Please discuss all topics relating to The Summer Garden of The Bronze Horseman series by Paullina Simons in this thread. As this is the last book in the trilogy, all books are open for discussion.

Thanks for moving the books, Lady Jayne.

This book causes the most amount of controversy in the series IMO. It's the one where you really get angry with our lead characters, Alexander and Tatiana, but especially Alexander. There's a running theme of remorse and forgiveness throughout the book, but that's what makes it realistic.

If these 2 people came out of being separated, imprisoned in a POW camp and single parenthood without any repercussions, then it would have been totally unbelievable. Alexander hadn't lived in a free society in ages and it's natural that he would gravitate to the type of people he had surrounded himself with all of his life. As he spirals away, you can almost feel Tania saying "I saved and waited for you for all these years for THIS." But she also disengaged when she went to work at the hospital. She was putting distance between herself and Alexander and, while she wasn't having a physical affair, I think that she was having an emotional one with the doctor. She had been traumatized by Alexander's "friends/coworkers" to be sure. I don't think that she knew what to do at this point. When you've made someone else the focus of your entire life, what do you do when they don't live up to that ideal.

Later in the book, Anthony goes into the old home to get some photos and sees her 2 nurses uniforms, the Red Cross one and the Ariz hospital one and thinks about how one was used to save their marriage and the other one almost destroyed it. But her nursing job wasn't the cause of their problems; it was more of a symptom of it's problems.

I loved getting to know the children as they grew up. Anthony's story was heartbreaking but you could see how his life was so much more affected by A&T's relationship than the others. He lived through abandonment, an unsettling lifestyle, their anxieties, etc. The others were born to a time when they were past all that and settled. When the teacher comes to Thanksgiving dinner, my heart leaped for Anthony.

And, I could say this a hundred times, when the book ended with them as old people going into the city, and Tania is having an ice cream cone on the bench with Alexander looking at her across the street, I totally lost it.

You've got this one right Pauline!
But while they both made mistakes, I was more frustrated with Tatiana than with Alexander...and in more than one situations...including the one that most people like to talk about...

I got hooked up in this trilogy not only because has a painfully beautiful love story, but because TBH had such an accurate historical background. I loved that.
TSG not so much.
The whole political talk was just dust in my face...I got pretty angry with author's lack of objective, and lack of actual research (something that she had done pretty well in TBH) ..and most of the plot twists were too contrived for me to appreciate as i did with TBH.
I just wished she would have kept a certain subjectivity with her concept, without taking political sides.
Beside I've found the whole Vietnam story a big fat joke, and I couldn't get Rambo out of my mind while reading it.
And at the end just to see how a perfect, fully successful family thay produced...all smart and successful ...only poor Antony had to be punished, maybe because he was conceived in URSSR...God knows, but the whole second part of this book was slightly propagandistic.

I know what you mean but even the POW break for Alexander was a little over the top, only that time it was Tatiana who was the Rambo

It was funny to find out that Tania was a mathematical genius of a sort and probably passed that on to her children and her children would have grown up privileged since Alexander was doing much better financially when they came along. (How funny was it that Alexander figured out that Tatiana was a card counter and they spent their vacations in Vegas.) Anthony didn't grow up like the rest of the kids and he bore the brunt of the emotional scars.

If they had survived all of TBH and T&A and just lived happily ever after, then it would have been too Hallmark movieish. There had to be emotional fallout. The whole drifting around without a port, the disillusionment with each other, and the marital/family dysfunction rang believable to me given their history.

Yes, the action scenes were a bit out there, but then again I just loved that the characters who seemed the weakest were actually the strongest. I enjoyed learning about Tatiana's summer outings at Lake Ilmen and how she had braved not only the crazed gypsy, but the great outdoors.

