Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

For once, the both the Amazon 5* and 1* reviewers get it right! In short, my reaction is highly conflicted. I loved the book, but could never recommend it as an account of a turbulent period of history. The Good: the writing is some of the best and most enjoyable I've read in years! So many times, I had to pause to read passages aloud to anybody who'd listen, because I couldn't just wait for them to read the whole book for themselves. The characters are wonderful, not just Count Rostov, but everybody around them, even the officious general manager "the Bishop" or the complex Party official Osip, not to mention Rostov's many friends, lovers, and colleagues. The plot twists, particularly at the end, are totally unexpected. The Bad: it's long and slow in places, particularly in the middle, where one delightful scenario or philosophical digression after another intrudes, but doesn't particularly advance the story. But most importantly, it requires a huge suspension of disbelief: that the Count would ever have survived to be banished to house arrest at the Metropol as a "Former Person" seems totally implausible. How on earth could he ever have maintained his comfortable lifestyle under the circumstances (let alone be permitted to)? That the Metropol itself even existed in such a state of splendor post-revolution; I never stayed there myself, but we've traveled thru the USSR during the early 70s, and never saw anything remotely like it (other reviewers please correct me if you know better). But hey, it's a work of fiction! The Ugly: anybody wanting to learn about life in the Soviet Union in the decades from the 20s thru the 60s had better look elsewhere. Other reviews have explained the problem more knowledgeably than I could -- see for example the Wall Street Journal's [...]. These rose colored glasses are an insult to the tragedy of history. So in short, if you take it in the spirit it's intended and have the patience for a long -- but thoroughly enjoyable -- read, then savor it!