Historical

A Train to Moscow

A Train to Moscow

  • Downloads：4784
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-02-22 11:21:46
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Elena Gorokhova
  • ISBN：1713621576
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

In post–World War II Russia， a girl must reconcile a tragic past with her hope for the future in this powerful and poignant novel about family secrets， passion and loss， perseverance and ambition。

In a small， provincial town behind the Iron Curtain， Sasha lives in a house full of secrets， one of which is her own dream of becoming an actress。 When she leaves for Moscow to audition for drama school， she defies her mother and grandparents and abandons her first love， Andrei。

Before she leaves， Sasha discovers the hidden war journal of her uncle Kolya， an artist still missing in action years after the war has ended。 His pages expose the official lies and the forbidden truth of Stalin’s brutality。 Kolya’s revelations and his tragic love story guide Sasha through drama school and cement her determination to live a thousand lives onstage。 After graduation， she begins acting in Leningrad， where Andrei， now a Communist Party apparatchik， becomes a censor of her work。 As a past secret comes to light， Sasha’s ambitions converge with Andrei’s duties， and Sasha must decide if her dreams are truly worth the necessary sacrifice and if， as her grandmother likes to say， all will indeed be well。

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Reviews

Leland E ，

A glimpse of real Russian lifeAn inside look at life in Russia。 How the people felt about their victory in WWII。 How little they know of life in the West。 How jobs and professions are controlled by the Communist Party。

Jamie Villante ，

good story I have not read much Russian literature。 This story kept my attention。 I kept wanting to know what happened next。 Sometimes I got a little lost and I had to keep reading to understand where we were in the story。

Shreya ，

Although it took me a while to get through this book （mostly because I'm not a huge history fan）， I really enjoyed it。 The author does a wonderful job of letting the reader experience all the emotions Sasha is going through。 You can understand and support nearly every decision she makes。 To me， the story almost read like a tragedy; I wasn't sure which direction the ending would take。 These tragedy-like moments were the ones that really let you see how life behind the Iron Curtain was for the com Although it took me a while to get through this book （mostly because I'm not a huge history fan）， I really enjoyed it。 The author does a wonderful job of letting the reader experience all the emotions Sasha is going through。 You can understand and support nearly every decision she makes。 To me， the story almost read like a tragedy; I wasn't sure which direction the ending would take。 These tragedy-like moments were the ones that really let you see how life behind the Iron Curtain was for the common person。 The novel repeatedly addresses the unjust actions of the Communist Party and the Russian Army。 It explores the different perspectives of those closest to Sasha and shows the aftereffects of the carnivorous times of Stalin。 It also gives an Evelyn Hugo like look at the behind the scenes of theater。 Overall， I liked seeing how the characters developed as a result of their circumstances， and I liked how the author used references to bring the story to life。 。。。more

Courtney Crawford ，

Not bad Not bad， but not my favorite。 I don't enjoy the way the time jumps forward and I couldn't get immersed into this book。 Not bad Not bad， but not my favorite。 I don't enjoy the way the time jumps forward and I couldn't get immersed into this book。 。。。more

Jami Connors ，

ReviewSad and dark but beautifully written and insightful。 I enjoyed the reading about Sasha's acting transformations。 This is a good read for history lovers。 ReviewSad and dark but beautifully written and insightful。 I enjoyed the reading about Sasha's acting transformations。 This is a good read for history lovers。 。。。more

Sally Mccoy ，

Great NovelThis historical novel shows life and hardship in Soviet Russia following World War II。 The writing is masterful and the story is gripping。 I strongly recommend it。

