Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful Romance Set Against The Siege Of Leningrad
Review: "The Bronze Horseman" is more than a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of WWII Leningrad, where author Paullina Simons was born and raised. Ms. Simons portrays here, with great sensitivity and realism, the terrible suffering that the citizens of Leningrad experienced during the Nazi siege and their struggle to survive. She also probes the intricacies of family relationships, the ties that bind, especially in times of terrible hardship. Simons alludes frequently to Alexander Pushkin's tragic epic poem, "The Bronze Horseman," from which this novel takes its title.Seventeen year old Tatiana Metanova was wearing her "splendid white dress with red roses" and enjoying an ice cream cone when she looked up and saw a soldier staring at her with "an expression she had never seen before." Thus begins the intense and complex relationship between Tatiana and her Alexander (Shura) Belov, a First Lieutenant in the Soviet Army. Vyacheslav Molotov, Stalin's Foreign Minister, had announced the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union only a few hours before the two young people meet for the first time. Tatiana lives in a tiny two room flat with her sister and best friend Dasha, her twin brother, parents and grandparents. Her sense of family is very strong, especially since she has never had a truly close relationship with anyone other than her kin. When Tatiana brings Alexander home for the first time she discovers that her sister Dasha had already met him in a club and had bragged about him as her new boyfriend. Dasha takes what had been a casual romance very seriously and believes she is in love. Alexander does not reciprocate her feelings, however. Tatiana has been very sheltered by her family and is quite naive and very innocent. Slight, blonde and lovely, she is thought to be the most fragile member of the family. Tatiana and Alexander continue to see each other, keeping their relationship a secret from everyone. As the love and friendship grows between the couple, Tatiana becomes determined to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister's. The consequences of war, bombings, starvation and death, overwhelm the city, and take a terrible toll, especially on Tatiana's family. Alexander tries his best to protect them but he has a terrible secret that must be kept at any price, and this secret complicates the intertwined relationships even more. This is an epic tale that I found almost impossible to put down. It takes unexpected twists and turns that highlight the horrors of war and the inner strength of Tatiana and Alexander, as well as the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the characters. At first I was impatient with Tatiana's obsession to "give" Alexander to her sister. However, as Ms. Simons continues to develop her character the motivation becomes more clear and does make sense. The author writes with great passion of love, war and survival. Ultimately I think this novel is as much about the human spirit's will to survive as it is about love. The dialogue between Tatiana and Alexander, as well as their love scenes are beautifully written. I will admit to sobbing more than a few times before the final page. I highly recommend this wonderfully romantic and tragic historical novel.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better, but was worth the read
Review: THE BRONZE HORSEMAN by Paullina Simons Paullina Simons' epic love story THE BRONZE HORSEMAN takes the reader back to the Soviet Union during the height of WWII, telling the tale of two star-crossed lovers as they fight for their love and their survival. Young Tatania Metanova and Alexander Belov meet accidentally on the streets of Leningrad at the start of the war in Russia. It's a mild flirtation, but it is obvious Alexander is smitten by this innocent of a girl who is not yet a woman, but no longer a child. Tatania exudes innocence and purity, and this is what attracts Alexander. She is different from the women he has pursued, different from the women that have chased after him. Tatiana has never been in love, but she finds that she is attracted to this soldier of the Soviet army, and to her dismay, she finds out later that he is the man that her older sister Dasha has been babbling about for days. So as not to hurt her sister whom she loves dearly, Tatania and Alexander agree to keep their love from Dasha, while Dasha thinks her days as a single woman are numbered. Meanwhile, the country is seized by war and Tatania and her family, who are all squeezed into a 2-room apartment, try to survive. There is a food shortage, a fuel shortage, and people are barely keeping alive. With the Metanova's, it is seven people living day in and day out in this tiny place, with no privacy whatsoever and the threat of death everywhere. Yet, Tatiana manages to keep her feelings about Alexander to herself, while her sister prattles on and on about a man she thinks she loves and loves her in return. The book is told in epic fashion, with the tragic story lines that are befitting to a tale of love and war. A whopping 890 pages in the mass market edition, THE BRONZE HORSEMAN takes the reader to the cold harsh winter in war-ravaged Leningrad and to the warmer climates in the countryside of Lazarevo. The many twists and turns of this book did keep this reader on edge. However, the writing was somewhat lacking, and at times irritating. The book could definitely have been shorter. The book is a fast read despite the length, but a warning to those who may find the writing tedious and sometimes redundant. In the long run, the story content helped save this novel, and this reader gives THE BRONZE HORSEMAN three and a half stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Moving
Review: After 6 years i decided to read a novel. i went to my local book stoe and picked out a book the was called 'The Bridge to Holy Cross', not knowing it is the sequal to 'The Bronze Horseman'. After reading the second one first, i read the bronze horseman. although i wish i had read it the other way round. i fell in love with Alex and Tatiana, their charaters are are very touching, their undying passion for each other is incedible. i loved it. it is my favourite book and all other books i read i compare it to the the story of Alex and Tatiana. you have to read the book to understand the true emotions, the never ending love of the two characters. i want to thank Paullina Simons for a fantastic novel and i enjoyed it with every bit of my heart. Thank-You, this book will never be forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: It left me breathless....
Review: I can't believe that Tatiana and Alexander are created. This book is my absolute favorite book and I know it will be for years to come. I've read it about 10 times since it's come out and that number would be higher, except that I've lent it out (and selfishly stressed when it left my home). My husband thinks I'm weird, but I can't stop thinking about the Tania & Alexander. They stay with you. I don't know how, but they do. Writing a review .... saying words that have been said so many times before.... doesn't seem adequate. If you haven't, give this book a chance. You'll come to know why many of us had sleepless nights (even after finishing) and ignored our families. :) And why we feel in love with both these characters. Thank you, Ms Simons, for sharing them with us.
