I had recently read Alina Adams’ most recent novel, My Mother’s Secret, and was so impressed with it that I decided to read The Nesting Dolls, a book she wrote prior to My Mother’s Secret. Was I glad that I decided to read The Nesting Dolls! It was captivating, inspirational and heartbreaking! Alina Adams’ writing was masterful and her attention to historical facts was impeccable. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated very well by Nancy Peterson.

I felt that Alina Adams’ writing was so believably convincing because she was able to base much of her writing on her own life, growing up in Russia and then immigrating to the United States. Alina Adams was able to paint, although bleak and challenging at best, an accurate account of what life was like for Russian Jews during the specific time lines of the 1930’s, the 1970’s and present day. Her masterful storytelling transported the reader to the Siberian gulags under Stalin in the 1930’s, to the uprising of the disillusioned and rebellious of the 1970’s and finally to present day, to the challenges that those that immigrated to the United States faced. The Nesting Dolls was a family saga that followed strong and determined Russian women over many generations. It looked closely at these courageous women as they strived to free themselves from the fates that awaited them and their long complicated histories. Alina Adams explored many themes throughout the pages of The Nesting Dolls including the act of suffering, family, love, loss, sacrifice, hopes, the emotional scars that never seemed to heal, survival, impossible choices, consequences and compromises. I really enjoyed listening to The Nesting Dolls and recommend it very highly. I look forward to reading many more books by Alina Adams.

An amazing story, tracking three generations of the same family, from Daria in Siberia during the 1930s, her granddaughter Natasha in the 1970s in the Ukraine, a rebel wanting to leave the USSR forever, and her great granddaughter Zoe in present day New York.

Of the three, Daria's story is the most intriguing, taking her from a seemingly happy young marriage in the Ukraine to her family's removal to a Siberian gulag. Her husband and two young children are removed with her, which changes the course of their lives. The other two stories were interesting, but I think I would have rather read an entire novel, versus novella, just of Daria's story. The jump between Daria and Natasha left out so many details to Daria's story. Zoe's story was a bit anti-climactic for the end, but the first story (Daria) just draws you in so much.

But after a lot of WW2 fiction, which I am admittedly a fan of, it was nice to visit other cultures and time periods for a change. There's definitely less written about this time, which kept my interest through Natasha's and Zoe's stories.

The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams opens in 2019, at an anniversary party celebrating 45 years of marriage between Baba and Deda. On this joyous occasion, family and friends toast the happy couple and wish them many more years together. Things quickly turn sour, however, when a particular gift proves to be not only unexpected but unwanted. Baba surprises everyone by hurling the gift to the ground. And so begins a multigenerational narrative of family, suffering and hope.

The novel is divided into three books following three women within the family: Daria in the 1930s, Natasha in the 1970s and Zoe in 2019. Through the stories of these women who are related, Adams shows how events experienced by earlier generations can significantly affect those that come later. The main characters are very different from one another, both because of where they live and because of their specific histories, but their narratives work together to create a single story of a family whose women know how to fight and make their own choices, even if those choices don't always seem right at the time.

Dvora Kaganovitch, known as Daria, has the life her mother always wanted for her: a loving marriage, two beautiful daughters and as good of a home as anyone in the Soviet Union. But one misheard conversation is enough to land her family in a Siberian gulag, where she must make one hard choice after another to ensure their survival. Time after time, Daria willingly puts herself into dangerous situations to take care of her daughters, but not even a mother's selfless love is enough to stand against the callousness of life in Siberia.

Daria's story is a reflection on motherhood, and also the heinousness and corruption of Soviet life under dictator Joseph Stalin. Alyssa, Daria's oldest daughter, is traumatized by her time in the gulag and her realization that even following the rules isn't enough to stay safe. Unlike her mother, who accepts the consequences of her choices and continues to make hard, sometimes illegal decisions in order to save her family from Hitler's invading forces, Alyssa avoids doing anything that could lead to trouble. Years later, her fear fuels rebellion in her own daughter, Natasha.

Natasha Crystal is a brilliant mathematician eager to begin her studies at Odessa University in 1970. She confidently sits for the entrance exam, but an anti-Semitic policy (see Beyond the Book) results in a failing grade and rejection. Dreams dashed, Natasha stumbles upon a group of young men and women eager to push back against the Communist party, and their actions give her not only a chance at revenge but a chance to reject her mother's strict rules. Her rebellion is dangerous in the Soviet Union of the 1970s, where it's still common to be sent to Siberia or disappear altogether for minor offenses, and being Jewish comes with added risk. Yet Natasha chooses to join her friends' cause and fight the system, even if she's more interested in spending time with the group's handsome leader than in speaking out against communism.

In choosing to fight, Natasha reflects her grandmother and her willingness to make dangerous decisions, though while Daria fought to protect her family, Natasha's motivations are less altruistic. When the group's plans fall apart, so do Natasha's dreams for her future. Finding herself alone and in a desperate situation, she is forced to choose safety and certainty, but the bitterness of her situation stays with her, even decades later as she is surrounded by family and friends in America.

Zoe Venakovsky, Natasha's granddaughter, feels suffocated by her family and their expectations. Although they typically mean well, Zoe is aware that the choices available to her as a woman in New York City in 2019 are very different from those in the Soviet Union in decades past. Nonetheless, she feels the weight of her family history, a weight that keeps her from making her own choices and from feeling truly American.

