tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post2194751407577380568..comments2023-06-30T04:55:59.469-07:00Comments on From Page to Silver Screen: The Summer Garden--Book Review/Future MoviePTSS/LBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-55850826168875248502012-01-30T08:32:39.977-08:002012-01-30T08:32:39.977-08:00Ok, I am back, but just to say, I still have more ...Ok, I am back, but just to say, I still have more comments to say about this story. I just get too stupidly emotional to write it down...so I'm waiting until I can think about the end and not get teary eyed. :) Dang pregnancy hormones...PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-17097596048145069922011-12-08T09:58:49.712-08:002011-12-08T09:58:49.712-08:00LB- U are right on target and that all made sense ...LB- U are right on target and that all made sense to me. <br /><br />To answer your Q. I think I stated before. Leningrad was so traumatic for both Alexander and Tatiana that in order to keep from going crazy they avoided talking about it. Alexander avoided talking about his family with his son and Tatiana. I think Anthony for them was their reminder of GODS blessing, love, hope and mercy over their lives. In a lot of ways he gave them hope and freedom. I think people feel GOD has left them after they see huge miraculous things happen in their lives and begin to question their faith and purpose etc.... <br /><br />I say this all the time. Just because u want something does not mean it's good for u RIGHT NOW. Sometimes God needs time to prepare u for the blessing. I think we get impatient and try to resolve it on our own and that's where we create a mess. <br /><br />I think Alexander not discussing his family kept him from comforting Tatiana over her family. In the end they tried to find comfort individually and created a mess. Does that sense?Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-40577193489096994662011-11-30T20:40:39.960-08:002011-11-30T20:40:39.960-08:00Alright ladies, here are some other questions that...Alright ladies, here are some other questions that have been burning in my brain:<br /><br /> Anthony was their child of Leningrad, and with him come the memories of their past, including 15 years being an only child. Their other children are children of freedom and a new future. Do you think there is a distinct difference in their relationship with Anthony and the other children? Do you think there is a different reverence and love? <br /><br />I cannot help but think that even in their older years, when they look back on their lives and the children they have, that there isn't something extra special with Anthony. Gosh, sorry, I'm getting emotional just thinking about it and I can't find the right words to describe what I'm trying to say. I guess it's because I hold Anthony very dear to me. He is such an important part of their history before his birth and after. I just adore him and...yeah...I need to quit for tonight. :(PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-27047918050210670872011-11-30T20:34:09.315-08:002011-11-30T20:34:09.315-08:00OB and Sony: great comments and honestly I agree w...OB and Sony: great comments and honestly I agree with both thoughts! You've already said it so well. Sony, when Tatiana started working those Friday nights, Alexander started going to the bar with his single buddy. I know Tatiana did NOT like that, but it was her choice to work when she knew Alexander didn't like it. I thought her barfly comment was a bit of a dig at him attending the bar every weekend. I personally thought she was in denial when he was making those comments about how he had become the Kirov. And OB, I also agree with your comments. Both needed some serious therapy. Honestly, I think any couple, married or not, could benefit from annual, bi annual, monthly, what have you marriage counseling. Obviously if things are good you don't need to go often, but it's probably not a bad idea to have an "outsider" help bring up issues that may have gone unnoticed or unattended. <br /><br />Both parties are guilty of letting it get to the point that it did and yet again, like I said before, it was like one of those moments in time that NEEDED to happen to get them to get out all their anger, sadness, frustration, guilt, misery, and whatever else was boiling.<br /><br />Ok, now for the part where they are having their knock down drag out fight: when Tatiana said she would rather take a coat hanger to herself than have his baby-- I think she was just trying to make Alexander hurt as much as she was. She wanted this baby. It was obvious when she dressed in her camisole and made him Blinchiki!!!! Now Alexander was definitely off his own path because it didn't even dawn on him that there was a special occasion and he'd known about the importance of Blinchiki growing up in Russia!!!!<br /><br />Ok, now as far as Alexander not thinking Tatiana would care about the extramarital affair, Sony, I think it is yes and no. Yes, he thought that, but I don't think he believed it because several times after that one night with Carmen, he is coming up with stories: Poker with Johnny, spilled my beer and he keeps repeating this to himself. When Johnny can't be his alibi he moves onto his friend Tyrone (?). I think there really was concern. Maybe I'm wrong.