Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
My Rating:*** ½ *
Between Shades of Gray is set in 1941, and tells the story of a family torn from their home and from each other by soviet guards, and then deported to work as unpaid labour in Siberia. The book is obviously well researched, giving a name to the thousands of people who were driven from their homes and lives, during the soviet regime.

Sepetys allows the reader to share in Lina’s confusion, by slowly revealing what her family had done to get themselves onto ‘The List’ of people to be deported. The book explores the themes of love, loss, and loyalty, and the true meaning of the word “home”.

The book itself is very slow paced, which means that while it is a very informative account of the plight of displaced under the Soviet regime, it isn’t a very engaging read. While on her way to Siberia, Lina develops feelings for the dark and handsome Andrius. While this love affair adds to the “story” element of the book, I feel that Sepetys should have delved into those feelings a little more, and perhaps given a little more depth to Andrius. We do not see Lina fall for him; rather, we are told it has happened.

Part of the pleasure of reading, for me, is the process of discovery and it would have been nice if I’d have been allowed to do this with Andrius and Lina’s love affair. Over all, I feel that this book was one that needed to be written, and is written well, but it could have been done a lot better. I never truly feel for the characters, I do not get the know them as people, rather than as prisoners. Because I never know them outside of their struggle, it is hard to appreciate how much their experiences change them as people.

I know that thousands of people would disagree with me on this, but this is why I can only give this book 3 and ½ stars. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book, I just don’t feel like it engaged me enough. There was no suspension of disbelief, I never felt like I was fully immersed in the story, which is a shame, because it was such a good story.