Gillian Slovo's novel 'Ice Road' weaves together intertwining stories set in Leningrad during the 1930s and 1940s, focusing on the Stalinist purges and their impact on the characters' lives. While the siege of Leningrad plays a significant role in the later part of the book, much of the narrative delves into family and social structures under Stalin's regime. The author skillfully captures the ordinary life and paranoia of 1930s Russia, portraying the characters' struggles and compromises amidst the tumultuous historical backdrop.

Slovo's writing style in 'Ice Road' is praised for its depth in character treatment, offering a more profound psychological insight into the characters compared to other novels set in similar historical contexts. The book explores complex social interactions and tensions within families and friendships, showcasing Slovo's ability to vividly depict the era of Stalinist Russia through well-researched storytelling.

Characters:

While the characters are meant to be interconnected and complex, they often lack depth and realism, making them less engaging.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is ambitious yet at times overly repetitive and simplistic, making character differentiation challenging.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative explores interconnected lives in Leningrad throughout the early Soviet Union and World War II, primarily focusing on the Stalinist purges, with only a brief allusion to the titular ice road.

Setting:

The setting is Leningrad during the tumultuous period of the Stalinist purges and the Second World War, providing a rich historical context.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with some lengthy sections that detract from overall engagement and impact.

Notes:

The book is titled 'Ice Road' but focuses mainly on people in Leningrad during the Stalin era, not primarily on the siege.

It explores the interconnected lives of characters from the early Soviet years to World War II.

The story emphasizes the emotional conflicts of individuals who believed in the Russian revolution but struggled with moral compromises.

The narrative includes historical events like Stalin's purges and the Chelyuskin expedition.

Readers have mixed feelings about the characters, finding them less fully developed compared to other authors of the same period.

Some critics noted the repetitive nature of the writing, with characters expressing similar thoughts in similar ways.

The book's structure and length have been criticized; some feel it should have been more condensed.

The novel offers rich detail about family and social dynamics during Stalin's reign, but may not adequately address the Siege of Leningrad itself.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Ice Road include themes of political repression, violence associated with Stalin's purges, and the psychological impact of living under an oppressive regime.

From The Publisher:

"A gripping story of courage, disillusionment, survival, and the triumph of the human spirit."-Sarah Durant, author of The Birth of Venus

Loyalties, beliefs, love, family ties: all are tested to the limit in one of the most devastating moments of human history: the siege of Leningrad during World War II. Boris Aleksandrovich, a well-meaning bureaucrat, thinks he can negotiate between idealism and politics. His daughter, Natasha, learns otherwise when, as a young woman in love, she is almost crushed by her father's compromises. Watching all this unfold is Irina. Wise, ironic, marvelous Irina, whom Boris had persuaded to go on an ill-fated voyage to the Arctic Circle, where she barely survived. When she arrives back in Leningrad, he feels honor bound to find her a position within his family circle. Irina comes to understand how love for another may, in the end, be more powerful and more profound than blind loyalty to an idea. Exciting and heroic, peopled with wonderfully complex characters, Ice Road is a masterpiece. A finalist for the Orange Prize.

Reader Stats (1):

Want To Read (1)

What can you read after
Ice Road?

About the Author:

Gillian Slovo, author of the novel Red Dust, now a feature film, and co-author of the play Guantánamo, as well as a memoir and nine other novels, lives in London.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Ice Road

Gillian Slovo