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: I read this book awhile ago and finally am posting a review. Enough people wrote about the plot. When I read this book, I was obsessed with it and could not put it down. I cried, laughed, ect. I don't think I will ever find a book that moved me like this one did. I personally loved the setting and time period. I have been to Russia often (though not during this time period) and feel she has captured the feeling of the time and the people. I rarely keep books, but this one I will have always and will reread. I also purchased the sequel from UK Amazon and it was well worth it. Sequel is good and puts closure so I could move on from Alexander and Tatiana. I also recommend Tully by Simmons, but for different reasons. I really hope to read more in the future from Simmons.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Piece of Literature
Review: Once in a person's lifetime comes a book so compelling that the reader is actually haunted by the text long after the last word is read and the cover closed. The well-developed plot and round characters make this not only an amazingly emotional story, but an example of excellent literary technique. Ms. Simons writes in such a way that the reader is deeply affected by the predicaments her two lovers face. This is an excellent love story, but also a tale of human triumph. The characters become a part of your life you will never forget. You will cry. I guarantee it. This book will not just tug on your heart strings; it envelops your entire soul and plays a musical chorus. My only wish is to love at least half as passionately as Tatiana and Alexander. It would be more than enough for several lifetimes.
Rating:
Summary: Bronze Horseman is a golden treasure
Review: Review of The Bronze Horseman, by by Paullina Simons
Reviewer: Mark Lamendola This is one of the most spell-binding books I have read in a very long time. Actually, I heard it on cassette, narrated by Kate Burton. Ms. Burton, a stage presence in her own right, is the daughter of Richard Burton. Obviously, the publishers thought highly of this book. And they had good reason to. Ms. Simons was born and reared in Leningrad, and immigrated to the USA. She's written other books, including a sequel to this one. Unfortunately, the sequel (Tatiana and Alexander) is available in some countries (e.g., Australia) but not yet in the USA. As a reader, you can't help but yearn for Tatiana and Alexander to realize their hopes and dreams. Yet, they face so many obstacles along the way that it's never certain they will. Their immense and powerful love for each other is evident, time after time. The siege of Leningrad, in World War II, is something few American history books talk about. But, those of us who have read about what happened know how horrific it was. Ms. Simons lived there, and was able to talk to people who had--barely--lived through it. And that siege formed the backdrop for this intense tale of passion, betrayal, and danger. It all began when 17-year old Tatiana was eating an ice cream on a beach when she noticed a Red Army soldier staring at her. Events moved forward from there. As Tatiana suffered one loss after another--her twin brother, her father, her mother, and her sister--Alexander showed his love for her. He often did so at great risk. In fact, Alexander risked everything for Tatiana at the end of the novel. But, this love was not one-sided. Tatiana gave of herself, repeatedly--and also took great risks. This story is not about two young people who survive war. It's really about two young people caught in a complex web spun by other people--like the devious Dmitri--while the circumstances of war also bear down on them. The Bronze Horseman brings romance, suspense, and adventure together into a story that is memorable and moving. That it's also entertaining, breathtaking, and heartbreaking is simply icing on a very tasty cake. Ms. Simons has a few books published. I hope she writes many more of this caliber.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and powerless
Review: The Bronze Horseman is the most amazing book I have ever read in my entire life. It is so powerful that it leaves you powerless to put it down. I loved Tully, but this was even more amazing as the sequal Bridge to the Holy Cross made it doubly as long and doubly beautiful. It is an emotion, heartbreaking and heartwarming book and I will never forget it. I recommend everyone to read it as you won't regret it <3
Rating:
Summary: THE BRONZE HORSEMAN-THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!
Review: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! THE SCOPE OF THE WORK IS SO VAST - FROM AMERICA TO THE URALS VIA ST PETERSBERG AND BACK - YET IT IS ALSO A SIMPLE STORY OF LOVE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. THE STORYTELLING ALSO BENEFITS FROM THE AUTHORS MANY MONTHS OF RESEARCH INTO HER SUBJECT. THE DESCRIPTIONS OF RUSSIA AND OF HER WAR ARE BREATHTAKING AND REALLY TAKES THE READER BACK IN TIME. IF YOU NEVER READ ANOTHER BOOK, READ THIS ON!
Rating:
Summary: Such a sweet book
Review: I'm not giving this book 5 stars because I completely enjoyed it. It sucked me in from about the 20th page, the characters, the setting, everything was wonderful. It was an exciting depiction of a Leningrad under siege and what the people trapped inside had to do to survive. It takes you from the famous "White Nights" where the sky stays light well into the evening, to the bitter winter, where it was always dark. I could imagine what it must have been like to try to survive on the amount of food they had left at the end. Alexander is a powerful character who was rivaled only by Tatiana with her strength and compassion. If you are looking for a love story then this is a very, very powerful love story.
I just wasn't looking for a love story when I read this book. Unfortunately, after the amount of pages I had put into it, I also couldn't throw it aside and call it a bodice ripper and a sappy love story. It has so much more depth than that as well. After all they had gone through to get to where they had gotten, they definetly deserved their happy interludes. I kept reading almost against my will. Still, this book made me depressed in some way. I can offer two reasons for that, the first reason is because it is a powerful story, with powerful characters. If you could go through your entire life and constantly do the right thing, and sacrifice everything of yourself for the person you loved, then you would live like Tatiana and Alexander. If you've ever loved and lost, this book will depress you. If you feel like you've never met a person that important to you, this book will depress you. Hmm, or maybe that's just me. Anyways, I'm giving this book five stars because it deserves five stars.
| 
