GREENHORN VALLEY LIBRARY
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The September 28 meeting of the Greenhorn Valley Book Club found the members displaying mixed emotions about The Diamond Eye by Katie Quinn.
Most members enjoyed the book, overall; and most seemed to have learned facts regarding historical events of the WWII period, the Ukraine area, and Russia at that time.
Several members expressed thoughts that the plot was over-dramatized, and they would have rather read a more precise account of the famous lady sniper, Lady Death.
Some members expressed that while they enjoyed the historical information in the book, the war/sniper killing topic was not something they would pick to read about outside of a book club pick.
Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye tells of heroism born of desperation, as a separated mother and bookish student who wanted nothing more than to finish her studies and raise her son became one of the deadliest snipers in history.
In a 1937 setting, in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), the journey from studious girl to deadly sniper earned Lyudmila “Mila” Pavlichenko a reputation as a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death with over three hundred kills. Removed from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour, Pavlichenko forms an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
The Diamond Eye is an unforgettable World War II tale beginning in Ukraine during Hitler’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia.
With Quinn’s skill at crafting an interesting, well-balanced blend of period details, characters, and unexpected plot twists, the book was both educational and enjoyable.
The September book club meeting was well attended, and it was a pleasure to welcome back Joy Marostica, one of the original founders of the Greenhorn Valley Book Club, who had missed a few meetings.
Book club host Linda Lewis advised that the next meeting would be on Thursday, October 26, and as usual at 1:00 p.m. at the Greenhorn Library. November and December meetings will vary from the fourth Thursday due to the holidays. The November meeting will be held on November 30 and the December meeting will be held on December 28. As always, anyone is welcome to attend book club meetings and get acquainted whether they have read the book or not.
