And it makes me sad.Sweeping transgenerational novel, short-story writer Kalotay’s ( Calamity and Other Stories, 2005) first, of the Soviet era and its discontents.
The revelation of the mystery has such awful repercussions on Nina's life I don't know how she could possibly overcome it. Unfortunately, the book ends very abruptly and while the younger characters do get some resolution Nina is sort of left out in the cold. Although I don't think my pain is quite comparable, I sympathized a lot with Nina's horrible arthritis and her struggle with it. It was rather interesting to see the characters impressions of each other juxtaposed against their own narrations and how their personalities come out from their own perspectives. Two other characters share the narration with Nina past & present, but it does balance out and work in unraveling the mystery. In the secondary modern narrative, Nina is a crippled old woman confronted by her past when she decides to auction off her jewels. I could really feel her fear & hardship, but also her passion for dance. Russian Winter doesn't have much historical exposition but it does paint a very vivid picture of Soviet Russia through the eyes of Nina, a talented ballerina. Mid-way through reading Russian Winter I had fears that this novel would become too predictable, but thankfully Daphne Kalotay has skilfully interwoven twists and turns that keep you guessing right up until the very end. This novel seeks to unveil the past to discover one's identity and to offer insight into the toils and troubles of Soviet Russia. When auction house assistant, Drew, questions Nina's urgency to sell her most valued possessions, she uncovers a dark secret, further intensified by a Russian professor who comes forward anonymously to donate another amber piece, believed to be linked to the same amber set that Nina is so keen to be rid of. She seems troubled by one piece in particular, an amber jewel which she seems adamant about getting rid of. We then jump to present day America, where the ageing and arthritic Nina decides to auction off her expansive jewellery collection, most of which were gifts given to her by her late husband. With the talented Vera also by her side and romance blossoming with the introduction of some dreamy leading men, her glamorous stage life decorates the first half of this novel until the strain of Soviet Russia brings her and her friends back into a harsh reality.
When Nina is accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet her future looks bright. As a child she befriends the stunning, auburn-haired Vera, and together they audition for the ballet, establishing both their careers and friendship for many years to come. Russian Winter jumps from the past to present, detailing the life of a retired Russian ballet dancer, Nina Revskaya. This first novel of hers is an excellent read, one that I really enjoyed. Daphne Kalotay is an author with a promising future ahead of her.
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