Children of Liberty audiobook

★★★★ It's the start of the new century and Gina and her family have emigrated from Italy to start a new life in America."Never forget where you came from."Before Tatiana and AlexanderBefore Leningrad and LazarevoBefore everything, there was Gina from Belpasso who came to Boston's Freedom Docks to find a new and better life and met Harry Barrington who was searching for his."I never wanted to read this. What's the point when we know how the story ends, it can bring nothing but heartache? So I thought that I'd just skip this one and go directly to Bellagrand, to meet a young Alexander. What made me finally read this was that the author is my all time favourite, And I'm so grateful I decided to pick up Children of Liberty. It was so much better than I could have imagined. This is essential to read to completely understand Harry and Gina. And no, this first part of their story, isn't sad at all. On the contrary, I fell in love with this book from the moment a 14 year old- Gina stepped foot on American soil with her family in 1899. I adored being in that era. Learning how the filthy rich lived, seeing how immigrants, like Gina survived, it was fascinating. I was a little worried beforehand that the politics of this story would bore me, but it didn't at all. What little there was, was actually very interesting. The ratings are extremely underserving to this book. They have to be because people doesn't like the turn of events. It can't be anything else. It's extremely confusing to me. Nothing will ever be as good as The Bronze Horseman but the writing is just as exquisite. The passages are meaningful and deep. Are you a fan of Paullina Simons you will recognise yourself immediately and adore every second. This book really did consume me."Love is the strongest and deepest element in all life. The harbinger of hope, of ecstasy, the defier of all laws, of all conventions. Man has conquered nations, but all his armies could not conquer love. Man has subdued bodies, chained the spirit but he has been utterly helpless before love. High on a throne, yet he will remain poor and desolate if love passes him by. Love, ladies and gentleman, has the power to make out a beggar a king."Paullina has such an amazing gift. Even though I didn't agree with everything that happened in this book, she somehow made me love it anyway. No one can do that but her. Not only was the writing astonishing, she also introduced us to the most wonderful set of characters. Harry's whole family, and his wealthy word, I eventually grow to love it all. Gina's whole family and their struggle to make a new world. I loved it all. The contrast between the two worlds was so much fun to spend time in. I instantly loved Salvo, Gina's brother the most. And I loved Gina, she reminded me so much of a young Tatiana Metanova. The fact that I knew from the start, how Gina and Harry's fateful love would end didn't take away from the story one bit. In fact, I think Paullina Simons is a genius for releasing this as a prequel when we already know the main story. It was the first time I've ever read a story in this order and I loved it. I have grown tired of stories with a traditional happily ever afters. I want angst and drama. Anyway, this had nothing sad about it but if you are avoiding this because of sadness, don't. Have you no interest in finding out how exactly the events leading to Russia or misery turns out, and are just curious to see How Gina and Harry ended up together? Then read Children of Libarty as a stand alone. It's so beautiful it's worth it.

Children of Liberty is the prequel to Paullina Simons much loved Bronze Horseman series. Set in Boston at the turn of the last century, it tells the story of the forbidden love between Gina Attaviano and Harry Barrington, who feature as Alexander’s parents in The Bronze Horseman. Fourteen-year-old Gina, just arrived from Sicily with her mother and brother Salvo, first meets Harry and his best friend Ben as the young men try to drum up customers for their apartments for immigrants near the Freedom Docks. And although the family only stay for one night before making their own way to nearby Lawrence to live with other family members from Sicily, Ben is instantly smitten by Gina’s dark-skinned, dark-haired sensual beauty. Despite Salvo’s efforts to protect his sister and his obvious animosity towards her American admirers, Ben starts making frequent visits to the Attaviano family, dragging his friend Harry along for company. Gina, an enterprising young woman with big dreams for the future, falls head-over-heels in love with Harry, the son of a wealthy Boston businessman, who is also engaged to one of Boston’s most eligible socialites. Considering Gina’s youth and their vastly different backgrounds, her love for him seems doomed from the very beginning. But Gina does not give up that easily ….The problem with prequels of much loved books is that they are being read with high expectations, and can easily disappoint when those are not being met. Since The Bronze Horseman features on my all-time-favourites list, I tried to put those thoughts aside when picking up this book, and to read it with an open mind and judge it on its own merits rather than in comparison with its sequels. And whilst Boston’s politics and turn-of-the-century history could never compete with the interesting and dramatic backdrop of the siege of Leningrad, I was soon drawn into the story and really enjoyed reading about Harry and Gina’s love story. As Alexander’s parents I had thought them rather foolhardy for trading the freedoms of American life for the confines of communism, despite trying to understand their idealistic political beliefs. Reading about their young love totally changed this opinion, and their characters gained much more depth as I read about their youthfully innocent hopes for a better future.Gina Attaviano is a delightful character. Like Tatiana, she sparkles with youthful innocence and energy, and I liked her tremendously. Her scheme to win Harry over and ingratiate him with her brother was nothing short of ingenious. I could picture her vividly, this colourful Sicilian peasant girl, so different from her stuffy Bostonian counterparts. No wonder half of Boston’s bachelors would have fallen instantly in love with her. And how dreary a life it must have been for women at that time, despite their wealth and the nice clothes – not surprising that speakers like Emma Goldman drew such large crowds as women were fighting for recognition as equals in society. Simons does an excellent job at painting Boston society at the beginning of the 20th century – although I admit that a lot of the political details were lost on me, as I was mostly ignorant about Boston’s historical past and famous characters and had to google them to understand their background (I am a little bit wiser now :). And whilst Gina and Harry’s love story did not evoke the same roller coaster ride of emotions as the one I experienced reading The Bronze Horseman, I enjoyed every moment reading this book and finished it in one day.My advice to readers is to read this story in its own right, not as a prequel to the Bronze Horseman – and to let it take you on its own unique journey. Thank you to The Reading Room for providing me with a copy of this book!

