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annecater

Due to be published November 2008, published in USA under the title 'The Red Scarf'

Synopsis
Davinsky Labour Camp, Siberia, 1933: Sofia Morozova knows she has to escape. Only two things have sustained her through the bitter cold, aching hunger and hard labour: the prospect of one day walking free; and the stories told by her friend Anna, beguiling tales of a charmed upbringing in Petrograd ? and of Anna's fervent love for a passionate revolutionary, Vasily. So when Anna falls gravely ill, Sofia makes a promise to escape the camp and find Vasily: to chase the memory that has for so long spun hope in both their hearts. But Sofia knows that times have changed. Russia, gripped by the iron fist of Communism, is no longer the country of her friend's childhood. Her perilous search takes her from industrial factories to remote villages, where she discovers a web of secrecy and lies, but also bonds of courage and loyalty ? and an overwhelming love that threatens her promise to Anna.

I received an Advance Reading Copy of this one for review and finished it last night. Although I have Kate Furnivall's previous book on TBR, I've not yet read it and had no preconceptions about what to expect of this, my copy has a plain red cover, so couldnt even 'judge by the cover'

The story is set in 1930s Communist Russia - and starts in one of the Labour Camps that house thousands of woman taken prisoner by Stalin's Army. I'm ashamed to say that I had no prior knowledge of this period in history and was shocked to read of the atrocities that happened during this time.

Furnivall paints a very stark, bleak picture of the grim Labour Camps and of the terrible conditions suffered by the prisoners. The scarcity of basic needs and the whole regimentation of the camps, and in fact the villages and towns outside of the camp come to life and some of the descriptions are heart breaking. The story unfolds as Sofia makes her escape from the camp in order to find Anna's love Vasily. As she makes her way as a fugitive across Russia, the grim reality of life under Stalin for ordinary people is made clear. The impact on small town and villages of the propaganda that they are constantly fed, the mistrust and fear and paranoia that develops between friends and families.

The story totally absorbed me and it was another one that I hated to put down - part historical, part romance and a very light touch of magic all mix together to make a extremely entertaining and informative read.

I think Joanne Harris fans would enjoy this, I'm certainly looking forward to reading The Russian Concubine now.

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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

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heathera · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for this review Anne, it sounds like a really interesting read.

I'll have to add it to my wishlist!
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blueflower · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject:

I started this last night and have already read quite a few chapters which is amazing after I have been struggling to read lately. I have read about the camps in other books so knew it would be grim. I read The Long Walk which is a true story about Slavomir Rawicz's experience of the whole system and his escape. I have read The Russian Concubine and enjoyed that. I have a bit of a passion for books set in Russia so I was a bit disappointed because only the first chapter was in Russia and the rest of the book is set in China. Kate Furnivall's story is quite interesting. She is from Wales but her grandmother had to leave Russia and went to China and had quite an esciting life, but she insists the story isn't about her Grandmother.

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