The%20Mirrored%20World:%20A%20NovelThe%20Mirrored%20World:%20A%20NovelThe Mirrored World by Debra Dean
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 245 (Hardback)
Source: TLC Book Tours
Buy it: The%20Mirrored%20World:%20A%20NovelThe%20Mirrored%20World:%20A%20NovelAmazon | Kindle | B&N | Book Depo
Description:
The critically acclaimed author of The Madonnas of Leningrad ("Elegant and poetic, the rare kind of book that you want to keep but you have to share" --Isabel Allende), Debra Dean returns with The Mirrored World, a breathtaking novel of love and madness set in 18th century Russia. Transporting readers to St. Petersburg during the reign of Catherine the Great, Dean brilliantly reconstructs and reimagines the life of St. Xenia, one of Russia's most revered and mysterious holy figures, in a richly told and thought-provoking work of historical fiction that recounts the unlikely transformation of a young girl, a child of privilege, into a saint beloved by the poor.
My Rating:
My Review: The Mirrored World imagines the world and life of St. Xenia, a historical figure known for serving the impoverished in St. Petersburg, Russia during the eighteenth century and endeavors to explain how she became the historical figure that she is known for today. The tale is told by Xenia's cousin Dasha and is enriched by historical details (and gossip) about the royal family and the quirky antics of the court during this time period.
This is a sad interesting tale that I enjoyed quite a bit. It didn't have me tearing through the pages, but every time I opened this little book I found myself losing track of time as I became completely engrossed in the story. Dasha isn't the most interesting character but somehow the story is more interesting told from her point of view. The beauty of this book is the writing and how Ms. Dean manages to unveil a sad story in such an artistic manner. It's almost like a song, sad and poignant. My only complaint involves the description on the book cover. It tells the entire story. I like reading descriptions but this one goes too far.
I'm not sure if it is for everyone, but if you enjoy historical fiction and great writing, give this one a try. Be prepared for a sad sad read though.
