I just got done reading an unexpectedly incredible book and literally couldn't wait to share about it. Like, I meant to go to bed hours ago but finished the book instead and am now click-clacking at my computer instead of...going to bed. Which I planned to do hours ago. Just sayin'.
I finished a book yesterday (more on that one later) and was looking for something else to read. Something about summer break brings out my inner reader and I literally can't get enough! Anyway, I found this one on my bookshelf and remembered buying it, putting it on my bookshelf...and then never reading it. Bummer. I picked it up, reread the summary, and quite honestly wondered why I bought it in the first place.
The subject matter is the Romanov royals of Russia, Nicholas (the last tsar) and Alexandra. My knowledge was limited: they were Russians, they were royal, they were killed. Legend has it that two of their children escaped, but no one knows for sure. Disney made a cutesy movie about Anastasia. Try not to be impressed with my background knowledge!
Anyway, I decided to give it a try. I'll be completely honest...the first half is a bit slow. Interesting, but nothing too spectacular. Then the tension starts building. And building. And building, until finally, it's the middle of the night and you abandon the hope of getting enough sleep because you just. have. to know.
This story is fantastic. What happens to the Romanovs is fascinating and completely horrific (especially for someone who knew practically nothing of them before), but the (fictional) story of the old man recounting the tale is the best part. There's a huge twist at the end, and then a twist on top of the twist. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.
Track it down. Read it. Let me know what you think. Don't ya love it when your low expectations are blown out of the water? Me too.
Oh, and this just hit me. Back in the day, I was up in the wee hours on Friday nights rockin' and rollin' on the town with my friends. Now, I'm up in the wee hours of a Friday night to finish a killer book. And ya know what? I'm okay with that.
J, you make me laugh! Always. I will definitely take your advice because the last book you wrote about last summer was really great.
ReplyDeleteI'm sso glad you are enjoying your time off.
Blessings
~a
Annesta, if you read this one definitely let me know so that we can chat about it! I'm still thinking about this book days later...that's the mark of a good book in my opinion :) I am very much enjoying my time off. Trying to enjoy every second. I hope your week is off to a good start, and thanks for being such a faithful reader of my little blog!
ReplyDeleteJulie