I want to give this 5 stars because I just smashed the last 100 pages and am on a total high! But I can't forget the slow, sinking and eerily disappointing feeling I had for the first half of the book. There was a lot of character development and introductions to get through. In true Paullina Simons style she does not hold out with her pen. But after about 100 pages I was losing interest and getting VERY worried about where this whole thing was going. But I knew I shouldn't have stressed about it too much, because finally when Gina and Harry's affair began to really get started things got better. Gina is a lively and lovable character. Harry was very mysterious in the beginning. A closed book almost. He didn't offer much. But as the story went on and I got to know him better I really fell in love with him. He had a smart, witty and yet sometimes dark sense of humour. I loved his jealous streak, and his courage and passion. Turning the last few pages made me sad as we all know where these star-crossed lovers meet their final fate. Or do we? I'm hoping in the next book (or two?) Paullina reveals Gina's true undoing.

Okay...So hear me out. I've not yet read a raving review and I get it. I get it. I get it. But, I have my own opinion on Children of Liberty. I rated it five stars and this is why...Anyone who knows me or that follows me on gr, fb or my book blog knows that The Bronze Horseman series isn't just a book series to me. I don't even know how to put into words what these books are to me. It's just impossible. Believe me, I've tried. Words fail me every time. I believe, and this is not an attempt to sway or argue anyone's opinion, but I believe that anyone who has really read deeply into TBH, especially T&A, would understand that Children of Liberty is NOT supposed to be an all consuming heart wrenching epic love story like TBH is. If you took the time to reflect on Harry and Jane's part in the series, you'd already know that they made awful, terrible choices that they felt were the right ones at the time. Well, obviously Jane/Gina didn't have complete faith in the choice to renounce her citizenship or she would not have taken $10,000 dollars with her to communist Russia or taken the train with Alexander to the U.S. Embassy to try and get him passage back to America. Even Harold understood his folly at his end, even if it was too late to change anything. I believe Mrs. Simmons did an amazing job of setting up this story arc and the character traits that were necessary in propagating the thought process and behaviors that we learned in T&A about our beloved Alexander's parents. Harry is a fool. I don't think any of us could argue that. He is also selfish and cowardly at times. And Jane/Gina well she is also quite foolish, yet I do believe they truly loved each other. Children of Liberty keeps Harry and Jane/Gina in true character of what we've learned from their parts in TBH. What else would you expect from COL? If you were expecting anything else, than I can understand why you'd be disappointed. I loved Children of Liberty and cannot wait to read Bellagrand. PS. I loved that we got to know Esther as well and can now understand better why she turned Tatia away at first.

4.5*** Absolutely loved this book!! I'm sitting here, trying to get myself to start reading the next book and I just can't. I can't move on yet. I love a book that has me so wrapped up in the characters. I'm thinking of all the things I want to scream at them for, cry with them, hug them. I'm just so emotional over this book. I know what happens in TBH, but that doesn't matter to me. I'm so wrapped up in Gina and Harry's story. All I care about is them and the choices they are making now, I don't care how it affects the future. I was borderline going to give this book a 5*, but there were a couple parts where the political stuff kinda dragged on. Overall, I obviously love it and it's a MUST read!

