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    We Shall See the Sky Sparkling
    We Shall See the Sky Sparkling
    We Shall See the Sky Sparkling
    Ebook490 pages12 hours

    We Shall See the Sky Sparkling

    By Susana Aikin

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Winner of the 2019 American Fiction Award for Best Historical Fiction

    Set in London and Russia at the turn of the century, Susana Aikin’s debut introduces a vibrant young woman determined to defy convention and shape an extraordinary future.
     
    Like other well-bred young women in Edwardian England, Lily Throop is expected to think of little beyond marriage and motherhood. Passionate about the stage, Lily has very different ambitions. To her father’s dismay, she secures an apprenticeship at London’s famous Imperial Theatre. Soon, her talent and beauty bring coveted roles and devoted admirers. Yet to most of society, the line between actress and harlot is whisper-thin. With her reputation threatened by her mentor’s vicious betrayal, Lily flees to St. Petersburg with an acting troupe—leaving her first love behind.
     
    Life in Russia is as exhilarating as it is difficult. The streets rumble with talk of revolution, and Lily is drawn into an affair with Sergei, a Count with fervent revolutionary ideals. Following Sergei when he is banished to Vladivostok, Lily struggles to find her role in an increasingly dangerous world. And as Russian tensions with Japan erupt into war, only fortitude and single-mindedness can steer her to freedom and safety at last.
     
    With its sweeping backdrop and evocative details, We Shall See the Sky Sparkling explores a fascinating period in history through the eyes of a strong-willed, singular heroine, in a moving story of love and resilience.
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKensington Books
    Release dateJan 29, 2019
    ISBN9781496717665
    Author

    Susana Aikin

    Susana Aikin is a writer and a filmmaker who was educated in both England and Spain. She studied law at the University of Madrid and, later, creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. In 1986, she started her own independent-film production company, Starfish Productions, producing and directing documentary films that won her multiple awards. She started writing fiction full time in 2010. She lives between Brooklyn and the mountains of north Madrid, and she has two sons.

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    • 3/5
      Lily Throop leaves her father's home to pursue her passion for the stage. She apprentices under a passionate actor, but when he betrays her, Lily flees with a theater troop to St. Petersburg. Life is not easier in Russia; in fact, it becomes increasingly dangerous for Lily.The main thing I enjoyed about this book was the historical detail. The era came to life, and I especially appreciated that Russia was the focus of the last half of the book.I found it difficult to sympathize with Lily. It felt as though she made a bad decision after bad decision and then cried about the consequences.The pace seemed to go in spurts. It would slow well and then slow to almost being almost unbearably slow.Overall, it was an ok read. I appreciated that it did not go into detail with the sex scenes. I would recommend this to readers who are looking for a turn of the century with an unconventional lead.I received a free copy from Netgalley for reviewing purposes.
    • 5/5
      Susana Aikin’s novel, We Shall See the Sky Sparkling, starts out as a story of Lilly, a young woman born in 1880, who chose to leave her family in Manchester, England, to take her chances as an actress in the London theater scene. She was seventeen when she left home and she did NOT have her father’s approval.The book takes a major turn when Lilly decides to leave England for an opportunity in St. Petersburg. She had achieved major professional success in London, but her personal life was in turmoil. Lilly was excited about what was going on with Russian theater and hoped to meet people such as the actor and producer Konstantin Stanislavski and the playwright Anton Chekhov, but she didn’t count on the political problems in Russia.I loved the details in this fine historical fiction, especially the descriptions of the London theater scene, but what I found most interesting were the problems faced by a strong willed woman living in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The men in Lilly’s life had power over her and most of them did not treat her fairly. I liked the way Aikin approached their personalities. They ranged from brutal to loving and kind, but also included men who were caring, yet self absorbed. Minor characters often treated Lilly as if she were a child, sometimes with the best of intentions yet without the respect she deserved.Overall, I found We Shall See the Sky Sparkling to be an outstanding read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

    Book preview

    We Shall See the Sky Sparkling - Susana Aikin

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