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Comments (1)Russian Winter” is Daphne Kalotay’s delicately-spun story of Nina Revskaya, a fictional prima ballerina at the Bolshoi.
The setting fluctuates between the dancer’s girlhood in Communist post-war Russia and her old age in Boston, Mass. The story revolves around Revskaya’s tremendous jewel collection, which she has decided to auction off as a measure of separating herself from the dark memories and emotions that accompany her many jewels. We are introduced to another character, a language professor in Boston deeply interested in Revskaya and her husband’s plight, for reasons that slowly reveal themselves.
Kalotay juxtaposes the sobering devastation of Russia’s darkest times with the pristine beauty of ballerinas, precious gems and unfaltering love; and with the purity of white snow, modernity and the freedom of modern-day New England. While the overarching plot of the story is one we’ve read many times (deep love transcending worldly tribulations), Kalotay infuses the novel with tiny surprises and a major twist. It’s her new approach and unexpected combinations that keep the book fresh. While her writing is extremely accessible to any reader, Kalotay’s style still remains complex. Her use of perspective and a continuously switching point of view bring us into a close and intimate relationship with not just a protagonist, but also with multiple characters, creating a book almost impossible to put down.
Kalotay also uses many styles of writing: poetry, letters, and reference and catalogue excerpts. Her strength in fiction writing is obvious; she doesn’t compromise any of these styles—each is executed impeccably.
Her story pulls at the reader’s heartstrings and truly invokes an emotionalism that is the sign of a great writer. “Russian Winter” is a great read for any fiction lover. Be warned—once started, this book will be highly difficult to put down!