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Winterland

By Rae Meadows
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3.85 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Set in the Soviet Union in 1973, Winterland follows eight-year-old Anya, who is chosen for the prestigious USSR gymnastics programme. As she ascends through the ranks, Anya grapples with the harsh realities of her family’s past—her mother’s mysterious disappearance and the chilling legacy of Siberian Gulags, connected through her neighbour's harrowing experiences. This atmospheric crime thriller explores the unforgiving nature of sport and survival under an oppressive regime.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers who enjoy historical crime and thrillers with rich character studies, especially those interested in Soviet history, gymnastics, and stories of resilience amidst adversity.

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Perfection has a cost . . . With transporting prose and meticulous detail, set in an era that remains shockingly relevant today, Rae Meadows's Winterland tells a story of glory, loss, hope, and determination, and of finding light where none exists.

Perfection has a cost . . .

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Soviet Union, 1973: There is perhaps no greater honour for a young girl than to be chosen for the famed USSR gymnastics programme. When eight-year-old Anya is selected, her family is thrilled. What is left of her family, that is.

Years ago, her mother disappeared without a trace, leaving Anya's father devastated and their lives dark and quiet in the bitter cold of Siberia. Anya's only confidant is her neighbour, an older woman who survived unspeakable horrors during her ten years imprisoned in a Gulag camp—and who, unbeknownst to Anya, was also her mother's confidant and might hold the key to her disappearance.

As Anya rises through the ranks of competitive gymnastics, and as other girls fall from grace, she soon comes to realise that there is very little margin for error for anyone and so much to lose.

Winterland by Rae Meadows weaves a captivating tale of ambition, mystery, and resilience against the backdrop of a formidable Soviet regime.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Winterland has been praised for its precise and poetic prose, vividly capturing the menacing world of Soviet-era gymnastics. Georgia Hunter, a New York Times bestselling author, describes it as a heart-rending tale about living and competing where one misstep can destroy everything. Megan Abbott of The New York Times highlights the novel's intense emotional pull, portraying Anya’s struggle and resilience. Reviewers commend Rae Meadows for crafting a gripping story of women battling brutal forces and harsh environments.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250834515

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 November 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Henry Holt & Company Inc

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 212.0mm

Weight: 268g

Pages: 288

Collections

Crime & Thriller Fiction General Fiction Rae Meadows

About the Author

Rae Meadows is the author of four previous novels, including I Will Send Rain. She is the recipient of the Goldenberg Prize for Fiction, the Hackney Literary Award for the novel, and the Utah Book Award, and her work has been published widely. She grew up admiring the Soviet gymnasts of the 1970s, and in her forties decided to go back to the thing she loved as a child. She now trains regularly in gymnastics. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.

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