Perceptions of being between countries or cultures are common among first- and second-generation Americans, and for Zoe, this conflict is most prevalent in romantic relationships: She feels as if any boyfriend she chooses needs to meet her family's checklist for an appropriate husband, yet she finds her heart leading her towards someone else. Surprisingly, it's Baba Natasha who helps Zoe gain a sense of belonging by telling her own story. Natasha demonstrates the importance of sharing family history and proves the old adage that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it; by letting go of her anger and finally accepting the truth, she helps Zoe see that she should not make choices based on her family's expectations but rather on her own hopes and desires.

The stories of Daria, Natasha and Zoe fit into one another like the nesting dolls of the book's title. Daria's and Alyssa's experiences in Siberia indirectly lead to Natasha's rebellion, and Natasha's rebellion and subsequent immigration mean that Zoe is born in America with all the freedoms that entails. However, it's not until the women of the family finally begin to share their stories with one another that they realize the importance of the past, and that sometimes getting what you need is better than getting what you want.

Adams has created a beautiful story containing rich descriptions, impossible decisions and a family filled with both exasperation and love. The Nesting Dolls is brimming with history and complex relationships that will satisfy fans of multigenerational sagas and historical fiction alike.

The Nesting Dolls is a gripping multi-generational saga that begins in Odessa in the Soviet Union and ends in Brighton Beach in the USA. I loved every page of this book! I am definitely going to make this a selection for the book club that I co-host.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Following three generations of Russian women, this historical novel has romance for sure but there is a lot more to the story as it follows Daria who marries a renowned piano player in Odessa Russia. Deported to a labor camp as enemies of the state in the 1930’s. Her daughter, Natasha, determined to leave her depressing life teaching in Odessa in the 1970’s gets involved with a resistance group. And in 2019, Natasha’s granddaughter in Brighton Beach wants to plan a 45th wedding anniversary for her grandparents. There’s so much more depth and strong characters in this book and the women struggle between love and realities. I was caught up in the moving storyline.

The initial description of The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams grabbed my attention. Spanning the
life story of four generations of women in a Jewish immigrant family from the USSR, this story sounded exactly like something I would enjoy.

Adams covers a vast sweep of history ranging from prior to World War II to modern day time. She also pulls back the curtains on life in the USSR. The stories of neighbors turning each other in for alleged offenses and how your life was dictated by the government is chilling. Beyond the glimpse into life under Communism, Adams shows the impact of family expectations and how trauma and experiences of previous generations impact future generations. In particular, each woman and man made choices based on what was best for their family rather than what was their heart's desire. While I found the story interesting and enjoyable, The Nesting Dolls did not grab me in as I was anticipating.

I received a complementary copy of The Nesting Dolls from Harper Collins via NetGalley.

This is the story of three generations of Russian women. From the 1930’s we have Daria, in the 1970’s we have her granddaughter Natasha, and current day Zoe. Daria and Natasha both have to make sacrifices to help not only themselves, but their families survive during the Communist times of Russia. Zoe was raised in the United States and is trying to navigate two cultures. I enjoyed the first two stories of Daria and Natasha but Zoe’s story fell a little flat for me.

An involving saga.A family of Jewish women we follow them through the hardship of Siberia to modern day lives in Brighton beach.Kept me turning the pages enjoyed the historical side of this book also.#netgalley#randomhouse.

The title is apt. This is a matriarchal tale following five generations of women from Odessa to Brighton Beach with a side trip to Siberia. The book begins in 1931 with Daria whose mother is determined will have a “better life”. The next two sections focus on others in the line who are striving for their own “better lives”. It touches on issues love, loyalty and what one does to survive. The time span is quiet interesting, going from Stalin to Putin. The characters are distinctive and memorable. It is a family saga with a linear narrative and quite enjoyable.

Read if you: Love historical epics that follow a family through multiple generations.

A historical fiction book set in Russia? I'm in. However, until recently, that seems to give me a story about the Romanovs or set during the Revolution. This follows the women in one Russian Jewish family, beginning in the Stalin era and ending in 2019's Brighton Beach.

WIth historical epics like this--that feature multiple characters in multiple time frames--I tend to favor one character or part over the others, and this one is no exception. I found the Daria and Zoe story lines the most compelling; unusual for me, since I sometimes find the more contemporary parts of a historical epic the least interesting (Zoe is the modern day character). However--as a whole, this is a compelling and remarkable read.

Librarians/booksellers: Your historical fiction fans will love this, and it explores important parts of Russia/USSR history that isn't often a part of historical fiction writing.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

While this was a long and thorough family saga, I found it really interesting and engaging. The insight into Communism and Socialism is really interesting, and verifies all my thoughts on those two forms of government with dictatorships as not being conducive to citizens and the common man (look at corruption, extreme poverty, no freedoms in those countries). I really enjoyed that insight as well. Alina Adams developed her characters extremely well and provided great historical details, which I greatly appreciate as a reader. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

This is set in the 1930s in Siberia. I found the history and the family very interesting in this book. It had lots of depth and looked into a part of history that I knew some about but not a whole lot. Good read.

Historical fiction about three generations of Russian Jewish women spanning from 1930's to current day. I found the history part interesting and enlightening, but the characters were one dimensional and the women unlikeable.

Interesting and Unputdownable!

I love discovering new authors! This book was intense. Starting out in 1930's Siberia it spanned many generations. I love a book that is a family saga. I also learned so much about that period in history that I had never known before. This book had deep character development and refined plot development. The writing was engaging and direct. It was also very clear. The characters were unforgettable and irresistible. This book will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Recommended!.