The Diamond Eye: A Novel by Kate Quinn
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Web ID: 16083315A compelling 5-star narrative!
“My memoir, the official version: Every woman remembers her first. My memoir, the unofficial version: Those words mean very different things for me then most women.” “The Diamond Eye,” is my first Kate Quinn novel. And yes, truth be told I thoroughly enjoy reading historical fiction. Writing a novel in this genre isn’t for the weak. The frail, the vulnerable, and those not willing to roll up there sleeves need not apply. While the time and place can serve as a muse Quinn does not forget to focus on the characters who create the story. It is through the memoirs of the main character that you will experience this time and place in history. Discernibly to be transported into a very specific period and place historical accuracy is paramount. The devil is in the details. The author thoughtfully strikes an excellent balance between primary and secondary sources to interlace a compelling plot where the stakes are high for the protagonist to achieve her goals. From my point of view, Quinn ably communicated the chaos and stress of the frontline from Mila’s unique perspective, both as a woman and a sniper. Though Quinn has taken some liberties, the two main men in the story are based on real people, as are most of the other characters she encounters, there names are taken from the historical record, including her comrades in arms, and her fellow Soviet delegates. Additionally, you may find Woody Guthrie’s song “Miss Pavlichenko” on YouTube as a fascinating reference to this story. Their is an extra level of poignancy too that Quinn did not foresee, given the recent outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine. “The Diamond Eye” is a compelling 5-star narrative, enriched by the blending of fact and fiction, and a reminder of the human face of war.
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Lady Death
An astonishing work about the unlikely friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Luydmila Pavlichenko. Luydmila Pavlichenko was a Ukrainian born Russian sniper who earned the nickname Lady Death because she was such a deadly sharpshooter dispatching 309 German soldiers during WWII. It’s the story of her life before, during and after the war. At one point she is sent to the U.S. as part of a delegation to seek aid from the Americans in their fight against the Hitlerites. This is where she meets the First Lady and their friendship begins. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this fascinating woman and think other readers who enjoy historical fiction will too. 4.5 stars
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Love Kate Quinn
I love how Kate Quinn brings war heroines to the forefront and puts them in the spotlight. I had never heard of Mila Pavlichenko before reading this book and now I am totally enamored with her. I highly recommend this book with its bombshell heroine and writing that had me feeling as if I were there in the theater on the Eastern front.
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4.5 stars
THE DIAMOND EYE by Kate Quinn I’ve read two other novels by Kate Quinn and I’m continually impressed by the way she carefully crafts and brings to life the often overlooked stories of strong women in history. Her impeccable research is evident in her novels and it shines bright in this one. I was fully engrossed in the world of WWII Soviet sniper Lyudmila (Mila) Pavlichenko. Going from a young single mother attending school to be a historian with sharp-shooting as a hobby to enlisting and becoming a skilled marksman with over 300 kills under her watch is remarkable. As one of 2000 female snipers in the Red Army, “Lady Death” is/was a badass! While it’s not easy to think of Russia in a flattering light these days, we can’t forget their role/side of history during Hitler’s invasion. It is truly unfortunate how history always seems to repeat itself. In short, as a lover of history and historical fiction, I truly enjoyed learning about Mila’s amazing story. Highly recommend! Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
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Exceptional!!!
Just plain awesome!
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TEN STAR historical fiction
A little over a year ago, I read my first KATE QUINN historical novel, THE ROSE CODE. I have just finished reading my second, THE DIAMOND EYE. What they have in common are stories of women who had a positive impact on the outcome of World War II. Both are based on real people. The former deals with Bletchley Park in England, the famous code breaking facility. The latter tells the story, somewhat fictionalized, of a female Russian sniper with 309 confirmed kills of Nazi soldiers who had invaded her homeland, Ukraine. Be prepared for a lot of reading. It is 435 pages in hardcover, 448 pages in trade paperback. Moreover, it is worth every minute spent reading the story. It deserves TEN STARS. The Russian sniper was Lyudmila Pavlichenko (Mila). I was vaguely aware of her reputation from other books on WW II. Her father is described in the novel as having “connections”. According to the author, he was actually a member of the NKVD, precursor to the feared intelligence agency the KGB. When Mila was just past her 15th birthday, she had a one-night affair with Dr. Alexei Pavlichenko, ten years her senior, which led to Mila becoming pregnant with her son Slavka. Mila’s father threatened Alexei and the two were soon married. Not what Alexei wanted by any means as he had a roving eye. Mila was a student and wanted to continue her education and career as a librarian and history researcher. Alexei wanted to become a noted Soviet doctor. They soon parted ways but he kept avoiding the divorce proceedings. The divorce never happened. At the beginning of her academic life and career path, Mila studied history at Kyiv State University and worked at the Odessa Public Library as a research assistant. Her son lived with her parents during this early period. After repeated humiliations at the hands of her hated husband, Mila decided to take up sharpshooter training. She was very good at shooting at paper targets. When war breaks out, she is recruited to be a sniper in the Russian Army. The story has a secondary plot and jumps back and forth in time until the two plots merge. While the first story unfolds in Ukraine from 1937 until 1942, the second takes place in August 1942, first in Washington, D.C. and then elsewhere in United States. Mila is part of a delegation of Russian academics who have been invited by Eleanor Roosevelt, the U.S. First Lady married to President Franklin Roosevelt. A man known only as The Marksman is watching her. Leaders opposed to the president are paying him. His job, kill the president and frame Mila. Eleanor also has a minor storyline. The two women become lifelong friends. The Russians welcomed women into the military in their desperate fight against the Nazi invaders. Both sides were brutal in their confrontations. Not only were there female snipers, but also fighter and bomber pilots (read NIGHT WITCH by S.J. McCORMACK). They lived and fought alongside their male counterparts. It was inevitable that Mila would find a male companion in that environment. She does not find one but two men. One is her company commander Lt. Lyona Kitsenko. The other is her sniper partner, Kostia Shevelov. Their stories are heartwarming and tragic at the same time. They are people I would be proud to call friends. Mila’s other friends in the story include a promising ballerina who becomes a tank driver and her twin brother. I cannot think of a better way to spend a few days getting smarter than by reading KATE QUINN’s books. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! GO! BUY! READ! NOW!
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Fascinating historical fiction and gripping thrill
"The Diamond Eye" is at once fascinating historical fiction and a gripping thriller about a Russian woman smiper during World War II. Kate Quinn is a wonderful storyteller, who wields the written word with panache and skill.
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