<br /><br />And honestly, I think her response at the hospital seeing his lipstick is where we see the Tania we know and love completely switch off. She has been strong, brave, fierce, and solid as long as we've known her up to this point and this is where we see her kind of black out emotionally from her family. She doesn't make dinner, she doesn't grocery shop, do laundry, etc...It's a shame we really don't know what she was thinking between then and the night they "bring in the kitchen sink". I think she went out with the doctor, she was trying to get back at Alexander and couldn't. <br /><br />I hope that all made sense! haha!!PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-40051654484563288422011-11-30T10:23:32.681-08:002011-11-30T10:23:32.681-08:00Sony-I enjoy our discussions too. I love every one...Sony-I enjoy our discussions too. I love every ones mad character analysis skills. However I must defend Tatiana here's why. <br /><br />Something I like about how Simon’s constructed Tatiana’s character is by showing both her strengths and weaknesses. Up until TSG we see her remarkable strength. But in the TSG we see the cracks in her strength give way. Readers are shown how Tatiana is coping with the traumas of loosing her entire family, surviving the War, the realities of PTSD, being a mother and wife. All this culminates and erupts in Arizona. We see her guilt for not saving her sister Dasha. We see her guilt for marrying Dashas boyfriend. We see her guilt in not saving her brother Pasha. We see her guilt for leaving Alexander in Russia and the physical and psychological damage he endured to save her life. We see her guilt for leaving Anthony to go save Alexander. All this guilt she tries to resolve by helping others in the hospital. Unfortunately, the reason she neglects Alexander and Anthony because she feels guilty for their happiness. Her happiness with Alexander is a constant reminder she used his love to survive Leningrad and Dasha and Pasha had nothing and perished. All this prevented her from moving forward.Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-21624470104208337872011-11-29T08:52:48.113-08:002011-11-29T08:52:48.113-08:00Hi LB and OB, thank you so much for your kind word...Hi LB and OB, thank you so much for your kind words! I love our discussion here, I really do. And you are both right, you need boundaries within yourself and for your relationship; and you must learn to realize when it's necessary to draw a line so that your partner will be the priority in life and not somebody else. <br />Shall I tell you about the scene where I nearly hated Tatiana? It started on the Wednesday morning when she tells Alexander that he has to come to the Christmas party at the hospital and he stands there, "angry and naked, morning-and-Tatiana-inflamed" and she watches him warily and comes back to him with a great sigh. As if he was a petulant child who gets on her nerves and now she has to spend even more time with him. It goes on in the evening at the hospital party where she is in great spirit with her colleagues (and where Alexander is not amused at all to see Carmen again), where she lets Bradley kiss her hand and then dismisses Shura saying "little barfly,fly away. Shoo." Alexander is right when he accuses her that he's now Kirov instead of Alexander (her answer that he is "saying every nasty thing he can think of" shows IMO that she really doesn't understand him at all any longer). Their whole conversation in this scene shows how much apart they are. "She IS glad that they don't have a baby, she's got nothing left for a baby, everything she has goes to that f**ing hospital." But the crux for me was the morning after, when she is having lunch with Bradley and she says: "...promised for life to someone else". Alexander was now SOMEONE ELSE. I know she was ashamed afterwards, but that was too late for me. And even worse was her answer to his question: "Is there no chance for us, no chance at all". For her "Not in this life" I wanted to slap her - and I assure you that I absolutely hate physical abuse- but I wanted to shout at her "Not in this life, not in your next life, in no life ever were you meant to be with someone else than Alexander!"<br />Phewww, I'm sorry for this long rant but I really would like to know your opinion about this, maybe I'm totally overreacting...Have a good evening and I promise my next rant will be about Shura.Sonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-41331507521566172232011-11-28T20:13:34.884-08:002011-11-28T20:13:34.884-08:00HI OB!!!! At Disneyland, but had to stop in and sa...HI OB!!!! At Disneyland, but had to stop in and say I love your comments. :) Real quick, I saw it the moment he didn't say anything about Mr. A$$hat's naked painting in the office and Alexander.didn't say anything. Alexander's tolerances started going down and just because he formed his own company didn't make his standards automatically improve. I also agree with your analysis. Ok phone typing is killing me. I shall return...PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-26990953825503699722011-11-28T15:00:56.042-08:002011-11-28T15:00:56.042-08:00Sony U Said: "But I don't understand why ...Sony U Said: "But I don't understand why it became so overwhelming that it took over her life,"<br /><br />Me: Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries should be drawn even within yourself. I think this is what ruins many relationships is the lack of them. Tatiana did not take care of those things that were abundant in her life and over indulged in things she did not need. It's called greed....IMO!! I hope this is helpful Sony.... I must say how much I love reading your comments about these characters. Always, such great analysis.Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-35503669250116380932011-11-28T14:36:51.168-08:002011-11-28T14:36:51.168-08:00LB U Said: "No not everyone experiences betra...LB U Said: "No not everyone experiences betrayal this way, but every couple has their own obstacles to overcome. Some are greater than others, but if both parties are willing and want TO MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WORK, it is possible through a lot of forgiveness, communication, love, and kicking anyone to the curb who is going to try and take your attention away from the ones you love."<br /><br />Love IT!!! <br /><br />Did anyone conclude that Alex's behavior with Carmen was a pattern? His reaction mimicked his behavior of when he slept with his mothers friend to get his mothers attention in Tatiana & Alexander. I think Alex used sex as a weapon when he could not communicate his greatest fears to the women he loved. In this case he feared Tatiana developed feelings for another man yet, could not bring himself to ask her. So his solution was Carmen. I hate to say it but I saw this coming a mile away.Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-58948565271675276672011-11-28T14:12:35.619-08:002011-11-28T14:12:35.619-08:00Ahh! Sony and LB......U two have such a great disc...Ahh! Sony and LB......U two have such a great discussion going on here. <br /><br />This is what I love about these characters Alex & Tatiana is how real they are. TSG culminates to such a degree where u wonder if they actually existed. True and pure reactions to hurt, betrayal and jealousy are written so honestly (although I don't believe in physical abuse) Most will blame the man if he defends himself against a women hitting him. Especially if he's twice her size. But physical abuse is physical abuse no matter if u are a man or a women IMO. I believe Tatiana got what she was asking for unfortunately. After all she knew how to push his buttons and all I kept thinking when she was hitting him. Wow she really has a death wish!! She needs a time out stat!!Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-82779271698389424752011-11-24T08:22:46.249-08:002011-11-24T08:22:46.249-08:00And yet, look how it ends. Again, I love this boo...And yet, look how it ends. Again, I love this book for the reality of it's love and characters. No not everyone experiences betrayal this way, but every couple has their own obstacles to overcome. Some are greater than others, but if both parties are willing and want TO MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WORK, it is possible through a lot of forgiveness, communication, love, and kicking anyone to the curb who is going to try and take your attention away from the ones you love. This book is full of hope. Shoot, I have more to say now. You got my brain working in overdrive, Sony!!!! I love it! :)PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-50439607880360184622011-11-24T03:00:09.966-08:002011-11-24T03:00:09.966-08:00Hi LB,
so happy that you are back!
And yes, the Ca...Hi LB,<br />so happy that you are back!<br />And yes, the Carmen fiasco was necessary to get them back together, and I mean to get their hearts and minds back together, no lies and no secrets left out. I remember there was a line about Shura "he turned his gaze, his mind, his heart away from Tania" which I found heartbreaking because she didn't realize it, what an amount of damage was already done. And I wished she had reacted in another way when Alexander came to the hospital having lipstick on his cheek. If she had accused him, had scolded him, would have shown any sign of anger then Alexander would have realized that she still cared for him. By acting like a martyr, suffering silently and saying the last sentence about the lipstick so calmly he got the impression that nothing mattered to her any longer. I'm totally d'accord with Shura when he answered her question, what kind of reaction he exptected from her when she learned about his betrayal: (I don't have my book with me atm, so I don't remember his whole answer, but it was roughly like this): "I thought you would be a bit angry and then pat me on the cheek and forgive me because in your heart of hearts you don't give a rat's ass about me or what I'm doing." Yes, that's the conclusion I would draw, too. Until her final tantrum in the kitchen which I can imagine also very clear through Shura's POV, I totally agree with you, LB, it's written much more intense in this way.<br />When I started with TSG I had never expected that these two would grow so much apart that any betrayal would be possible, on either side. To be continued...Sonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-37861368869936551672011-11-23T21:20:18.076-08:002011-11-23T21:20:18.076-08:00.....Michelle Williams???????.........Michelle Williams???????....PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-16399926120829935832011-11-23T20:14:50.515-08:002011-11-23T20:14:50.515-08:00CONTINUED...
