A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. An extraordinary debut, a deeply lovely novel that evokes with uncommon deftness the terrible, heartbreaking beauty that is life in wartime. Petersburg during the reign of catherine the great, dean. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. In 1941, marini was a tour guide at the hermitage museum in leningradbut the war has changed things and on stalins orders all the precious painting and sculptures are being packed up to send to safety. The madonnas of leningrad book club questions exploration.
Madonnas of leningrad april 2, 2006 debra deans first novel tells the story of an 82yearold russian emigre with alzheimers disease whose mind is captured by the past. The madonnas of leningrad is the debut novel by debra dean that i have wanted to read for quite some time. Digital audiobook 9172012 paperback 2202007 prerecorded audio player 4120 compact disc 4120. Stuggling to remember whom katie is marrying and indeed that there is to be a marriage at all, marina does remember her youth as a hermitage museum docent as the siege of leningrad began.
The madonnas of leningrad is the first novel by debra dean, who was once an actress in new york. But in her debut novel, the madonnas of leningrad, debra dean offers a sensitive portrayal of the noncombatants who suffer on the home front. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memories the details of her grown childrens lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchild yet he. The madonnas of leningrad debra dean digital audiobook. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean easy for me to start with. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle app.
Rare is the novel that creates that blissful forgotyouwerereading experience. She lives in miami and teaches in the creative writing program at florida international university. Whether it is to a book discussion group seeking guidance in selecting new authors, a. Gripping, touching, and heartbreaking, it marks the debut of debra dean, a. Marina, the woman in question, was a guide at leningrad s famous hermitage museum. Isabel allende, debra dean returns with the mirrored world, a breathtaking novel of love and madness set in 18th century russia.
The madonnas of leningrad audiobook debra dean audible. Madonnas of leningrad is the debut novel by debra dean, and its a very solid work of historical fiction. As the people braved starvation and bitter cold, marina joined other staff members in removing the museums priceless masterpieces for safekeeping. Eighty yearold, russianborn marina and her husband, dmitri, emigrated to the united states after world war ii, and their two grown children believe that their parents are content to have left their memories of the war behind them in. This was not at all what i expected and i must say that i was enthralled with this beautiful book and all of its stunning and poetic imagery. What did you love best about the madonnas of leningrad. Debra dean worked as an actress in the new york theater for nearly a decade before opting for the life of a writer and teacher. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a haunting glow, illuminating us to the. Vivid images of her youth in wartorn leningrad arise unbidden, carrying her back to the terrible fall of 1941, when she was a tour guide at the hermitage museum and the german armys approach signaled the beginning of what would be a long, torturous siege on the city. Mar 14, 2006 as alzheimers slowly erases marinas world, her past in wartime leningrad begins to again take form around her.
The madonnas of leningrad the madonnas of leningrad audiobook, by debra dean. Vivid images of the elderly marinas youth in wartorn leningrad arise unbidden, carrying her back to the terrible fall of 1941, when she was a tour guide at the hermitage museum and the german army began a long, torturous siege on the city. With an overdrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for ataglance information about availability. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The madonnas of leningrad is an extraordinary debut, a deeply lovely novel that evokes with uncommon deftness the terrible, heartbreaking beauty that is life in wartime. In 1941, as hitler besieged and bombed leningrad, marina was one of hundreds of workers in the hermitage dedicated to preserving its vast art. Debra dean is the author of the madonnas of leningrad and confessions of a falling woman. Those people whose scarring wounds are caused by hunger, sickness, loneliness and deprivation. In this extraordinary first novel by debra dean, the siege of leningrad by german troops in world war ii is echoed by the destructive siege against the mind and memory of an elderly russian woman. Yelena shmulenson, an actress and audiobook narrator, is a fourtime winner of the audiofile earphones award. A central mystery revolves around andres conception. Listen to the madonnas of leningrad audiobook by debra.
In her first novel, debra dean paints a powerful portrait of a woman with alzheimers, a disease that makes the past an. Sep 18, 2012 listen to madonnas of leningrad audiobook by debra dean. Madonnas of leningrad debra deans first novel tells the story of an 82yearold russian emigre with alzheimers disease whose mind is captured by the past. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memoriesthe details of her grown childrens. Marina describes a remarkable incident on the roof of the hermitage when one of the statues from the roof of the winter palace, a naked god, came to life, though she later discounts this as a hallucination. The madonnas of leningrad, debra deans first novel, tells the story of marina, a docent at the. The mirrored world the mirrored world audiobook, by debra dean. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a haunting glow, illuminating us to the notion that art itself is perhaps our most necessary. Seamlessly moving back and forth in time between the soviet union and contemporary america, the madonnas of leningrad is a searing portrait of war and remembrance, of the power of love, memory, and art to offer beauty, grace, and hope in the face of overwhelming despair. She emigrated to the united states with her family in 1993 from ukraine. As alzheimers slowly erases marinas world, her past in wartime leningrad begins to again take form around her.