I agree Pauline, that Tatiana was having an emotinal affair with Sam Bradley and knew how he felt about her. Perhaps he reminded her of the way Alexander doted on her when they first met. She knows he is about to admit his feelings for her for she tells him to be quiet otherwise they could never be friends again. Having the words spoken out in the open would shatter the illusion that her marriage was fine. Just the same, I was actually angrier with Alexander for turning to another woman and even a little surprised that he had not done so sooner. He truly took his marriage vows seriously and had not cheated on Tatiana all those years they were apart when neither knew if the other had survived. I was also angy with him for slapping his wife, even if she taunted him to do so. What would have happened if Anthony had not stormed out of the house to stop Alexander? Would she have miscarried?

The fact that Tatiana had such difficulty conceiving led me to think that the stress of her job and emotional distance from Alexander effected her physically. And yet, she knew her Alexander well and caught him in a lie immediately. I am thinking to when she tells him that she had no idea he knew how to use the washer and dryer. He knew he was busted, for he had never lied to her before, and could not face her to hand her a cup of coffee the morning after. Thank God he came to his senses, but not before he almost lost everything. Talk about the shock facto

Ah, yes, poor Anthony, who suffered from abandoment nightmares for years and competed for his mother's affection with his own father. Both Anthony and Alexander resented each other for having taken Tatiana away. Paullina Simons could not have written about such a tormented family as a happily ever after. They all carried their scars and had only healed on the surface. It took great adversity and the ultimate love they had for one another to carry them through their darkest hours.

Also, I didn't see the whole situation with Vicki coming? Did you?

When their marriage was falling apart, it broke my heart when Anthony kept telling Alexander to just apologize. "She always forgives you when you do." But Alexander knew that he had crossed the line. Tatiana wasn't a love blind young woman anymore. She felt betrayed and even the kindest people blow and boy did she blow. That whole scene where she cut off her hair and came home drunk from her date taunting Alexander blew my mind. There was no way that they were ending that night without coming to blows. She was totally deranged and poor Anthony in the bedroom having to listen to all this.

I had to go back and reread the book to see if I picked up on the Victoria references and actually there were quite a few. Right after the fight and they made up, they're having dinner at a restaurant and Anthony is still a young boy. Tania mentions that Victoria is coming to visit after her latest boyfriend dumped her or something and Alexander says that he better tell Anthony because he always gets agitated around Victoria

Before I go any further with my post I have to mention something about myself. I am a very emotional person, knowing this I tend to approach people and situations in a more direct way, their response spears me of figuring out where i stand in connection them. I do not shy away of grabbing the bull by the horns and fix a problem right there in the spot. I do not like to linger in a conspicuous way in many important situation. In other words, I am an easy person to be figured out, I lay down fast what i want and what i expect. Makes me an uncomplicated person, and lets face it dull.

Because of all this I try to stay away of overly emotional situation, it brings me close to the edge, and in a position that i don't feel in control of myself.
This is why i don't like this book, simply it doesn't fit my persona.
In the first half of the book PS does a great job of building an emotional controversy, I think this is one of her best qualities as a writer. I am sure many people highly appreciate it, it is very well written after all.
But for me reading it was like living in those circumstances, it brought me to that edge that i fear to reach.
No book ever made me so agree, furious, frustrated, anguished...

I had to stop at every half page and take a break, relieve accumulated streams of anger.

I see many people blame Alexander for slapping Tatiana, if he had not have done i would have found a way of reaching her through the pages of that book, fiction and time and do it myself.
I do not like irrational women. And Tatiana was once again in that state.

There are a lot of events that lead to what it was a final show off scene.
First she said no to Alexander proposal of building a house and leaving the mobile home behind them. What was she afraid of?

She informed Alexander that she would take a night shift ER nurse job again.
He warned her of what might happen to her. She could choose any other job, just not that.
What he was afraid of ultimately happened, she started to drift away...
their marriage was in trouble right there (if not before this)...but the core of that problem got lost in the density of the events that followed.
What did he want?...more children and a loving wife and mother to take care of them. Was something that much (and wrong) to ask of her?

While working nights Alexander missed her, the bond was breaking...he felt it, he sent all the signals...he went at night at ER waiting along with a hobo to get his share of loving attentions. Alexander was screaming for attention, special attention...because that was gone...
He said something in TBH..." I want to see that your mine in your eyes"...and that wasn't there anymore...
What he did with Carmen was a final revolt, and he realized in time that this last resort wont fix, but to cut the thin cord that held them together.