Christine Wang ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Was absolutely blown away by this book。 I’m not normally a reader of historical fiction， but I picked this from February’s FirstReads offerings - something about Sasha and her story really stuck out to me and made me want to pick it up。 Let me start by saying that I don’t know much about Russian history， but this story gave a great look into it， and what life was like back then。 Sasha’s character immediately drew me in and I was rooting for her and her happiness and success。 We follow her from 6 Was absolutely blown away by this book。 I’m not normally a reader of historical fiction， but I picked this from February’s FirstReads offerings - something about Sasha and her story really stuck out to me and made me want to pick it up。 Let me start by saying that I don’t know much about Russian history， but this story gave a great look into it， and what life was like back then。 Sasha’s character immediately drew me in and I was rooting for her and her happiness and success。 We follow her from 6 years old to mid/late 20s。 From her sheltered life in Ivanovo， to Moscow to pursue acting， and without revealing spoilers， to her final destination at the end of the book。 From the beginning she has always wanted more and I cheered her on for chasing her dreams， even at such a young age and not letting her family hold her back。 There is much tragedy， loss and happiness along the way， and she learns of deep buried family secrets。 The writing style took a bit to get used to because I’m used to reading close first and third person viewpoints。 This was told in more of an omniscient， narrative style but it didn’t draw me out of the story once I got into it。 There is hope for a happy ending， though I wish that there was also a happier ending for Andrei。 He had quite the tragic life， though I understood why he did the things he did。 I also wished that he and Sasha could have found a way to be together。 Very well done。 Quite a moving story and it kept me turning the pages。 。。。more

JoAnne ，

I never read historical fiction and have turned my nose to it for years， but I really enjoyed this book。 Sasha wants nothing more than to leave her home and become an actress， and throughout the book we learn how dedicated she is to this dream， and how much it will cost her in the end。 Beautiful story， amazing characters， and the ending was painful and satisfying all at the same time！ Thank you net galley for an ARC of this book。

Diane ，

A wonderful story。At first I thought I was not going to be able to get into this book。 I'm so glad I gave it a chance。 At the end I said "awww" because it ended and I didn't want it to。 I sincerely want to read more。 I can only hope。 I think of this author as an artist。 Simply compelling in it's monstrousness and beauty。 Thank you。 A wonderful story。At first I thought I was not going to be able to get into this book。 I'm so glad I gave it a chance。 At the end I said "awww" because it ended and I didn't want it to。 I sincerely want to read more。 I can only hope。 I think of this author as an artist。 Simply compelling in it's monstrousness and beauty。 Thank you。 。。。more

Kathie ，

Stereotyping this novel like I think of many themes of Russian art， music， literature， poetry， philosophy: deep， dark， complicated， intense。 In Post-WWII 1952-1968 Sasha feels quite differently about “the Motherland” and the “Party” than her indoctrinated grandfather and mother。 An informative look at the politics of Russia after the war and the disparity between the people and the government—the have-nots and the haves。 Last 20% best part of the book。

Tracie ，

Decent story， but not riveting。

dr。 tom clark ，

Outstanding novelThis novel revolves around themes of guilt and redemption。 It provides a window to the soul deadening impact of living under totalitarian rule。

Taralyn Boellmann ，

This was a truly great read and extremely well written。 I generally read ww2 historical fiction based in France and Paris with strong female protagonist。 This gave me insight to post WW2 soviet union amd their culture， a knowledge that I knew basically nothing。 It was also part of Amazon free reads for my Feb pick and I'm super happy I picked it！ This was a truly great read and extremely well written。 I generally read ww2 historical fiction based in France and Paris with strong female protagonist。 This gave me insight to post WW2 soviet union amd their culture， a knowledge that I knew basically nothing。 It was also part of Amazon free reads for my Feb pick and I'm super happy I picked it！ 。。。more

Samantha ，

The description sounded amazing， so I was excited to read this one。 I was bummed that I didn’t really like it。 I think the author’s writing style just isn’t for me。 I didn’t find myself wanting to pick this one up， but instead willing myself to finish。 The author gave great details and descriptions， but the story fell a little flat for me。

Tanya Chesnell ，

I think this book had a lot of missed potential， and while I do find some flaws in the book and the characters， it was overall an interesting read with an interesting setting。 An intriguing glimpse behind the Iron Curtain。

