From the time I could read, I have been a book worm. I am happy to read any book – fiction, self-help, management, spiritual etc. My favourite though, is fiction books. A well written fiction book helps you travel to distant places without leaving your home. They also help you understand other people’s lives, their thoughts and decisions. A Train to Moscow helps you peep behind the iron curtain of post WWII Soviet Union and the terrible rule of Stalin.
Every time I think of Stalin, I wonder about (late)Karunanidhi who was so inspired by the tyrant that he named his son after him. Today his son, Stalin is the Chief Minister of an Indian state, Tamil Nadu. :(:(
Summary of A Train to Moscow
The story of Soviet Union in 1940’s is painted on the canvas of Sasha and Andrei’s love story. Sasha, Marik and Andrei are school friends. Marik gets killed tragically in an accident that Andrei is responsible for and Sasha is a witness. There starts a series of secrets that she holds and some secrets that she unveils.
Sasha lives in a village called Ivanovo and we can imagine the living conditions – dusty roads, houses in utter disrepair and everyone praising Comrade Stalin by singing his glory. His picture is in every household 🙄.
The bug of acting catches Sasha and doesn’t let go. Her mother and grandfather are totally against the idea of her becoming an actress. Her grandmother, is her only supporter. Sasha also discovers her uncle Kolya’s journal. Her uncle was an artist who gets sent to the war like all other young men. The fact that they had no training, no guns even to fight with shows how terrible Soviet Union’s condition was at that time.
Sasha’s grandmother and mother wait for her uncle Kolya who is declared missing.
The title of the book is exactly what Sasha does much against the wishes of her overbearing grandfather and mother – she takes a train to Moscow to become an actress. Sasha becomes an actress in the country’s prestigious theater, but pays a heavy price – she has to give up the love of her life Andrei and one by one, her mother and grandmother pass away.
The lines that describe how an actor prepares for a role are beautiful. It helps you understand how good actors get “into” characters.
The ending is poignant – Sasha discovers her uncle Kolya and Andrei helps her to get out of the Soviet Union.
It’s almost autobiographical for the author Elena Gorokhova. Read all about it in her own words – The Story Behind A Train to Moscow.
Do read the book. My rating is 5/5. It’s very well written and you can picture every scene in post WWII Soviet Union as you read through the pages.
B & K,
After reading your review, I followed your link to the author’s story behind the story. Consider me sold. I will find a copy of “A Train to Moscow” ASAP and let you know . . .