it. This book is just so powerful. You have to see through the craziness because there really only is the two of them. That's why Paullina's writing is just so perfect. Their situation sucks but she is truly gifted at showing their love through it all.

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