Too late?

Could have been because Tatiana was completely irrational; couldn't, wouldn't give him the time to talk, to explain...and the things that she said to him...the most nastier that a woman would tell to the man she loves...was she still in love with him, or a ghost?
Their entire struggle for the past few months was reduced now to the fact that Alexander tried to cheat...If you's ask me, these people had huge communications problems....
They hurt each other verbally and physically, just to reach the solution that was right in front of them from the very beginning...quit that damn job, stop flattering that another doctor got the hots for you....be first a wife and then a career woman...is that wrong to ask from any woman?

Alexander begged for forgiveness, finally explained himself....did she ever apologized for her share of wrong doing?

RSP, I know what you mean about the intensity of this book. The first shock was the whole Dudley affair. It made me uncomfortable that Alexander couldn't see the type of man Steve was and that he didn't know that he had been pursuing Tatiana. She should have told her husband point blank, but by the time she had the courage to say something it was too late. Alexander was already taken in by the father figure he never had. It made me sad to think of how emotionally needy Alexander was for the acceptance he never received from his own family. He had been blinded by his own need. The same way I think that Tatiana became blind by her need to heal others. She became obsessed with her job to the point that she neglected Alexander and Anthony. Was she trying to punish Alexander, saying you have achieved your American dream, now its my turn? She had given up everything, everything to rescue him and then to keep him safe from the government, moving from town to town. She had always placed Alexander first, until she became addicted to her job.

I felt sick to my stomach when Alexander started flirting and then fooling around with Carmen. I was so upset that I had to digest what was happening before I could continue reading. This is the first time that a storyline has caused me so much uneasiness, perhaps because we were priviledged to Alexander's thoughts. I too became emotionally involved with these characters. In all fairness to Tatiana, she was about to tell Alexander about the baby the same night he left her to rendevous with Carmen, who unbeknownst to Alexander had phoned the house looking for him. Talk about awkward. I'm not sure why Tatiana didn't confront her husband at that point or at least told him about the baby, aside from the fact that she was trying to punish him for his betrayal. At this point, she does not know the extent of their involvement, but she is ready for blood and is biding her time to break him. She is led to believe that he is the father of Carmen's baby. The hair cutting and destruction of the kitchen was heartwrenching. It was so painful to see these two characters that I love so dearly, deconstructing.

Pauline, I had missed that Tatiana was drunk when she came home that eventful night, which would explain why she had been wreckless and placed herself in harms way by taunting Alexander with her ruthlessness. Some people say she forgave Alexander too quickly, and maybe she did, but she could not remain angry with Alexander for long. At that point of forgiveness, it finally hits home that their life cannot continue as it has been and Tatiana resigns from her position at the hospital. It was about time!

[quote="Lady Jayne"]RSP, I know what you mean about the intensity of this book. The first shock was the whole Dudley affair. It made me uncomfortable that Alexander couldn't see the type of man Steve was and that he didn't know that he had been pursuing Tatiana. She should have told her husband point blank, but by the time she had the courage to say something it was too late. Alexander was already taken in by the father figure he never had. It made me sad to think of how emotionally needy Alexander was for the acceptance he never received from his own family. He had been blinded by his own need. The same way I think that Tatiana became blind by her need to heal others. She became obsessed with her job to the point that she neglected Alexander and Anthony. Was she trying to punish Alexander, saying you have achieved your American dream, now its my turn?
Yes, i felt exactly the same. he ended up being a hero, a respected fellow in their community...maybe she felt that he didn't quite deserved it...

She had given up everything, everything to rescue him and then to keep him safe from the government, moving from town to town. She had always placed Alexander first, until she became addicted to her job.
I have huge problems with this "government affair" as well...While i understood all the reasons that made Tatiana hide the whole situation from Alexander, I still cannot find it rational enough. This was first and foremost his problem, and he was a man that went through more than enough, they could/should have handle it together. This was a hell built and sustained on her personal beliefs.


