Author Topic: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.  (Read 207357 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Maria_Pavlovna

  • Guest
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #435 on: January 12, 2012, 07:20:45 PM »
I just got this book in the mail on monday and half way thourgh and I LOVE IT! bravo Sarah!!! :)

Offline Sarushka

  • Moderator
  • Velikye Knyaz
  • *****
  • Posts: 6489
  • May I interest you in a grain of salt?
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #436 on: January 16, 2012, 03:41:55 PM »
I just got this book in the mail on monday and half way thourgh and I LOVE IT! bravo Sarah!!! :)

Thanks Mandie. It's especially gratifying to hear that TLC lives up to a longtime Romanov fan's expectations.

GrandDuchessAndrea

  • Guest
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #437 on: April 17, 2012, 12:20:54 PM »
I have been rereading parts of The Lost Crown lately, and I just have to say how much I love the relationship between the sisters. It is so heartwarming how they are always there for each other. Makes me wish I had a real-life sister!

Another thing that I am sure all of us Romanov history buffs smile at is how all those little things like the heights of OTMA and Alexei on the classroom wall, the friezes, the toys in Alexei's playroom, which general audience might think are invented, are complete accuracy. Also, the use of letters and quotes written by the Grand Duchesses to enhance the story are so wonderful. The beginning of one of Maria's Ekaterinburg chapters, the one whose opening paragraphs are taken from the letter about the birds, sunshine, the crosses on the domes... I just love that bit, knowing that the real Maria Nicholaevna truly wrote that, if in different wording.

The emotions are so distinct, the present-tense makes their feelings more relatable, in a way. A definite masterpiece of a novel!

Offline Sarushka

  • Moderator
  • Velikye Knyaz
  • *****
  • Posts: 6489
  • May I interest you in a grain of salt?
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #438 on: April 21, 2012, 08:50:51 AM »
Thanks Andrea. Squeezing in all those little details was one of my favorite things to do. Why make something up when you can have the real thing?

Vanya Ivanova

  • Guest
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #439 on: April 23, 2012, 10:45:01 AM »

I couldn't agree with you more Mademoiselle Andrea! You know that every word is authentic and backed up with meticulous research.

I particularly love how even the family pets, Ortino, Jemmy and Joy are brought back to life.

The part where I think its Tatiana and Anastasia discuss Maria's bleeding during her tonsil operation and how that would make childbirth potentially fatal for their deeply maternal sister was heartbreaking. However it was also very enlightening. This book is full of perpectives and insights like this that are nothing short of genius!

Olga Bernice

  • Guest
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #440 on: June 02, 2012, 10:56:15 AM »
Exactly!! <i>The Lost Crown</i> makes OTMA seem less like centuries-old people stuck on photographs and more like the sufferers and martyrs that they really were. Vulnerable, scared of what's to come, yet graced with a supreme hope that everything will be all right. You did a great job with that, Sarushka. :-D

Offline edubs31

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 1014
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #441 on: June 02, 2012, 11:27:55 AM »
Exactly!! <i>The Lost Crown</i> makes OTMA seem less like centuries-old people stuck on photographs and more like the sufferers and martyrs that they really were. Vulnerable, scared of what's to come, yet graced with a supreme hope that everything will be all right. You did a great job with that, Sarushka. :-D

Yeah I second that! I'm about 80% of the way through and just love this novel. I fully expect the last 20% to be a bit heartbreaking as obviously I know full well what's in store...but to this point I can't remember the last time a book (Romanov related or otherwise) made me smile so much!

Integrating Russian words and phrases in with the English text is a really nice touch as well. For me at least "The Lost Crown" serves better to reinforce my currently held beliefs than to offer stunning revelations. That said if I were to single out one character where more of the latter is the case it would be Tatiana. So incredibly capable and admirable...not just the standout daughter in my opinion but the true leader of all eleven people held in captivity to the end. Both matriarch and patriarch. Circumstances would likely have never allowed for it but I would have loved to have seen this young woman, had she survived, flourish in a role of leadership or whatever she was otherwise destined to become.

Always have had a deep and profound love for OTMA but, if possible, that has become even more unshakeable now. Great job Sarah and thank you!

Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right...