3 1/2 starsi went into this with very low expectations based on ratings. Im glad I read it but it was not an epic love story (I kind of knew it wouldnt be). It was beautifully written, as always. I enjoyed seeing the beginning of Gina and Harry's relationship but this book was really about their ideology. As the reader, you get to see their descent into socialism and the beginnings of communism. Their love story was not beautiful but I do feel the story compliments TBH trilogy. Children of Liberty is not for everyone. I would only read it if you wanted more of a back story on why Alexander's parents made the choices they did. Review to come

Emanuela - per RFS.Sono molto preoccupata nello scrivere questa recensione perché, ancora una volta, questa autrice mi ha lasciato spiazzata.Figli della libertà sembra, al primo approccio, l’affresco della vita di una famiglia di immigrati italiani che approda a Boston e inizia faticosamente a costruirsi un futuro nel paese delle grandi opportunità. La vera protagonista della storia è la giovane Gina Attaviano che, con la passione e la volontà caratteristiche della sua giovane età, incarna perfettamente lo spirito della donna artefice del proprio destino. Insofferente alle regole imposte, vuole affermare con forza il desiderio di avanzare nella società e di migliorare le proprie condizioni di vita a dispetto di un fratello possessivo e maschilista e da quel mondo americano che, lungi dall’essere progressista e paritario, relega le donne al ruolo di mogli decorative e madri efficienti.In una Boston in pieno sviluppo industriale, stringe amicizia con due giovani rampolli della società ricca, Harry e Ben, che rimarranno legati strettamente alle sue vicende e della famiglia e rappresentano il contraltare dello status di immigrato: sono americani doc, discendenti dai primi padri pellegrini e appaiono in tutto il loro benessere preimpostato. Gina, piena di vita e di entusiasmo, trasferitasi a Lawrence, inizierà da subito a fare i lavori più umili cercando sempre di migliorare la propria condizione e compensando la mancanza di studi con la volontà di emergere. Suo malgrado, la sua vita si troverà al centro di un triangolo amoroso perché sia Harry che Ben l’ammirano e la seguono sempre da vicino ma non osano pensare di poter essere qualcosa di più che amici, poiché strettamente legati alla società dalla quale provengono e destinati a matrimoni già decisi. In questo romanzo viene evidenziato particolarmente bene il clima puritano, razzista e classista degli States che si maschera dietro alla facciata del paese dove ognuno può avere la sua grande occasione, ma in realtà non perdona chi ne tradisce le regole. Come al solito la Simmons fa dei suoi romanzi un potente mezzo di denuncia politica e sociale con uno stile asciutto e descrittivo in un’atmosfera sagace e coinvolgente resa dall’uso preponderante dei verbi all’imperfetto.La storia d’amore che nascerà tra Harry, sognatore e intellettuale, lontano dal destino da industriale deciso da suo padre e Gina, giovane studentessa alle prese con un’evoluzione stravolgente, costerà loro molto cara, ma un finale completamente sospeso lascia sperare in una svolta.Siamo ormai largamente abituati alle trilogie di questa bravissima autrice.

Adoro la scrittura dell'autrice, come sempre mi cattura il cuore dall'inizio alla fine.Gina parte per l'America insieme a suo fratello Salvatore e sua madre Mimì. Il padre era morto d'infarto e il suo sogno era proprio quello di andare negli Stati Uniti.Gina ha quattordici anni ed è molto vivace, vuole realizzare tante cose e si comporta come se fosse più grande della sua età con grande irritabilità del fratello che cerca di contenere il suo carattere esuberante.Al molo conosce Harry Barrington che, insieme al suo amico Ben, li ospitano in una delle case che affitta la sua famiglia per gli immigrati. Gina è entusiasta, il fratello molto meno, vorrebbe che la sorella mantenesse un contegno specie insieme ad altri uomini.Nonostante le tante avversità, Gina e Harry hanno modo di passare molto tempo insieme e di conoscersi. Gina se ne innamora perdutamente e Harry, nonostante sembra distaccato, prova anch'egli qualcosa per lei. Ma vengono da mondi troppo diversi, Harry è schiacciato dal peso del suo cognome, ha sette anni più di lei, deve ancora trovare la sua strada, è fidanzato con una ragazza dell'alta società che aspetta la sua richiesta di matrimonio.Eppure il suo cuore batte per la bellissima siciliana, è impossibile non innamorarsene, lei è così piena di vita, intelligente.Cosa succederà ai due ragazzi? Quale scelte faranno?Ecco che Paullina ci fa ancora sognare con i genitori di Alexander, amo il suo modo di raccontare, mi sono immedesimata in ogni situazione, mi sono innamorata dei protagonisti. Una storia di amore proibito, difficile, nato in un periodo in cui la differenza di ceti era fondamentale. Gina molte volte si è sentita in imbarazzo nei confronti di Harry, sia per i suoi vestiti sgualciti che per le mani rovinate dal lavoro. Una storia che tocca il cuore.

It is not a surprise that I loved this book considering that it is the beginning of the best book series I have ever read, my one and only, The Bronze Horseman. In Children of Liberty we meet Alexander's parents, Gina and Harry. Even though I knew how their story would end I absolutely loved their beginning. Two people from totally different worlds found each other and fell in love even though everything was against them. This is the first part of their story and I read this because I wanted to know and try to understand Gina and Harry and I wanted to justify their actions somehow. It was a very good book and Paullina's writing in it is outstanding as always.