Glady ，

Equal parts hope and despair， A Train to Moscow comprises events in Russia in the late 1940s through the 1950s。Growing up in a small village amid the poverty and destruction of war and communism， Sasha knew she was destined to be an actress。 But to become one meant leaving all she knew and loved behind。 Her childhood friend and love， Andrei， chooses a different path。 He rises in the ranks of the Party but such affiliation brings burdens。Gorokhova manages to depict the lackluster life under commu Equal parts hope and despair， A Train to Moscow comprises events in Russia in the late 1940s through the 1950s。Growing up in a small village amid the poverty and destruction of war and communism， Sasha knew she was destined to be an actress。 But to become one meant leaving all she knew and loved behind。 Her childhood friend and love， Andrei， chooses a different path。 He rises in the ranks of the Party but such affiliation brings burdens。Gorokhova manages to depict the lackluster life under communism while also conveying the excitement of a young woman making her way on the stage。 The harsh and continual sacrifices of the Russian populace are clearly shown。 。。。more

Michelle Redder ，

This was a powerful read。。。"You either pull the trigger， or you kneel on the floor。"At the age of seven; Sasha decides she wants to leave everything behind and go to Moscow to study acting。 Sasha soon discovers a hidden war journal written by her Uncle Kolya who is still missing in action。 Inside， she reads of the horrific details that nobody will admit about the terror of the front line and Stalin's brutality。 Inspired by the journal Sasha works hard to achieve her status as an actress， but in This was a powerful read。。。"You either pull the trigger， or you kneel on the floor。"At the age of seven; Sasha decides she wants to leave everything behind and go to Moscow to study acting。 Sasha soon discovers a hidden war journal written by her Uncle Kolya who is still missing in action。 Inside， she reads of the horrific details that nobody will admit about the terror of the front line and Stalin's brutality。 Inspired by the journal Sasha works hard to achieve her status as an actress， but in doing so has to leave her family and Andrei: her first love， behind。"I often think about how we itch to run away from home and then keep searching for it for the rest of our lives。"Andrei who is now part of the Communist Party Committee that censors everything from Sasha's plays， to books， to art and even clothing as simple as women's hats， has kept tabs on Sasha and has reunited with her multiple times only to be reminded that their love for each other can not exist。 。。。more

Scott J Pearson ，

The protagonist Sasha is born into a Russian family in a provincial town around the time of the Second World War。 During her youth， Stalinist communism tries to white-wash Russian history by avoiding difficult parts， like barbarous murders， the horrors of anti-German military campaigns， and betrayals of one’s neighbors to prisons。 For the Party， World War II tells the story of glorious and miraculous Russian triumph over the world， without any complications。However， Sasha soon discovers the jour The protagonist Sasha is born into a Russian family in a provincial town around the time of the Second World War。 During her youth， Stalinist communism tries to white-wash Russian history by avoiding difficult parts， like barbarous murders， the horrors of anti-German military campaigns， and betrayals of one’s neighbors to prisons。 For the Party， World War II tells the story of glorious and miraculous Russian triumph over the world， without any complications。However， Sasha soon discovers the journal of her late uncle， who was an artist before being lost to history during this great war。 He saw life clearly， and through him， she decides to become an actress。 The life of direct access to art （and truth） appeals to her longings。 Despite the misgivings of her family （especially her practical mother）， she decides to move to Moscow to pursue acting school。However， she leaves behind the complex social life of a small town。 Her boyfriend Andrei， himself with heavy moral weights， is becoming a Party member and exploring a life of ambition。 She leaves behind memories of another childhood friend， unable to arrive at adulthood。 Her family lives in a web of lies， death， manipulations， and defeat。 These dark relationships serve for Gorohova as a microcosm of the tragedy that was Stalinist Russia。 It was not a regime based on truth or human dignity。This story， written by an American immigrant from Russia， reminds readers of the value of truthfulness in healthy human relations。 This theme certainly speaks loudly to modern times in America where some proclaim a so-called “post-truth” era。 It also rekindles the enduring faith that out of any ashes， the human spirit will eventually triumph， much as Sasha rose from provincial Russia。Although the eternal struggles of mother Russia are littered throughout centuries of Russian literature， I can only hope that trading these struggles for American realities will produce better fruit for the modern world。 Such hope is fostered by Gorokhova’s first novel， though， and those who seek better human life will benefit from reading this book。 。。。more

