Good morning, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the TLC book tour for Talia Carner's Hotel Moscow.It's 1993 and Russia is in the midst of massive change. Communism has fallen but the government regime is still unstable. And it's this tenuous new environment that is host to Brooke Fielding and a group of American women who have traveled to the country to teach a variety of business skills to Russian women. Though they are welcomed into the country, they are met with unexpected hostility. The city is filled with gang violence and turbulence, something Brooke and the other visitors discover almost immediately. But rather than turn tail and leave, Brooke and the others decide to stay and help.
This was a real eye-opener. Based on the author's own experiences in Russia in 1993, the book illustrates the challenges women - and indeed all of the people - of Russia faced after the fall of the Soviet Union.
I was a kid while this was going on; it was always there, in the news and in the background. As a twelve-year-old, though, my interest in Russian politics was less than non existent. And yet, I did grow up in while Russia was still "the enemy." As an adult, I have much more interest in the goings-on of other countries and that was part of the reason I wanted to read this one.
As is almost always the case, Hotel Moscow's plot is just part of the book. The characters - Brooke in particular - elevate the story, making it a more emotional read. Brooke is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and has had that history and fear imprinted on her since she was a child. It greatly affects her perceptions and feelings as well as her resolution to stay and help.
Hotel Moscow is an great read for anyone interested in Russia's history or is simply looking for a story with excellent female characters.
Rating: 4/5
To see more stops on the tour be sure to check out the official TLC tour page here.
For more on Talia and her work, you can visit her website here. You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
3 comments:
This sounds like a book that would appeal to me. I love the sound of the time and setting. Thank you for the introduction and lovely review.
I love the sound of this book. I'll be hosting an excerpt and guest feature, but wouldn't have had time to read it. Go glad you enjoyed it. :)
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal - Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews
I studied Russian and Soviet history in college in the mid 1990s so this book is right up my alley!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
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