Welcome to Litsy!

Not my favourite Kate Quinn but no one does historical fiction as well as she does. Mila was understandably prickly and her backstory was captivating but ultimately, the amount of violence was a bit above my threshold.

A 2024 read

#12booksof2024 @Andrew65

This book started out slow for me, but I‘m so glad I stuck with it. What a story! I‘ve found that Kate Quinn‘s books are always good. I had never heard of the Ukrainian Lady Death. She sure lead a crazy life as a sniper. She is someone I‘d definitely want on my side during conflict. This is the second book I‘ve read recently that touched on FDR and Eleanor. I enjoy their story as well. I recommend this book.

Excellent writing. I really loved the characters and the story. The history was really interesting and the strong women throughout this book made for a very empowering story. Not usually a big fan of historical fiction, but Kate Quinn is always a good read and very detailed with her books.

A phenomenal book that takes us into the life of Russian (Ukrainian really, but the story explains) single mother who desires to be a historian, but training, will and natural ability forge her into a sniper in WW2. Her kill count at over 300 leads her to a campaign where she befriends First Lady Elenor Roosevelt. She finds love & loss during her time on the front, with her second hubby dying in her arms. Living by the mantra, “don‘t miss” - read!

What an inspiring story of a strong woman that defies the perception of women‘s roles in wartime. I love that Quinn writes about strong women most of us have never heard of. Although a bit slow in parts as it‘s heavily based on Milas experience on the front lines, the ending more than makes up for the areas in the book that lack excitement. Love that Quinn tried to follow reality as much as possible and sprinkled in her own touch here and there.

A most excellent read based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, famed WWII Russian sniper with over 300 confirmed kills. Mila‘s life goes from quiet scholar, to the front lines of Odessa, all the way to a press tour in America to bolster US and Soviet relations during the war. Very much enjoyed this read from both a historical aspect and the liberties the author took fictionally.

The Diamond Eye was great! I stayed up later than usual to finish. 🌟🌟🌟🌟The Ordinary Failings book wasn‘t so great for me. I‘d be surprised if it made the shortlist of the Women‘s Prize. Or disappointed over surprised. I gave it 2.5 stars. The ending improved it for me. Then I read Western Lane. It was better over Ordinary Failings - a decent story about grief. That‘s a 3 star for me and again, surprised if it makes the shortlist.

Reading all the books at once. Other one not showing: Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. Ordinary Human Failings and Western Lane are on the recently announced Women‘s Prize Longlist and both are very short and were available to download from my library. How could I resist? In audio I‘m listening to If You Ask me by Eleanor Roosevelt. It‘s why I pulled Diamond Eye from my shelf. 😊

Absolutely loved this. Great historical fiction based on a fascinating and complex character who the author does a great job of presenting. I also really appreciated the authors note - Mila is a character who will stick with me and excitingly @Andrew65 it‘s also book 11 that I already owned #readaway2024

So good!! My #doublespin for the month @TheAromaofBooks

It's snowing like crazy so I'm hunkered down for the night with my Frankie!
I'm really enjoying tagged book so far!

It took a while to get in to this book, but the end was totally worth the payoff! Beautifully written.

It was long and slow for most of it, but the end was totally worth the payoff. It is beautifully written and I‘ve never read a WWI book from the Russian perspective. Don‘t skip the author‘s note!

I really like Kate Quinn‘s historical fiction. This was a different point of view of a WWII story, and I love that the author‘s note explains how much of this comes from the true story and where she embellished.

My aunt Pauline recommended this to me for my 12books12friends12months challenge, and I liked it a lot.

I love this wasn‘t a WWII love story. Yes love is a small part of it but not the main part. I love that it was from a Russian woman‘s point of view and wasn‘t necessarily pro American. Started a little slow. Loved the official and unofficial autobiography parts. Wasn‘t a huge fan of E. Roosevelt‘s parts but understand. Fascinating woman worthy of knowing.

When I picked up this book I thought I would like it, but I never would have predicted it would be my favorite read of the month. What surprises will June bring?
#readingbracket2023

Loved this #reread even more now that I've read The Huntress and got all the little Easter eggs Quinn laid! Mila's story is so good from both a storytelling and a character development perspective, and I enjoyed the depiction of the Roosevelts more than I remembered. Can't wait for Quinn's next!! #historicalfiction

A great historical fiction. I really enjoyed reading this novel. I learned quite a bit. The book had me googling to find truths about Mila. It‘s hard to imagine how difficult it would be to have been in her shoes. I think reading this book at this time. And knowing how the Ukraines are fighting to keep their country, made the story very realistic. I‘d give it 5 stars.