Jude ，

An Enthralling Experience What a compelling walk in Russian shoes of the 1950s and 60s。 I was totally engrossed in Sasha’s story， as universal as any mother-daughter conflict yet particular to Khrushchevv and Brezhnev’s Soviet Union。 I particularly enjoyed the mention of “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” ， a Russian WWII film I had seen regarding a unit of female soldiers led by a male sergeant that was heartbreaking in its own right。 I could not stop reading this tale and I highly recommend it。

KATHY Arnold ，

Very interesting look at life and times in Russia wrapped around a star-crossed-lovers romantic thread。

Candace ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I don't understand why Sasha was so drawn to Andrei， a guy who taunted Marik mercilessly， knowing what would happen if Marik threw the bomb into the fire， and she didn't condemn him afterward， a guy who could crush a grasshopper between his fingers， a guy who became a Party operative and admittedly crushed hundreds of his compatriots。 Nevertheless， I followed her story with rapt attention。 I liked Marik and Grandma and Lara and Kolya。 All the characters were three-dimensional。 The book was quite I don't understand why Sasha was so drawn to Andrei， a guy who taunted Marik mercilessly， knowing what would happen if Marik threw the bomb into the fire， and she didn't condemn him afterward， a guy who could crush a grasshopper between his fingers， a guy who became a Party operative and admittedly crushed hundreds of his compatriots。 Nevertheless， I followed her story with rapt attention。 I liked Marik and Grandma and Lara and Kolya。 All the characters were three-dimensional。 The book was quite readable， the story was a page-turner。 Very well done！ 。。。more

Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader ，

Elena Gorokhova has written two popular memoirs， A Mountain of Crumbs and Russian Tattoo， about her life in Soviet Russia。 I’ve acquired both books due to the outstanding reviews， but sadly I haven’t picked them up yet。A Train to Moscow is a work historical fiction set in Russia just after World War II。 It’s Sasha’s story as she leaves her home for Moscow to audition for a prestigious drama program。 She also leaves her love， Andrei， behind， as well as her family。Just before she leaves， Sasha fin Elena Gorokhova has written two popular memoirs， A Mountain of Crumbs and Russian Tattoo， about her life in Soviet Russia。 I’ve acquired both books due to the outstanding reviews， but sadly I haven’t picked them up yet。A Train to Moscow is a work historical fiction set in Russia just after World War II。 It’s Sasha’s story as she leaves her home for Moscow to audition for a prestigious drama program。 She also leaves her love， Andrei， behind， as well as her family。Just before she leaves， Sasha finds her artist uncle’s journal。 Her uncle Kolya is missing in action from the war。 The journal is an expose’ of Stalin’s reign of terror。 Somehow her uncle’s most intimate stories light a fire for Sasha helping her though drama school。 She crosses paths with Andrei as he becomes a censor of her work after graduation。A Train to Moscow is a richly told story that takes its time coming together with gorgeous writing that kept me invested。 It’s a tale of family and the secrets that can fester， friendship， and how dreams keep us hopeful and longing for better。 I’m eagerly looking forward to picking up the author’s memoirs now。I received a gifted copy。Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www。jennifertarheelreader。com and instagram: www。instagram。com/tarheelreader 。。。more

