Yes, it took me four months to finish this tale. And yes, I finished it only because I listened to the last forty percent of it during a long road trip. It’s an epic tale, and it’s good. But it was several stories in one. The writing is phenomenal, painting an amazing picture of Russia, her inhabitants, and their deepest emotions.
As wonderful is the story is, thought, its length is intimidating. The names are a hurdle—too high for some. I wonder if the stories were divided into a series and the names were shortened just a bit, if more people would attempt this one. It’s worth it.