Oh, man. You're absolutely right! I completely mixed up his wives. Hehehe. Now I have no idea what that was about. Still, I don't think it was done maliciously by the son. And I agree with you about the song not getting past PS. Hmmm.

Does anyone have any ideas as the purpose of the Interludes? Aside from adding background information, I don't see it's necessity. This does not mean I didn't like them, I am just wondering. It was nice to read about Tania's dacha summer days and experience more time with Pasha et al, but why? Saika and her story was so bizarre. And why was PS playing with a supernatural storyline? Did Tania have a gift? Notice how she thought Saika smelled but no one else noticed. It was as if Tania was smelling Saika's malice through supernatural gifts.

I think they could have been far briefer, but I think the point was to introduce Tania's story of survival. Alexander mentions her climbing out of the bear trap with a broken arm(?) when he needs Anthony to climb out of the prison in North Korea, so clearly it was a story Anthony heard growing up. I also think PS likes to have some scenes from the past in each of the books and this was the contribution in this one.

I don't know about anything supernatural. That wasn't really my impression. I thought Saika probably did have body odor and since Tania sensed something nasty about her and didn't like her, she mentioned it, but the other kids accepted it (they might have had some odor too). I think there were definitely superstitions that got mentioned, but I didn't take it as something that Tania thought was real.

Originally, PS meant to publish a separate book on Tania's survival story and young adulthood, but the story was not substantial enough to stand on its own, so it was interspersed in SG. I enjoyed reading about her tenacity. We caught a glimpse of the woman she would become -- determined, strong-willed and invincible.

The fact that she could sense Saika's malice was more like a sixth sense. She was a good judge of character and though innocent, could read people well. No one picked up on the hints that Saika provided when talking about herself and her family. The others were taken with her and didn't question the truth to her stories. I actually found her mother super wierd and a strung out. I think it was the mother who sensed the goodness in Tatiana and felt the most threatened by her.

Tatiana was a really good judge of character as we see throughout the books that she understands people much better than Alexander who made many mistakes in that department.

I also think the interludes are meant to show us that Tatiana was actually not so helpless and useless as she seems to be at the beginning of TBH, and as she sees herself, not understanding why her father sends her, of all people to buy the food. Even when she was young she helps everybody, she saves that old woman in the village from fire. And of course her survival after Saika and Marina leave her and she breaks her arm. It's no wonder that she takes care of her family during the siege and is the only one to survive.

I'm now rereading SG after having finished it for the first time just a few weeks ago, tried to put it off for some time but couldn't resist the temptation anyway I skipped the interludes this time. The amazing thing is that I still can't put the book down and still cry. I don't think I'll ever get over this trilogy

Yes, the Interludes do give some more depth to Tatiana, but I couldn't see how they were necessary. But I enjoyed them, nonetheless. That bit of information about PS trying to make a book out of them but ended up squishing it into TSG makes it all make more sense to me. Thanks LJ.

I was kind of hoping at some point Tania would punch Saika in the face. Hahaha. I wasn't actually expecting her to die. But there you go.

Oh, believe me Riki, I understand about re-reading. I'm re-reading TBH right now. It's not been a month since I first read it. Hahaha! And knowing what I know now, there is so much more that I am picking up too! I love it!

Ok, I haven't read any of your posts in this thread...I just picked up my book from the library today. I started reading and I have to say that I'm just not liking this! Ok, I've said it and it's out there. Please tell me it gets better. The other two books were fantastic and I loved them.

Now I thought that the interludes was to display Tania's need for full remorse before she could forgive someone (like Alexander at the end). I see what you mean about Tania's example of survival pulling Alexander through the rescue also. But when I read it, the only meaning that I gathered was that Tania could forgive anyone that was remorseful but otherwise, she would give forgiveness.

Just keep reading, Celestem. I bet that didn't help at all, huh?



Hmm. That idea didn't cross my mind. Interesting, but who was the remorseful one? Marina?

And then, there is a little part where the Interlude's story continues, but not in "Interlude" format, but rather as Tania telling Alexander the part where she falls into the bear trap and breaks her arm. This happens right before Alexander leaves for the rescue mission. It read like Alexander hadn't heard that bit before, let alone Anthony.

Thanks Yolie! It sort of helps, but you and I have heard that (and probably have said it to many others) before!!!
Ok, I'm reading....

Celestem, I hate to quote myself, but here goes anyway:



So, I agree that the beginning of this didn't grab me. It definitely improved, though I still think it was my least favorite of the three books in the trilogy. Worth the read, though.

Thanks ABL. I also feel that it may be worth it. I'm getting more into it-I just hope it becomes more hopeful. As with the first book, I wish they'd just speak up and say what's on their mind instead of holding back. That's frustrating to me since I tend to blab it all out all the time. I guess a blabbing book would be tiring...Ok, answering my own thoughts now so I must go read!
Thanks for encouragement and I shall read on!

Yolie, Alexander says to Tatiana: you've been telling that Lake Ilmen story to your husband and family for thirty years to give us strength, hope and faith. She even asks If he thinks Ant remembers that story and he says "how could he forget"? so no chance they haven't heard that before.

Celestem, I agree the beginning of TSG is very different from TBH and T&A, but I know that as the book progressed I became as emotionally involved as in the previous books, it's worth reading anyway, it's still Tatiana and Alexander, enjoy

My mind is a muddle these days, Riki. That's it! I'm not gonna post until I confirm my thoughts.


Hahaha! So true, Celestem. I was hoping you'd catch it!

I've finished...what an interesting coincidence! I lived in Paradise Valley (AZ) and even went to Paradise Valley high school for a few years. How weird. Now I'm in NY. I lived in MA too. It seems that I'm living in the areas that Tania and Alexander lived...I even lived in Northern CA (but not Napa).
The book was definitely worth reading...I think it was a little too much that all the chidren were so accomplished. Why not a blue collar type? Just my opinion...I did like the book, though.