I felt sick to my stomach when Alexander started flirting and then fooling around with Carmen. I was so upset that I had to digest what was happening before I could continue reading. This is the first time that a storyline has caused me so much uneasiness, perhaps because we were privileged to Alexander's thoughts.
I don't usually read this kind of books, they make me feel sick for days...I felt quite claustrophobic...I do not plan to read any more books written by PS. This is her regular writing style after all. All her books are built around people that struggle in their relationships...God, I see enough in my daily life, I don't need to read about them too...not in this way anyway.
My T&A edition has a very nice epilogue, I should have stopped there.


I too became emotionally involved with these characters. In all fairness to Tatiana, she was about to tell Alexander about the baby the same night he left her to rendevous with Carmen, who unbeknownst to Alexander had phoned the house looking for him. Talk about awkward. I'm not sure why Tatiana didn't confront her husband at that point or at least told him about the baby, aside from the fact that she was trying to punish him for his betrayal. At this point, she does not know the extent of their involvement, but she is ready for blood and is biding her time to break him. She is led to believe that he is the father of Carmen's baby.
She chose to believe what an angry women has told her in ER instead of giving her husband a chance to talk...the jealousy might have been very strong, but from here on she is completely irrational
The hair cutting and destruction of the kitchen was heartwrenching. It was so painful to see these two characters that I love so dearly, deconstructing.
Typical Russian behaviour...

After 15 years of marriage, with so many highs and lows, i wonder how id they manage to end up so happy and perfect at old age.
While PS worked very hard (for about 500 pages) to bring down to earth two heroes, she goes back for the rest of the book and try to restore their heroic figures...oh well, for me the damage was already done. the second part of the book holds little credibility.
If it wasn't part of a trilogy I would have skipped this book, not that is not well written ( I don't think I ever read such well written scenes with such negative impact on how i feel or perceive things) but PS style is not my cup of tea.

Tatiana was a blocker when it came to facing reality or obstacles. It's what allowed her to don a Red Cross Uniform and search POW camps for Alexander, but it's also what led her to hide behind her hospital uniform when she wanted to escape Alexander. I think that after the whole situation blew up with Steve and Co, she was furious with Alexander and the only way she could deal with it was by checking out of his life. She had had it. Period. She didn't want to come home to him and started finding ways to work around his home time. This is classic workaholic behavior.

She also had Major, Major communications problems but this started back in Russia. Don't talk about your problems, don't talk about solutions, internalize what needs to be done, don't consider anyone else in resolving a problem, the list goes on and on. She did what everyone else wanted her to do in Russia, but in America she took control and had everyone doing what she wanted to do.

Not moving out of the mobile home when Alexander could have built her a home was just another symptom of her not wanting to move forward with her relationship with him. Let's face it, these two hadn't really lived together for most of their relationship. It had always been separation, looking for one another and letting each other go. In America, they had to actually settle down and live together and they were strangers for all of their drama.

As much as I agree with everyone's feelings about ruining these characters, it made them that much more human and believable to me.

(I promise this is my last post on this topic.)

While I agree with your interpretation, I do have something to say about this

The mobile home happened after about 10 years of family life in US, I do consider it a good period of time for any couple's life span.

And if she really wanted to get out of that marriage she would have stopped trying to get pregnant, and she would have simply accepted that ER doctor's offer (forgot his name).
To me it looked more like taming of the shrew, a slow process of emasculation...only that she became one in the process...
While i am all for empowering women, heck i am fighting my rights of being treated equally and fair every damn day, but I cannot agree (under any circumstances) to be done by emasculating people in the process, and mostly the ones you are still in love with. That's how I see the whole situation, starting with having a real home instead a mobile one.

