Originally Posted by Karen 25th September 2006


In an interview with James Meek he says " It so happened that, while I was living in Russia in the mid-1990s, I heard about the three situations which are woven together in the novel - the practice of premeditated cannibalism by escaping convicts, the existence of the castrate sect and the stranding in Siberia of the Czech Legion, trying to make its way home."

In the second paragraph of the book's dust jacket, you read: "In a remote Siberian village, amid a lawless, unforgiving landscape, lives Anna Petrovna, a beautiful, willfully self-reliant widowed mother. A mystical, separatist Christian sect, a stranded regiment of restless Czech soldiers, and an eerie local shaman live nearby, all struggling against the elements and great social upheaval to maintain a fragile coexistence."

When you first started this book, how did you think those themes would be woven into the story? Then when did you begin to first see the 3 themes Meek said would be covered in the book?

Nurseanne8

When I started this book I had no idea how the three mentioned themes would be woven together-chapter 1 introduced me to Samarin and the connection to Siberia made sense because of the revolution- and the fact that Siberia was utilized as a refuge for prisoners. The theme of stranded Czech soliders appeared early when Balashov related to Samarin the condition of the trains. A hint of castration became evident by the physical description of Samarin's and Balashov's hands and the facial hair on page 21 of chapter 2. The chapter goes on to describe the surgical tools and alcohol in Balashov's bag which hints to the deeds of Balashov. I did suspect that Samarin committted some violent crime a few minutes before the Shaman's death when he has possession of alcohol and he describes what witnessed in the forest but is written off as a drunk. I did not suspect the cannabalism aspect until Samarin begins to relate his story regarding the White Garden Prison Camp. Meek's writing style was difficult for me to follow the first time I read the book but during the second read I began to see clues to the three themes he chose to weave into a novel.

Ellen


What was the reason that Samarin cut off the dead mans hand and buried it in chapter two?

Nurseanne8

He mentions the Mohician as a threat to the villege and I suspect he wanted to provide clues that the Mohician was in the area and should be feared. I do not want to say more as it would be classified as a spoiler.

Herestoyou


I didn't have a clue how these events would intertwine in the story when I began the book, but thought that maybe Anna might have a connection to the castrates, just because the sexual part would be so opposite to the castrates. The cannabilism part was unnerving so I just wasn't sure how that would fit in. However, once we see Samarin at the river and the act he does there, then it began to click for me.

What was frustrating for me was my questions didn't get answered right away in the story, and I actually had a confused feeling in the first few chapters. Not until Samarin arrives in the small village and begins telling his tale, did the elements begin to click. I must say that reading it a second time brought some new insights, as well as new questions, about the story for me, too.

Ellen

Thanks Anne r. That's good enough for me!

Karen

I felt so confused at the beginning that I not only made notes, I re-read the chapters over and over. BUT as you said, once the White Garden bits start coming out..then it all fell into place. I've read it completely twice and some chapters and parts more than that..LOL

Ellen


Y'all are giving me incentive to trudge onward. I may have to reread a chapter a time or two, but I'm really looking forward to continuing on.

Nurseanne8


Good it will be worth it.

Herestoyou


Just to echo what's been said, it does help to go back and reread some early chapters after you get into the book a little.

Sally2jack

Same here, minus the note-making. The first chapter flew, then I started having such a hard time getting through the next few. I had to renew it from the library twice. Like you both said, the White Garden stuff really helped to start connecting the dots.

Deppraved


He took some time to develop the themes and characters, so it was about a third of the way that it began to emerge for me....the revealing chapter, "The Husband", with the letter to Anna from Balashov, was the beginning of the revelations!

At first it seemed Samarin was the hero, but as it turns out, Samarin thought so, but I sure don't. That is my modern Western culture talking. it leaves lots of room for interpretation.

Nurseanne8


I feel that Samarin is the antihero of the novel and I felt that way during the entire read.

Deppraved


I agree with that, nurseanne, totally. A classic anti-hero, in fact. Though I admit to liking Sebastian Dangerfield a whole lot better, but that was another book discussion!

Nurseanne8


I know what you mean about Dangerfield.