The madonnas of leningrad is an extraordinary debut, a deeply lovely novel that evokes with uncommon deftness the terrible, heartbreaking beauty that is. The madonnas of leningrad, deans first novel won critical acclaim and several awards including the quill award for 2006, and ala notable book of the. The madonnas of leningrad audiobook, by debra dean. This is the stuff of great stories, and dean tells this part of the tale superbly well, reminding an inattentive public of the suffering endured by ordinary russians in the second world war. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. The madonnas of leningrad book club questions exploration. In our upcoming september 4th meeting, well discuss broken for you by stephanie kallos. It is the story of marina, an aging russian woman caught in the grips of alzheimers. An elderly russian woman now living in america, she cannot hold on to fresh memoriesthe details of her grown childrens lives. The twoandahalf year siege caused the greatest destruction and the largest loss of life ever known in a modern.
Even though she says of herself that she is not a believer, in what ways is marina spiritual. As a young woman, marinas remembering of the missing paintings is a deliberate act of survival and homage. The ravages of age are taking their toll on marina, an elderly russian woman. Book club members have been some of my most enthusiastic and loyal readers. As alzheimers slowly erases marinas world, her past in wartime leningrad begins to again take form around her. Marinas clear and detailed recollections of the hermitage collection and the war are interspersed with her current dementiaimpaired life in seattle, washington as she prepares to attend a granddaughters wedding. The madonnas of leningrad, the first novel by seattle professor debra dean, is the story of marina, a young museum docent who takes refuge in the hermitage. This multilayered, poetically written narrative is a portrait of marina, an elderly woman with a troubled past, a difficult present due to alzheimers disease and an uncertain future. Discussion guide the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean 1. Given the often bleak subject matter war, starvation, dementia is the novels view of the world depressing. The madonnas of leningrad nashville public library. In the madonnas of leningrad, marina worked as a docent at the hermitage museum.
This book would be perfect to discuss with a bunch of friends. Book club discussion questions for the madonnas of. The author, stephanie kallos, has emailed me to ask if there is anything she can do to help our discussion of her book. As marinas thoughts focus on the siege of leningrad through the prism of the empty hermitage and its absent artworks, it becomes clear that the skill that once sustained her her ability to remember what she has lost is slowing leaving her. There are so many levels to this book, and i guarantee that everyone who reads this book will be touched by marinas story.
Look at this national public radio webpage for an excerpt from the book. The alliance for the arts member gallery book club continues on tuesday, january 21 from 79pm with a discussion of the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. Ill give the madonnas of leningrad a big thumbs up for its sad yet realistic depiction of the siege of leningrad and one of its survivors, marina, an elderly woman, now suffering from another type of siege, an assault on her short term memory. It is about an elderly russian woman with alzheimers who can not remember details about her current daytoday life, but is constantly experiencing flashbacks to her teenage years during the leningrad blockade. Aug 31, 2018 madonnas of leningrad isnt a new release, but it is still well worth a read, and when you do, heres our discussion guide. Alliance members discuss the madonnas of leningrad on. The way debra dean referred to the war was definitely less gruesome and horrific than how people often thin of that time period. I also read madonnas of leningrad a few years ago, but before i reread it, can tell me.
Sep 04, 2007 on september 7th, the bhpl first friday of the month book group will be discussing debra deans the madonnas of leningrad click on the title for a discussion guide. I highly recommend selecting the madonnas of leningrad for a future book club choice. While she cannot hold on to fresh memories, her distant past is preserved. The working of memory is a key theme of this novel. Prior to the siege, marina was a tour guide at the hermitage. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the madonnas of leningrad study guide and get instant access to the following analysis. The madonnas of leningrad is a thin book, only 228 pages, but it leaves you feeling as though you traveled to a different time and place. What role does any museum play in preserving our memories either personal or communal. In 1941, as hitler besieged and bombed leningrad, marina was one of hundreds of workers in the hermitage dedicated to preserving its vast art collection from destruction. Mar 14, 2006 as alzheimers slowly erases marinas world, her past in wartime leningrad begins to again take form around her. Every once in a while, we love to delve into the romantic world of historical fiction. Seamlessly moving back and forth in time between the soviet union and contemporary america, the madonnas of leningrad is a searing portrait of war and remembrance, of the power of love, memory, and art to offer beauty, grace, and hope in the face of overwhelming despair.
Thank you from the bottom of my heartfor reading the books, for recommending them to your friends, and for inviting me to join the party. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of harper perennial. The city has just been attacked by germany, and the staff of the. A young women using her imagination in order to survive the siege of leningrad. The madonnas of leningrad was our book club choice for the month of. Isabel allende, author of the house of the spirits, daughter of fortune and my invented country. However in the madonnas of leningrad marina seems way more concerned with the art and her own memory than the war itself. In spite of that, the mystery is a strength of the novel. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The madonnas of leningrad is a book about memory, personal and historical.