Offline Sarushka

  • Moderator
  • Velikye Knyaz
  • *****
  • Posts: 6489
  • May I interest you in a grain of salt?
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #442 on: June 09, 2012, 09:03:22 AM »
Always have had a deep and profound love for OTMA but, if possible, that has become even more unshakeable now. Great job Sarah and thank you!

You're welcome. People like you are exactly the audience I had in mind while writing The Lost Crown. I hope you enjoy the end -- to the extent that it can be enjoyed...

Offline edubs31

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 1014
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #443 on: June 09, 2012, 11:52:07 AM »
Always have had a deep and profound love for OTMA but, if possible, that has become even more unshakeable now. Great job Sarah and thank you!

You're welcome. People like you are exactly the audience I had in mind while writing The Lost Crown. I hope you enjoy the end -- to the extent that it can be enjoyed...

It was great Sarah and you did a fine job concluding things. Obviously your narrator (Olga in this instance) wasn't going to be able to describe the events in full unless this was to be a tale continued from beyond the grave. Reading the end and your epilogue is still unavoidably sad but I thought you brought a close to things skillfully and gracefully. Truthful without the shocking detail...good for readers like myself who need an emotional break from the vivid depictions, and even better for younger or less familiar readers who don't really need to be subjected to that right away!
Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right...

Offline Kassafrass

  • Boyar
  • **
  • Posts: 222
  • Give my love to all who remember me.
    • View Profile
    • Tumblr
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #444 on: January 13, 2014, 12:41:15 AM »
I'm about half way through the book and I am so so so impressed with this novel. You did a great job giving them each their own distinct voices, Sarah.

Your metaphorical language and the little things you throw in there (such as Tatiana not using any contractions) are fantastic and simply make the book. I love being able to read through the pages and have a specific photograph in my mind to match up with what is going on.

One thing I have to say, however, is that the mentioning of bullets and bayonets makes me feeling like I'm being punched in the gut. Were you purposely putting that in there? Or was that just a painful coincidence?

Anyway, fantastic novel, Sarah. I cannot wait to hear of your next novel when you're ready to tell us!
"Austria declared war on us. Bastards." - Olga Nikolaevna
deviantArt: http://poison-ivy-alice.deviantart.com

Offline clockworkgirl21

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2667
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #445 on: January 14, 2014, 05:41:55 PM »
Quote
(such as Tatiana not using any contractions)

I can NOT believe I didn't notice that.

Offline nena

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2927
  • But every spring smells like you.
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #446 on: January 14, 2014, 07:43:34 PM »
Quote
(such as Tatiana not using any contractions)

Being a non-english speaker, I'd kindly please anyone to explain what does 'using contractions' mean in Enlgish and to give an example. :-D
-Ars longa, vita brevis -
Mathematics, art and history in ♥

historyfan

  • Guest
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #447 on: January 14, 2014, 09:54:57 PM »
Quote
(such as Tatiana not using any contractions)

Being a non-english speaker, I'd kindly please anyone to explain what does 'using contractions' mean in Enlgish and to give an example. :-D

You used one. : ) A contraction is the shortening of two words into one, using an apostrophe. The one you used was "I'd". Tatiana, as shown in the book, would have said "I would".

Other examples are:

I'm = I am
You're = You are
Wouldn't = Would not
Can't = Cannot
Aren't = Are not

Offline Kassafrass

  • Boyar
  • **
  • Posts: 222
  • Give my love to all who remember me.
    • View Profile
    • Tumblr
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #448 on: January 15, 2014, 12:06:17 AM »
Sarushka mentions earlier in this thread as well as in an interview how she was sure not to use contractions for Tatiana as to make her sound more... was it proper? Elegant? I cannot remember the exact word now. Anyway, I have a great great admiration for that! It is amazing to me that she was able to think of such ideas to convey these characteristics of Tatiana.
"Austria declared war on us. Bastards." - Olga Nikolaevna
deviantArt: http://poison-ivy-alice.deviantart.com

Offline TimM

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 1940
    • View Profile
Re: THE LOST CROWN - A New Novel by Sarah Miller.
« Reply #449 on: January 15, 2014, 01:26:20 AM »
Sarah should write a book in which her Tatiana meets Data from Star Trek: TNG.  Not a contraction would be uttered between them!
« Last Edit: January 15, 2014, 01:28:05 AM by TimM »
Cats: You just gotta love them!