Customer Reviews

Strange Are the Ways

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Although I haven't yet finished this novel, I'm so pleased with the story that I wanted to say something about it. The pleasant surprise for me about this book is that it has turned out (so far) to be better than I thought it would be. Ms. Crane really is a storyteller with a gift for elegantly stating the details from a society now long gone. The story is set in Russia, from 1908-1921, and has all of the delicious little details that make escapist reading so much fun. It is the story of Victor & Varya Shalakov, and their three daughters, and one son, as they move from Moscow to St. Petersburg, so that Victor may pursue a fortuitous business opportunity. Victor is a hard-edged man, and a bit oppressive to his two eldest daughters, denying his eldest, an accomplished violinist, the opportunity extended to her to play with a great symphony orchestra. His second eldest daughter he grudgingly half-believes is a product of an adulterous union between his wife and a handsome officer of the guard. Victor knows this to not be true, but is still cruel-spirited to the girl because her mere presence reminds him of when he lost his temper one afternoon and forcibly coupled with his wife out of anger, which resulted in this daughter he shows such utter contempt for. Theresa's characters come to life. If you enjoy historical novels please read this one.