Bob Miller ，

It's hard to believe， another novel， another war story。 I usually avoid these stories， particularly about WWII。 Yet， just this week I have read two deeply personalized stories， one of a British-French saboteur and now one of a Russian war child grown into an renown actress that defects to the US。 Sasha is a little older than me， well a lot， like ten years。 But primitive life in the 1950s and 1960s， whether in Russia or America， is so different than 2022。 Or is it？ I wish I could find dirt roads It's hard to believe， another novel， another war story。 I usually avoid these stories， particularly about WWII。 Yet， just this week I have read two deeply personalized stories， one of a British-French saboteur and now one of a Russian war child grown into an renown actress that defects to the US。 Sasha is a little older than me， well a lot， like ten years。 But primitive life in the 1950s and 1960s， whether in Russia or America， is so different than 2022。 Or is it？ I wish I could find dirt roads to wander along。 I wish I could walk to the grocery。 Things have changed， but not necessarily for the better。 Modern censors in the US are not all that different than those in the Soviet Union of the past。 Back to the book， yeah。 A gripping story of patriotism versus independent thought。 Sasha has a grand father， a patriot， that rejected her uncle because he was a so-called traitor by being captured by the Nazis at the end of the war， after surviving Leningrad and the push to the west。 Sasha， who never meets Kolya， only has stories and a few of his artifacts to consider。 The legacy is contradictory。 She ages from childhood， with a limited future， to become what her family said was not possible for a provincial girl - an actress on stage and screen。 With an interesting supporting cast， Sasha remains the individual she was born as， yet changes her life several times。 Quite an emotional tale。 。。。more

Susan Dyson ，

The atmosphere of the book is good I just had problem with the timeline of Andrei raising through the Communist party as quickly as is suggested。 The relationships between all the characters was very good with the alternative views of the regime that they are having to live under。 It is a good story but just felt off balance because of the problem I had with the speed of events。

Pat Castle ，

Good ReadThis was an enlightening read。 I was alive during this period and never knew what it was like behind the Iron Curtain for ordinary people！

Phyllis Krall ，

A Train to Moscow takes place in post World War 11 in a small Russian town。 The story is based on the author’s family。 It is told in the voice of Sasha from her early years to adulthood。 Her family is everything to her influencing many of her decisions。 One of her uncles was killed in the war， and the other is missing。 Sasha finds his journal depicting his years in the war and the harsh conditions he faced。 Her two best friends are Marik and Andrei whom she does everything with。 The conditions i A Train to Moscow takes place in post World War 11 in a small Russian town。 The story is based on the author’s family。 It is told in the voice of Sasha from her early years to adulthood。 Her family is everything to her influencing many of her decisions。 One of her uncles was killed in the war， and the other is missing。 Sasha finds his journal depicting his years in the war and the harsh conditions he faced。 Her two best friends are Marik and Andrei whom she does everything with。 The conditions in Russia are very bleak， and Sasha dreams of leaving her town and becoming an actress in Moscow。 After graduating from high school she leaves her family and Andrei her first love， to follow her dreams and enrolls in drama school。 She becomes famous but the political regime is always monitoring her life。 After tragedy strikes her family， Sasha wonders if she made the right decision。I enjoyed reading this beautiful Kindle book which I received from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review。 I learned about Russia’s customs， politics，and food， as well as life in postwar Russia。Highly recommended 。。。more

Annette ，

Enjoyed the story of post war Russia from the author's perspective。 A great read。 A bit predictable but still filled with emotional detail and perspective。 Enjoyed the story of post war Russia from the author's perspective。 A great read。 A bit predictable but still filled with emotional detail and perspective。 。。。more

Taylor ，

I wound up getting this book for free and I was skeptical of it， but it turned out to be an incredible story。 I loved every part of it。 Highly highly recommend

Becky Plankenhorn ，

The book was interesting but moved rather slowly for me and the ending was too abrupt

Joe Helensky ，

A wonderful， captivating storyI finished this book in three days as it was captivating。 Clearly described characters surround a solid story。 The main character Sasha is someone you root for throughout。 Very impressive and I hope to read more from this author。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=A Train to Moscow

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=A Train to Moscow&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,A Train to Moscow&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0