Stand By Your Man

SPOILER ALERT:  Don't read unless you have read 54% of The Summer Garden. 

"suits that were not drab flannel but linen and cotton, so when Alexander went out for a drink without her on Friday nights, he could look smashing.

Oh my god - this terrifies me.

So Tania got herself the graveyard shift.  I'm sorry - but I am in total agreement with Shura on this one.  I get that she wants to work - I get that she has a burning need to help people.  But she knows Shura is already unhappy with her hours.  Why take more?  I don't think she should do it.  At the most - she should keep her regular hours.  But frankly, I don't see why she even has to do that.  They don't need the money.  Quit and volunteer.  That way you'll make Shura happy - and you'll make yourself happy.  And you'll be home with your husband and son on Friday nights.

And let's be honest - isn't she afraid of Shura going out on Friday nights??  (I haven't gotten far enough to know if that statement was serious or not.  All I had to hear was Shura was going to look smashing without her and I reached for the computer.)  I was so THRILLED that Alexander started his own business - but, my god - the fanfare over him?  All the women who interviewed?  Isn't Tania just the tiniest bit nervous?  I'm not saying I don't trust him...but come ON Tania.  Alexander has a monstrous ego - and it needs stroking.  All it takes is one, lonely Friday night and a few too many beers...shudder.  I don't even want to think about it. 

Now...on to Saika.  Or shall I refer to her as The Devil's Spawn?  Or how about just "Mistress Evil"?  Or even "Bitch Ho from Hell".  Will any of those suffice?  Because she scares the bejesus out of me!  This storyline ALONE could make a damned good movie.  What a CREEPFEST!  Every time she asks Tania to go swimming I want to whip out my bible!  It's like The Omen!!!

Might I also mention that I am becoming a bit Russian-obsessed.  I was at the boardwalk the other day and there are always a ton of kids from Europe who come to work for the summer.  I heard a man say to a girl "You're from the oldest city in Russia?"  Well then today I'm reading about Novgorod (and how two-faced Marina is) and I find out it's the oldest city in Russia.  So now I totally want to go back and talk to this kid on the boardwalk and find out if this is where she's from!  And you know she's going to think I'm an annoying OLD chick!

I also picked up on a Russian (or Eastern European) accent from some girls at the beach and am considering signing my daughter up for free Russian lessons at our local library!  I hope the class isn't full!  It's so cute - they teach them the alphabet - some basis phrases - and they watch Russian cartoons!)

OK I'm clearly rambling - and need to go read - but I'm afraid.  Please, please don't let Shura get himself into any trouble on Friday nights without Tania.

OH - one more thing - I am thinking maybe Tania isn't getting pregnant because her Shura was hurt so many times in various ways during the war and in the camps, that he just isn't able to get her pregnant.  I feel SO bad for them.  It's very hard to watch them go through this.

11 comments:

  1. I completely understand your obsession with Russia. I have some Russian students in my class and one of them gave me a box of chocolates for an end of year gift. All of the writing was in Russian and I was so geekily excited!! I never get excited about chocolates anymore cause I usually get 10 boxes per holiday, but this was different! I don't even want to open them! I just want to display them.

    Oh and I'm in total agreement with you about Tatiana working the night shift.

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  2. WAIT!!! What about Dudley?????

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  3. Hildy I would totally do that. I would proudly display those candies for all to see!

    I usually get pretty obsessed when I'm reading a story like this. I happened to work for a Japanese company when I read "Memoirs of a Geisha" years ago...and drove my boss crazy with constant questions about Japan. I really don't get the chance to talk to many people from Russia though...so I fear one of these days I'm going to just jump on someone with my questions and frighten one of these kids who is over here working for the summer. LOL

    Can you believe I left MOP chat and started reading and then had to blog over here at MBHP?! "Obsessed" doesn't even cover it! I can't wait until Tracey reads TBH!

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  4. OMG I forgot Dudley. I really need to blog more often but this series is so good, I can't put the damned book down long enough to blog. And then I read huge chunks and end up blogging about the more superficial stuff - and worry people will say "OMG she's so shallow!"

    I'll definitely blog about Dudley tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me!!

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  5. I never thought I would be so obsessed with Russia either :-) The way Paullina wrote the scenes with Saskia are so creepy. I love the insight into little Tatiana too - they give the Summer Garden a whole new layer of depth and reconnect it to parts of TBH.
    And, I hate how this part makes me feel. I know how devoted Tatiana is to her calling as a nurse but her love for Alexander and anthony has always eclipsed that. It almost feels like payback - purposeful - or somehow that she just needs something for her that belongs only to her. Carol, I hadn't seen Alexander's ego as "monstruous" on my own and totally see it!

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  6. I completely understand being Russian obsessed; I am 100% Russian - all four grandparents emigrated from Tzarist Russia before WWI. I read anything about Russian I can find so I can better understand my family and me. The stories I heard growing up!!!

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  7. I can't wait for our family friends to come back from Russia in August. I have been very interested in Russia culture since they left the states in 2007 to go to Samara, Russia on a missions trip. It is very interesting to talk with our friends about Russians culture and how much has changed since the cold war. It is also very depressing to hear how much poverty there still exists. They do talk about the wonderful people they have meet and still want to continue to stay there. Can't wait to see them in August:) Jen

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  8. I can't wait for our family friends to come back from Russia in August. I have been very interested in Russia culture since they left the states in 2007 to go to Samara, Russia on a missions trip. It is very interesting to talk with our friends about Russians culture and how much has changed since the cold war. It is also very depressing to hear how much poverty there still exists. They do talk about the wonderful people they have meet and still want to continue to stay there. Can't wait to see them in August:) Jen

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  9. Hang in there Carol! I don't post much, but love your blog and read it every update!
    And, on our recent trip to Florida, one restaurant had 3 gorgeous Russian blonde exchange students. Their accent is lovely and they were charming young ladies. My 14 year old son is considering an exchange program to Mother Russia. LOL!

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  10. Ugh, I just read this part last night, and I ALREADY feel like I'm going to throw up (I caught the title of your next blog, and it looks like I'd better find a barf bag fast....) Why do I suspect that 'Carmen' and the 'Ho' are in our future?? I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...

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  11. Carol... different take here... alexander so hurtful and mean at times i want her to have that for herself and if he doesn't like it even better. Payback is a bitch!

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