Seamlessly moving back and forth in time between the soviet union in the 1940s and contemporary america, the madonnas of leningrad is a searing portrait of war and remembrance, of the power of love, memory, and art to offer hope in the face of overwhelming despair. The germans had three main objectives, capture the ukraine, moscow and leningrad. Use these book club discussion questions to guide your group through sue monk kidds touching tale. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean book club discussion. Oct 17, 2018 the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean, with discussion leader pam boudreau. Madonnas of leningrad debra deans first novel tells the story of an 82yearold russian emigre with alzheimers disease whose mind is captured by the past. The madonnas of leningrad audiobook listen instantly. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. Their frank and lively discussion also included indepth questions about the. Use these book club discussion questions to guide your. The madonnas of leningrad national bestseller published in 21 languages notable book of the year, american library association new york times editors choice longlisted for the impac international dublin literary award. Join fellow alliance members in this monthly exploration of artcentered literature. This sort of transcendence is rarer still when the novel in question is an authors debut, but that is precisely what debra dean has achieved with her imagerich book, the madonnas of. Aug, 2018 sue monk kidds debut novel, the secret life of bees, is a comingofage story about feminine spirituality, racial tension, and maneuvering through love, loss, and change.
Whether it is to a book discussion group seeking guidance in selecting new authors, a. How is this view of world war ii different from or similar to other accounts you have come across. Madonnas of leningrad debra deans first novel tells the story of an 82yearold russian emigre with alzheimers disease whose. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean, with discussion leader pam boudreau. The madonnas of leningrad, debra deans first novel, tells the story of marina, a docent at the state hermitage museum during the 900day siege of leningrad. The novel opens in june 1941, when marina is a young woman in leningrad.
In her first novel, debra dean paints a powerful portrait of a woman with alzheimers, a disease that makes the past an. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. An extraordinary debut, a deeply lovely novel that evokes with uncommon deftness the terrible, heartbreaking beauty that is life in wartime. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. We love this genre because its so powerful in its ability to transport you to a different time and place especially when a bestselling female author like debra dean is at the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the madonnas of leningrad.
Elegant and poetic, the rare kind of book that you want to keep but you have to share. Jul 01, 2006 the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean 232pp, fourth estate. The questions that follow are intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. Aviva 12152012 something about this book really pulled me into the story. Bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding marinas grip on the everyday. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean easy for me to start with. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a haunting glow, illuminating us to the notion that art itself is perhaps our most necessary nourishment.
Its a captivating read that somehow is also heartwarming and nostalgic. Debra dean madonnas of leningrad debra dean is coming to sota on march 29th. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean librarything. Like the glorious ghosts of the paintings in the hermitage that lie at the heart of the story, deans exquisite prose shimmers with a haunting glow, illuminating us to the notion that art itself is perhaps. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Rare is the novel that creates that blissful forgotyouwerereading experience. The historical period of the madonnas of leningrad begins with the outbreak of war. Book club discussion questions for the madonnas of leningrad. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean by littlesweetums see profile 021412. The madonnas of leningrad berkeley heights public library. The madonnas of leningrad book club questions passionate.
In our time, marina is old and beginning to lose her faculties, and words like alzheimers and assisted living are being tossed about. On september 7th, the bhpl first friday of the month book group will be discussing debra deans the madonnas of leningrad click on the title for a discussion guide. Participate in thoughtful group discussions that will expand your appreciation and knowledge of the world of art. Russian emigre marina buriakov, 82, is preparing for her granddaughters wedding near seattle while fighting a losing battle against. Book discussion kit kit daniel boone regional library. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. The secret life of bees is a great choice for womens book clubs and has the potential to promote lively discussions. In old age, however, she can no longer control what she remembers or forgets. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. Book club discussion questions for the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. Set in wartorn leningrad, this is a bittersweet love story of romantic commitment, love of art, and terrible struggle.
Reading guide for the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. Petersburg lasted 872 days, from september 1941 january 1944. Aug 22, 2008 i highly recommend selecting the madonnas of leningrad for a future book club choice. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on the madonnas of leningrad by debra dean. What adjectives would you use to describe the madonnas of leningrad. The madonnas of leningrad by debra dean discussion questions for the book are below. The official websites of both the alzheimers association and the alzheimers foundation of america offer a wealth of information regarding the disease.
The ravages of age are taking their toll on mariana, an elderly russian woman. The madonnas of leningrad is a moving novel of tremendous impact, beautifully told. The madonnas of leningrad, though, is very much a tale of our time as well, with past and present interchanging and intersecting with rapidity. The madonnas of leningrad sounds like a book i would love. This sort of transcendence is rarer still when the novel in question is an authors debut, but that is precisely what debra dean has achieved with her imagerich book, the madonnas of leningrad. Madonnas of leningrad april 2, 2006 debra deans first novel tells the story of an 82yearold russian emigre with alzheimers disease whose mind is captured by the past. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The madonnas of leningrad is about the horrific winter of 1941 when leningrad was cut off from the world by the axis. As a young woman, remembering the missing paintings is a deliberate act of survival and homage for marina.
What did the book teach you about wwii impacts in russia that you didnt already know. In 1941, germany launches a lighting war against the soviet union. The madonnas of leningrad debra dean, 2006 harpercollins 256 pp. How is madonnas of leningrad similar or different from other world war ii novels youve read. Serving victims, their families, and caretakers, both organizations provide extensive information regarding the nature of the disease, its symptoms, methods of treatment, current research efforts, educational literature, recommended reference. Sue monk kidds debut novel, the secret life of bees, is a comingofage story about feminine spirituality, racial tension, and maneuvering through love, loss, and change.
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