As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are. I found this novel to be both breathtaking and magnificent, yet exponentially heart-wrenching. It made me feel things I didn't even know I was capable of feeling. This book evoked such emotion in me, I didn't even realize I had tears streaming down my face. There are books that I read and I love.. and then there are those few, inimitable books that change me. That shake me to the core.

life needs dark leaves in the wreath. There cannot be true joy without sorrow, or real happiness without loss. They come as a pair. It is simply how it must be, if one is to live a full life.” Her solution? To re-frame the reflections of her senior protagonist, Anya, as a fairy tale she’s told her daughters over the years. Now grown, Meredith and Nina have never felt loved by their mother but remain fascinated by the Russian fairy tale she used to share with them as children. Their beloved father is now dying, and he urges Anya to tell the girls the real story…. all the way to the end. Perhaps if they hear it, they’ll finally understand their mom’s iciness, and why she spends hours in the cold sitting silently with her thoughts in her cherished winter garden. Or, better yet, after Hannah chooses the super original pathology of having her characters be people who run from conflict or emotional turmoil, she makes sure to tell you. Over and Over.

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Once Anya begins her narration, I found myself riveted by her story. Naturally, her story can put one’s own struggles into perspective and is a horrible reminder of the sacrifices, and sufferings of a complicated war. The story ends with a bittersweet tone- at once sad and triumphant. Meanwhile, her friend Rosa finds herself in an unhappy situation, and only her own skill and determination will see her through. This isn't just one of my favorite books of the year, it's one of my favorite books of all-time. I know for a certainty that no matter how many books I read, this will always remain precious to me. It has beautiful writing, a breathtaking story, and a powerful ending -- the true sign of a fantastic novel.

Be patient during the first half, it gets very good and emotional the second half. This is written in the past and present tense, which is a common format in many novels, but one that I enjoy. It's like reading two different novels.El que tenga oportunidad que lea este libro, lo disfrute a pesar de las tragedias, porque de ellas, definitivamente también aprendemos. The Winter Garden is an enchanting and moving story of love, loss and rivalry. Alexandra Bell writes her two central characters with complexity and affecting emotional depth, balancing the more serious themes – mental health, grief, identity, oppression and Victorian patriarchy – with a captivating sense of magic that brings to mind tales like Alice in Wonderland, The Night Circus and Paris by Starlight. It’s the perfect novel to read as autumn settles upon our gardens and the icy chill of winter begins to creep in. My favorite part of the entire story was the dynamic between the two sisters. Meredith was always the steadfast and responsible one and Nina was the wild and free sister, but they were both strong, just in different ways. Both admired one another for exactly what they regretted the most in themselves and I found that quite interesting. I guess, the grass always seems greener on the other side, right? And of course, the love story junkie in me would be remiss not to mention Danny and Jeff. I was completely smitten with both, they were as different as the sisters, but worthy in their own ways. To lose love is a terrible thing,But to turn away from it is unbearable. Will you spend the rest of your life replaying it in your head? Wondering if you walked away too soon or too easily? Or if you’ll ever love anyone that deeply again?”

I immediately connected to both sisters and although I related more to Meredith, I also liked Nina and I loved that the author showed both their good and bad sides. The mother was so distant and cold but the whole point of the story is to get to know the mother and understand everything she went through. She had so many questions about the world — and if she couldn’t ask them, then how would she ever learn its many secrets? » When I first started the book, I was reading more out of curiosity than anything else. Truthfully, I found many of the characters to be cold and distant and wasn't really sure that I'd ever connect with them on an emotional level but I was intrigued enough by the story to keep reading. And along the way, there's this undercurrent to the story that pulls you in deeper and just keeps growing stronger. I think that it's ok not to like the characters at first because one of the important messages of this book is how often and easily people misjudge each other without knowing their full story. I think it was written like that on purpose -- to make you experience the message of the story first hand. Because I promise you by the end of this story, I was overflowing with emotion. Few books have ever made me care so deeply for the characters as this one did. This isn't just a story you read, it's an experience you go through. I think the time period is what made the female friendship in the book so strong and compelling. Beatrice and Rosa are set on trajectories that promise sorrow, coupled with their obstinate personalities that strain other human connection, they admire each others strong wills and manage to find solace in each other.What starts as a dysfunctional domestic situation between 2 sisters (American born) and their Russian-born mother ends up being so much more. Grief and a deathbed promise brings these unhappy women reluctantly together, and what seemed like a familial dysfunction becomes an intimate look at the mother of these two sisters who was raised in Russia during the war. Primarily they learn about a side of her they never knew. Her story of war-torn Leningrad, paints a vivid picture of the atrocity of war. One cannot fathom the pain, hunger, starvation and death all around the survivors, the terror of small children being taken by train away from their parents, starving, cold, crying and afraid. Your heart sinks and you feel your throat all choked up. Don't be surprised if your eyes smart a few times and tears cloud your vision as you're reading this emotional rendering. This part of the novel is truly heartbreaking. I found it very moving, and well written. Aunque me ha gustado muchísimo esta historia, considero que El ruiseñor jamás podría ser superado, me queda claro que la autora sabe como contar una historia desgarradora, que te vacía por dentro y te deja sin nada, literalmente sin ganas de tomar otro libro, porque sientes que a éste no les has dado el suficiente tiempo de duelo. The biggest problem I have with this book is about the very unidimensional feminism. It is quite clear the author wanted to denounce the sexism of this time, but it is a feminism centered on the protagonists, a real egocentric white feminism. Not even a word about racism and colonization of this period, it could have been in the book as Beatrice is traveling, some opportunities was clearly missed here and in the end the book has some really sketchy racist vibes and ... no thank you I wish the moral acrobatics from ‘I want to learn from the world’ to ‘I want to take it home and own it’ had been questioned. In Bell’s world, science transforms into magic when we aren’t looking. But while she shines a light on history of sexist exclusion of women scientists, science’s colonial history stays in the dark. When her (wealthy, White, landowning) women finally gain access, they do science just like their male peers - by “discovering” and extracting it from other peoples. Sophisticated and serene, The Landmark London is the crowning jewel of the fashionable Marylebone district, NW1, and is located less than half a mile from the world-famous Baker Street. Dine and unwind in a tranquil oasis of the enchanting Winter Garden. Under views of elegant palms, with its magnificent glass roofed atrium, the modern European menu offers popular classics presented with a tantalising twist. The fine dining Winter Garden is known and loved for its stunning eight-storey, glass atrium, extravagant service and simply delicious culinary compositions.