One little detail that i remember...Alexander went to Vietnam to find Antony, he got the information needed and they were about to leave on the rescue mission. At that point Alexander being tormented he asks himself..."What would Tatiana do now?"
Are you kidding me?
At that point i had to believe that Tatiana was this great mother, warrior, political, tactical and war connoisseur...
I don't know how many of you read books on Leningrad blockade, but it helps undersranding that what happened to these characters was quite close to reality...they were already real to me. I didnt need a bedroom drama to know them better....I am still agree with PS, as you can easily see

I think my real problem with this whole situation lays in people's opinion and eagerness to jump and judge Alexander for trying to cheat, and slapping her...
How could he do such thing? b*st*rd! Cheater!
How could he hit her? Animal!
Biased because instinctively no matter what happened intimately in a couple we tend to blame the men...
I gave these books to an old lady, a neighbor, she was on the same boat as me...she actually found Tatiana's behaviour more erratic than Alexander's. She said that usually men leave at that point..

PS trivia question.
name a body part most frequently used in the writing process.
PS2...this book was contracted by a published just because the first books were so successful and they felt the need to keep riding on the bronze horse and keep cashing in...

Oh, RSP, don't hold back now. As you can see, I rarely have anyone else who gets into some of these books the way that I do and love discussing them.

I do blame Tatiana but when I think about the 10 years they've been together, I see half of that on the road running from place to place like migrant workers and the other half starting to settle down in AZ but with Alexander getting all mixed up with the construction crew and Tatiana deciding to go back to work, they really weren't "together, together" if you know what I mean. When all of that business with Steve erupted, I think this was the breaking point for Tatiana. Alexander may have quit his job but she was really sick of him. I agree with your point that most people would have separated/divorced at this point, but they had so much history together that maybe Tatiana saw going to work and running away from their home legitimately in the guise of a job/helping out as a way to 'separate' from Alexander. They both carried a lot of emotional baggage that neither one of them wanted or dared to unpack.

The one thing that I did like about PS's writing this story was that she doesn't give a good guy/bad guy to either of them. She lays them bare and vulnerable and that's what makes us love, hate, and forgive these characters. It makes you look at older people who have survived wars and other disasters with new respect. How do they make it and keep it together? Here is a story about how that is possible.

Pauline, I couldn't agree with you more. PS does expose her characters completely, which is why I felt uncomfortable while reading parts of the story. I felt like a voyeur at times yet I still needed to know what would happen next. You could see the tension all coming to a head and then a great explosion occurs between Tatiana and Alexander that is so forceful that it takes your breath away. They have come full circle and with the birth of Pasha, they are able to reconnect.

I just loved reading about Alexander's excitement as he waits frantically for the birth of their second child, nudging the midwife out of the way so he can catch the baby in his arms. As he was not present when Anthony was born, this is an extremely special moment for him and Tatiana who have found a way to move on with their lives.

It's the whole change over him when he has his later children. We see a whole different Alexander, the man he was meant to be once he dealt with all of his internal garbage. You see the boys hanging off of each arm (Anthony certainly never saw that kind of Dad). They weren't intimidated by him as Anthony was. I felt like saying "welcome back, man, where've you been". I didn't enjoy that part of their marriage but wasn't as shocked or unprepared for it.

I loved when they were in the hospital after Vietnam and Anthony is sitting there with his one arm and the kids are climbing over him and one of them tells him that Victoria said "Who cares if he has one arm, he has the voice of an angel" or something like that. I think that he stayed with her through her cancer as much as for her standing by him during this time as it was for love because I think that he had been badly hurt by the girl in Vietnam who betrayed him.

LJ, I finally found what I was looking for about Larazevo. This is at the hospital when Alexander is trying to get Tatiana to talk to him in the parking lot.

Alexander, when you asked me to mary you, did you realize our marriage might last longer than one moon cycle?

I was hoping.

No, I don't think you were. Yes, you said, we were only going to do this once and we might as well do it right, but you were thinking do it right for a month. A year between furloughs, perhaps. While you were trying to get into Germany from Russia. I'm not saying the quest for me wasn't real, but what else, after all, did you have to live for? You could try to find me, try to stay alive for me, or you could smoke away your life in a Societ onion field. So you chose me. How ennobling! But this isn't briefest Lazarevo, is it? This is days and days and months and years, and all of the minutes in between, just you and me, one man and one woman in one marriage."

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!