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Zoya Zarubina’s life intersects with the compelling history of the Soviet Union through tumult and upheaval from the 1920s through its dissolution in 1991. Her family is deeply entangled in the machinations of a complex ideological struggle for revolution, power, and influence. Through flashbacks, memories, and vibrant storytelling, Zoya’s family dissects their choices and reflects on the legacies of Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky. While Zoya’s family represents power and includes real-life historical figures, another family emerges in the story that represents those harmed irreparably by the Communist regime that purged and exiled so many people. Between these two families, a complete picture of Soviet history emerges with echoes of glory, regret, and terror.
This absorbing and rigorous blend of history and fiction offers an expansive view of a turbulent time as it moves back and forth through the decades. Zoya’s aging stepfather, Leonid Eitingon, recounts his experiences and involvement with the murder of Trotsky. Zoya wrestles with the legacy of her family and her country as she listens to the stories of the past, which mingle with her own memories. Her work as a translator and interpreter feels deeply symbolic as she works to understand and reflect on the past. She confronts every revelation with probing questions and examines the detailed and precise retellings of her stepfather, looking for closure as they both lament the downfall of their country. This layered and complex story is descriptive and cinematic as it explores a range of people and characters who are eyewitnesses to history. The result will transport readers into a family’s legacy and a country’s demise.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review