Also I am not one for physical abuse...CONTINUED...<br /><br />Also I am not one for physical abuse at all and am still trying to figure out why the HELL Alexander hit her. Can someone please explain?<br /><br />Crap, I just got distracted and can't remember what else I was going to say.<br /><br />Uummm...yeah ok, I'll come back. HAHAHA! :)PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-33006573260763488382011-11-23T20:09:16.774-08:002011-11-23T20:09:16.774-08:00Oooooookkaaaaaayyyyy....I'm back. First thing...Oooooookkaaaaaayyyyy....I'm back. First things first, thank you for the great comments ladies! I really can't add much to what you have already said, because you pretty much nailed it. But of course, I'm a wordy gal so here goes...<br /><br />I did not like the Carmen situation and yet I felt it was a necessary evil to get these two kids to pull their heads out of their bums, strip everything away, and COMMUNICATE! They needed to destroy everything that had been building since Leningrad. Yes, they fixed things here and there, but not entirely. This was the boiling point. The more I read this entire sequence of events, the more understanding I had for each character. It didn't make it better, but I GOT IT. <br /><br />What I particularly liked about all of this was we finally got to see Tania finally express some true anger. Up to this point, she was capable of stuffing things down or letting them go, but her husband's betrayal seemed to be the one thing that she could not sweep under the rug. <br /><br />Paullina did not write Tania's POV losing her mind and shattering every single thing in the kitchen and brutally slicing off her hair with his army knife, but she didn't need to. How she wrote it from Alexander's POV was quite compelling. I prefer how Paullina chose to wrote that scene because my imagination of Tania was probably more intense than anything she could have written. Tania doesn't break dishes. She doesn't how fits of rage. And yet here she did. I felt her anger, suffering, grief, loss, pain, betrayal, and intense heartbreak. I visualized her probably having an outer body experience. Now, if you were to go back and read that scene again and play "Sposo son disprezzata", it takes on such a more powerful tone.PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-44403819460385182362011-11-23T09:29:24.392-08:002011-11-23T09:29:24.392-08:00Aaaahhhh!!!! I promise to get caught up today! I h...Aaaahhhh!!!! I promise to get caught up today! I have so much to say.Basically, it comes down to very simple concepts to keep relationships successful, but we are all imperfect and therefore we really can't...crap, I'll just come back later when I'm not typing on an itty bitty little phone.PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-39602765577057410322011-11-23T06:01:52.830-08:002011-11-23T06:01:52.830-08:00Hi LB and OB,
thank you! Yes, I understand Tania&#...Hi LB and OB,<br />thank you! Yes, I understand Tania's desire to help people. But I don't understand why it became so overwhelming that it took over her life, as you said it so well, OB. She lets the amount of work grow and grow and although she knows how bad Alexander takes that she tops it on that certain Tuesday by telling him that she won't be home in the afternoon for him but will work "only 4 hours" at the children's hospital!!! I would have reacted the same way as Alexander, smashing the coffee cup and storming out. And I would also have ignored her attempt at damage control in the evening (decorating the house and cooking Boeuf Stroganoff) because it was just that, a feeble attempt. Because in her heart and mind she didn't understand or didn't want to understand the reason for Shura's anger. After her question "you can't be that angry with me because I work 4 hours at a children's hospital" I really wanted to take her and rattle some sense into her. Sorry for sounding rude but these chapters made me lose my temper on nearly every page...Sonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-8987881879000091322011-11-22T18:27:12.341-08:002011-11-22T18:27:12.341-08:00ITA with Sony. Well said.