Well that was an addictive read! A female single mother in Russia who is studying to become a historian enlists in the army during WWII and becomes their most deadly sniper. I love a story about a fierce woman and her journey from student to war hero to internationally traveling war propagandist kept me neglecting everything else I was supposed to be doing while k read this book in a day.

The page where Alexei gets put in his place FINALLY

Another excellent book by Kate Quinn. The story of lady death, Soviet sniper, mila, is very interesting. Although fictionalized, it‘s based on the real life and memoirs of Mila. She did befriend Eleanor Roosevelt, she did have over 300 confirms sniper kills, and she did have a complicated love life.

Interesting.

Couldn‘t get into it. Other books were calling my name!

Not sure I can finish in time for Tuesday‘s book club.

“I was a weapon. I‘d learned to shoot after all. And I‘d vowed to be Slavka‘s father as well as his mother. In times of war, fathers go fight for their children” 58

Already obsessed and ready to dive in🫢

Good! A bit long. Wild details that were maybe a bit silly, but I bought them at the time because it was fun to do. 😋

I love Kate Quinn! 4.5 🌟s I wanted more on parts and less on others.
The most decorated female Russian sniper is the subject of this novel. Quinn weaves her fictionalization wonderfully.
You know I love any story about a badass woman.
Highly recommend.

Hold came in, time to put a hold on ‘Your Brain on Plants‘

I love bad ass forgotten women in history! Went down a massive rabbit hole to read the real life version and found out she went to my workplace (Liverpool Uni) when she visited the U.K. on one of the propaganda tours. I‘m going to see if we have anything on campus!

Escaped work. Hairdresser reading 😁

Just me and Doggo tonight ♥️ hubby and daughter out at (separate) gigs.
I‘ve had a long bath, ordered tapas from the restaurant round the corner and am about to have a good, quiet read. Perfect. Not sure Sansa thinks so!

Thinking it will be a much slower reading weekend with moving my daughter into her dorm for her 1st college semester (she graduated hs early) & saying goodbye to her.
Here‘s the books I hope to get to & read during the #sharreadathon in memory of @sharread 💔
#LitsyLove

2022 read …. Interning read and contains history!

“I don‘t know why anyone wants to be famous. It‘s utterly maddening. “

My first book of 2023. Kate Quinn is the best at introducing us to little known women who played big roles in their part of history. I had never heard of Lyudmila Pavlichenko but have gone down the rabbit hole learning more about this small but fierce woman. #RabbitHole #52Books#29

@Librarybelle @rmaclean4 @Read4life @ravenlee @LaraReads @britt_brooke @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @KarenUK @LeeRHarry

Last of 2022: Upgrade - Blake Crouch
First of 2023: Tagged (started in 2022 but first finished) 🙂
Would recommend both!!!
#lastfirst

What a story! The fictionalized version of historical figure, Mila Pavlichenko, a female Russian sniper during WWII who logged over 300 kills. This one was tough to put down. I especially enjoyed her interactions with Eleanor Roosevelt. I did a combo of audio and e-book (due to library availability) and I think I preferred the audio version as it was much easier to immerse myself in the story. Highly recommend! Read for #literarycrew

This year, I provided my book-following social media friends with a 12-month recommendation list based on my reads from 2022. Here it is! What books would you add?

Amazing fictionalized story of Mila Pavilchenko, nicknamed Lady Death for her role as a sniper in the Russian army in WWII. I had never heard of her before this book - lots of information on life as a sniper, along with a secondary storyline involving danger in the US. This was my first book by Quinn, and it will not be my last! #LiteraryCrew

It‘s time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion! I posted a variety of questions under the spoiler tag - you can find them either under my feed, the book‘s feed, or searching #LiteraryCrew .

This is a remarkable book, and there are many more discussable thoughts on this. Feel free to comment below (and if it‘s a spoiler, please use the spoiler tag). Thanks for joining! Info for next month is posted - follow the tag in comments.