As her granddaughters wedding draws nearer, 82yearold marina finds her alzheimers disease is worsening but her memories of leningrad during world war ii grow even more vivid. The madonnas of leningrad historical novel society. The madonnas of leningrad, debra deans first novel, tells the story of marina, a docent at the state hermitage museum during the 900day siege of leningrad. Eighty yearold, russianborn marina and her husband, dmitri, emigrated to the united states after world war ii, and their two grown children believe that their parents are content to have left their memories of the war behind them in leningrad. Marinas clear and detailed recollections of the hermitage collection and the war are interspersed with her current dementiaimpaired life in seattle, washington as she prepares to attend a granddaughters wedding. Liza ross marina was a guide at leningrad s hermitage museum. An enjoyable read, delivered by an expert narrator audiofile. The madonnas of leningrad cuyahoga county public library. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a haunting glow, illuminating us to the notion that art itself is perhaps our most necessary nourishment. Audiogo firm bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding marinas grip on the everyday. The madonnas of leningrad is a work of historical fiction in which a characters memories of the past both haunt and comfort her in the present day.
The madonnas of leningrad rnib supporting blind and. As the people braved starvation and bitter cold, marina joined other staff members in removing the museums priceless masterpieces for. Marina, the woman in question, was a guide at leningrads famous hermitage museum. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memories the details of her grown childrens lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchild. Digital audiobook 9172012 hardcover 3142006 prerecorded audio. Isabel allende raves about this unforgettable story of love, survival, and the power of imagination. Bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding marinas grip on the everyday.
In the autumn of 1941, she and her colleagues were set the task of taking priceless masterpieces out of the grand galleries, storing them safely. Digital audiobook 9172012 hardcover 3142006 prerecorded audio player 4120 compact disc 4120. The madonnas of leningrad audiobook, by debra dean. The blending of recollection into the narrative is stunning. Listen to madonnas of leningrad audiobook by debra dean. The madonnas of leningrad is a thin book, only 228 pages, but it leaves you feeling as though you traveled to a different time and place. Editions of the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. In 1941, as hitler besieged and bombed leningrad, marina was one of hundreds of workers in the hermitage dedicated to preserving its vast art collection from destruction. The madonnas of leningrad tennessee reads overdrive. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean author yelena shmulenson narrator. Listen to the madonnas of leningrad audiobook by debra dean. She says that the inspiration behind her first novel was a pbs series on the hermitage museum in 1995. This superb first novel by author debra dean tells the story of marina, a young tour guide at the hermitage museum during the siege of leningrad in world war ii.
But for millions of soviet citizens the siege of leningrad was even more consequential. Listen to the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean available from rakuten kobo. It captures so well the way recollection feels its unevenness, its gaps, its uncertainties, and. The book, somewhat short but very impactful, tells the story of a young russian woman named marina caught in the horrible siege at leningrad during world war ii after her fiance goes off to fight, and the residual effect it has on her life and others decades later in her elder years. Bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding marinas grip on everyday life and while this elderly russian woman cannot hold on to fresh memories the details of her grown childrens lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchild her distant past is preserved in vivid snapshots of her youth in wartorn leningrad that rise unbidden. The official websites of both the alzheimers association and the alzheimers foundation of america offer a wealth of information regarding the disease. Digital audiobook 9172012 paperback 2202007 prerecorded audio. Mar 14, 2006 the madonnas of leningrad hardcover a novel. Classic war films and novels recount bloody battles and soldiers violent, noble deaths. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memoriesthe details of her grown childrens lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchildyet her distant past is miraculously. The madonnas of leningrad king county library system. This sort of transcendence is rarer still when the novel in question is an authors debut, but that is precisely what debra dean has achieved with her imagerich book, the madonnas of leningrad. 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.
The madonnas of leningrad navy general library program. It captures so well the way recollection feels its unevenness, its gaps, its uncertainties, and yet, its extraordinary power over the present. What are the miracles that occur in the madonnas of leningrad. Liza ross marina was a guide at leningrads hermitage museum. Jul 01, 2006 the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean 232pp, fourth estate. The bloodsoaked battle of stalingrad has emerged as the mostcited example of russias sacrifice.
Serving victims, their families, and caretakers, both organizations provide extensive information regarding the nature of the disease, its symptoms, methods of treatment, current research efforts, educational literature. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean overdrive rakuten. The madonnas of leningrad audiobook listen instantly. And that tragic event is the subject of debra deans compelling novel, the madonnas of leningrad. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memorie. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.