If I may add.....Not t...ITA with Sony. Well said. <br /><br />If I may add.....Not to be a hypocrite but I understand her desire to help people. I just think she needed to learn to control her desire rather than taking over her life. Does that make sense?Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-74296724467175312112011-11-20T17:43:26.455-08:002011-11-20T17:43:26.455-08:00Thank you Sony for your thoughts. I think they are...Thank you Sony for your thoughts. I think they are wonderful. I'm away from home at the moment, but I will be back to respond and share my thoughts. :)PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-71182981916370102322011-11-20T05:18:52.650-08:002011-11-20T05:18:52.650-08:00Hi LB,
sorry that it took me so long to post again...Hi LB,<br />sorry that it took me so long to post again. <br />The Carmen situation...I have to admit that I was blaming Tania a lot for it. First I couldn't believe that she decided to work as nurse in ER again just when she and Alexander had gotten nearly as close to each others hearts again (and how long did it take them!!!). Of course I wouldn't deny her to go working but if she had chosen to work in the baby wing of the hospital for example part time (five days of the week only until noon) and would have been at home in the afternoon I bet that this would have never happened. And I hated how deceitful she was, telling him it was only for a short time, omitting that she would work three 12hour-shifts. And even more when she accepted her promotion, being away over night. For me she clearly neglected Alexander and Ant; she was taking care of them w.r.t. to clothes and meals and keeping the house clean but she showed more love and sympathy to the drunken old man in the hospital than to her family. She didn't love Shura as she used to, he was no longer her priority but she was "escaping" to the hospital. I cannot understand what happened with her, why her work has become so much more important than her two men. And she knew damn well how much they both needed her - but there were always strangers who needed her more. Sorry for this rant but this was bothering me through the most part of the book.Sonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-81101242259614709772011-11-17T08:19:53.114-08:002011-11-17T08:19:53.114-08:00Everyone,
I am working on my novel regarding the ...Everyone,<br /><br />I am working on my novel regarding the Carmen situation, but I would like to ask a few questions:<br /><br />1) Did any of you see this coming?<br /><br />2) If you did, what led to this assumption?<br /><br />3) What could have prevented this incident?<br /><br />4) Was Tatiana guilty as well?<br /><br />Ok, I have more, but I will leave it at that for now. :)PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-4154054754094958992011-11-17T08:16:07.590-08:002011-11-17T08:16:07.590-08:00OB,
I didn't hear any foot stomping so that d...OB,<br /><br />I didn't hear any foot stomping so that doesn't count as a temper tantrum! haha! Next time I want SHOUTY CAPS!. :)<br /><br />About a future film: I am really wanting a mini series. I would rather have an 8 hour movie of all 3 blended seamlessly. I KNOW! I KNOW!!! haha! :) I'll shut up about a mini series. I'm sure I can be swayed to enjoy it on the big screen, but for now it's all about giving the fans maximum story line. <br /><br />As far as costume and even set design, Oh my gosh, it'll be a smorgasbord of amazing goodness!!!! I love seeing their styles change throughout the decades. Clothes say so much about a person. How one decorates their home, the car they drive, etc...You're getting me so excited OB!PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-20053976596585683892011-11-14T16:25:55.779-08:002011-11-14T16:25:55.779-08:00I forgot to answer your other Q LB.
What did I l...I forgot to answer your other Q LB. <br /><br />What did I learn from TSG? The costume designer will enjoy designing this film.LOL!! No seriously!! People grow and change and a real relationship makes room for that. I think Simons captures this really well in TSG.Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-78806093493485135622011-11-14T15:54:36.951-08:002011-11-14T15:54:36.951-08:00Temper tantrums? Too late! I just threw one up abo...Temper tantrums? Too late! I just threw one up above. Sorry LB!! Besides I typically call my tantrums debates. Paris been around a few of them. LOL!! <br /><br />More Q. This is going to be fun. I'm ready shoot!Open Bookhttp://linkedinhollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620577442444975548.post-35487646627933493872011-11-14T09:07:33.147-08:002011-11-14T09:07:33.147-08:00OB!
I will ride that R train with you till the en...OB!<br /><br />I will ride that R train with you till the end. However, I won't throw a fit or temper tantrum if it doesn't happen. But if it does, I want to interview him!!! :)<br /><br />I loved your assessments of A & V's relationship. Yeah that's what bothered me the most as well, but like Sony said, once Tania left New York, they rarely saw Vikki, so .....not as eeked out.<br /><br />Oh, I'm working on more questions...I'm so lazy right now. My apologies. :( Stay tuned though!PTSS/LBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02170378760779707707noreply@blogger.com