Discovering: The Boy on the Bridge

Discovering is a loosely named new feature that is going to be posted on TSC every now and then. At its heart, this is another sort of post that features and promotes books just like Spotlights. Except, Discovering features books that I've discovered recently and am really excited to read. They may have released a long time ago and I never noticed or they may be more recent. The point is to talk about books we're excited about reading. Now let's move on to the fun stuff.

The first book to be featured is actually the book that inspired the idea.

The Boy on the Bride

Natalie Standiford
July 30, 2013
A new breathtaking novel from Natalie Standiford about love and trust during the Cold War.

Laura Reid goes to Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982. She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows Alexei loves her. Right?

As June approaches--when Laura must return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn't she take it?

Thoughts:
I'm really excited about this. I adore reading books that are either set in another country or have foreign characters. Russia is one that I haven't read much of but I have always wanted to. Here Ms. Standiford has given me that oppurtunity and I'm going to reap it for all it's worth!

I also really love the concept. It's contemporary but it doesn't have the usual feeling of a contemporary; it's different. It looks so much more exciting especially with the forbidden aspect. I've never read something like this. I hear a lot about people who will marry others just to gain access to a different country but the subject doesn't get explored in YA.

I'm intrigued to see, how Standiford is going to spin this tale. I'm super excited to read about some Russian architecture and feel as though I'm walking down the streets of St.Petersburgh/Leningrad.

Yes, I think I'm overly excited!

What Do You Think?

-MARI

9 comments:

  1. We're looking forward to checking this one out too. We read the Modern Love column in the NYT that's about her real life experience that inspired this, and it was interesting (though kind of sad).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh really, that interesting to know but I'll have to agree with you, that's really sad. Still hope this one hold true.

      -Mari

      Delete
  2. Hmm looks interesting! I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for our thoughts once you read it. Not use if I'll read it'd spend on how sad it is...I tend to stay away from somber books
    :)

    Dee @ Dee's reads

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean but every now and then I get and in the mood and devour them :)

      -Mari

      Delete
  3. Great new feature! If you love this book, you should read The Bronze Horseman series, I think that is set in Leningrand too.

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the recommendation, I just checked it out and I'm so excited to read it. It looks awesome!

      -Mari

      Delete
  4. I've been seeing this one around lately. And the setting has attracted me as well. There really aren't a lot of YA / NA books set in Russia. I've heard a mixed bag about it though, so I'm still hesitant to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm definitely ready to read about something different set in a different place. I feel like most YA these days are set in the US and it makes me want more. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint :)

      -Mari

      Delete
  5. I'll be honest-I didn't like this as much as I had hoped to but I think you'll like the Russian setting a lot. Looking forward to your full thoughts once you've read it!

    ReplyDelete

What do you think?