My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva, E. M. Swift
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Book Reviews of My Sergei: A Love Story
Book Review: A beautiful love letter
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm really glad I found this book at a library book sale last year. Though this story is no longer current news, I hadn't forgotten about the tragic death of Sergey Grinkov or watching him perform with his wife Katya in the 1994 Winter Olympics. And even though the world has long since moved onto other headlines and stories of interest in the figure skating world, the love story told in this book is truly timeless. As a Russophile and a historian whose field of expertise is Russian history, it was a double joy to read because of all of the descriptions of Russian culture, the differences between Russian and American customs, and what life was like in the late Soviet period and the early post-Soviet period. (Although I have to say that the transliteration style wasn't completely pleasing to me; for example, I don't think I've ever read any other book where a double O is used in place of the letter U, as in Ligooshina or Katoosha, and I'm still trying to figure out how the nicknames Serioque and Katuuh are supposed to be written in Russian characters.)
Though the book begins and ends sadly, in between there's a lot of happiness and love, making this into a beautiful heartfelt love letter to a wonderful person, skating partner, friend, lover, husband, and father. The love between Katya and Seryozha is so pure and genuine, nothing like the type of superficial and problem-plagued celebrity relationships we're used to hearing about. It even made me a little jealous of their storybook love story! All throughout, Katya is very honest and open, about their relationship, the world of young skaters in the Soviet Union, what goes on behind the scenes at the Olympics, the hectic life on the road of skaters, and how difficult it was to constantly have to leave their daughter Darya behind while they skated. While I'm sure there are some things she chose not to write about, overall a very detailed and honest life and love story emerges. She was so lucky to have this wonderful man, who was so much more than just an athletic partner, for (what was then) half of her life.
Because the love story is so beautiful and like a dream come true, the reader can really feel her deep grief and sorrow expressed at the beginning and end of the book. It's a terrible thing to lose the love of your life, the father of your child, the only person you've ever skated with for the past 13 years, when you're only 24 years old. This beautiful love story isn't diminished for me by knowing that Katya has since moved on with her life and found love again. She had a child with Ilya Kulik six years after Sergey died, and married him a year later; it's not like she jumped into his bed soon after this book was published! (And since Kulik is six years younger, he would have been a bit too young for her then anyway.) When you're widowed at such a young age, you should hardly be expected to be in mourning forever, and it may help the more current reader to not feel quite so sad at the end, knowing that this intense pain and sorrow isn't such an overpowering force in Katya's life anymore. And new husband or not, there's no denying that her first husband, her first love, was indeed the greatest love of her life.
Book Review: The most sad and emotional books I have ever read!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was one of the best books I have ever read. It was full of emotion which made it really easy to read. I felt like I was going through all the situations in Ekaterina's life with her. Another reason this novel was so easy to read, was because it was a true story. It was somthing that had really happened and something that won't ever change. This is the type of book that once you start to read, you can't stop. I finished this book in exactly 3 days. I felt so attached to the family and their lives. I think I liked this book so much more than any other book because it was so intriging. I mean, I could never imagine going through what they went through. They went from world champions one day, to a normal family the next. It was absolutely amazing. I loved the emotions she portrayed in her writing. This line in particular brought goosebumps to my arms. "I remember walking back and listening to the crunching of the snow beneath our footsteps. The fields were all blanketed in white, and the moon gave us shadows. It was so beautiful and I was so happy. I wondered, Why me? Why am I so lucky? I was so young and small and shy, and Sergei could have had any nice long-legged girl. Why should he choose me?" These few sentences show so much of how she was feeling right then. She was in love and it showed through every little piece of description she used. And then this line after Sergei had just died on the ice. "I can't describe the feelings that went through me when I was walking into the room where Sergei was lying, his skates still on his feet. He didn't look dead. It looked like he was just sleeping. Even one eye was open a little bit, and the whole time I thought that maybe he was looking at me." These words stab at you like a knife you weren't expecting. Noone wanted him to die, but nothing could stop it either. This was, like I said before one of the best books I have ever read. I think I am biased though because I am a girl. If I was a guy, I don't think I would appreciate this book as much. It shows a lot of emotions of love and security that I think only girls may really feel. But, other than that, there is nothing that I would change about this book. It is excellent.Book Review: An excellent book of life and love.
Summary: 5 Stars
It is to her Sergei that Ekaterina Gordeeva writes this book. She writes it because she can no longer be silent. She writes it because she feels the urgent need to speak and tell us all about their life whether good or bad. Gordeeva's amazing writing voice creates a special tone of her own and an aura of a love lost, also hers to keep. She writes with all the honesty in her character, hiding nothing and telling it all. The content of My Sergei by Ekaterina Gordeeva is surprisingly detailed with small special memories from their childhood, after school years, and finally their married life. With a naïveté, uniquely her own, Gordeeva describes her life, first without Sergei, then including him in, then without Sergei again. As she talks about her Sergei, the softness and caress in her voice become clear. Then, describing her life alone with her little daughter, Daria, Gordeeva's voice changes again. She must be crying on the inside while she writes it for that is certainly the impression one receives from the reading. The tone of her voice is always reminiscent. She is no longer mad at life for loosing Seriozha. That stage, however, must have come and gone. At this point in time, I think Gordeeva is trying to find her Sergei in her memories and doing so has the need to share her grief. She says she is trying to find herself by training again. She will someday, for such is life. That day, however, has not come yet, based on what she writes. She is still hopelessly in love with Sergei and even his death does not seem to have changed that. The impact of this book is momentous. Personally, she had showed me that there is, in fact, true love in the world although finding it is pure random dumb but very satisfying luck. She has also made it clear that even the loss of such love is possible to overcome. My Sergei by Ekaterina Gordeeva is over all an excellent book. It is very well written in Gordeeva's simple honest naïve style. She writes about every detail she can remember from her life with her dear Seriozha, thus giving the reader a clear picture of her life with him and then her life alone.Book Review: Beautifully Touching
Summary: 5 Stars
Figure skating fans will recall the shocking death of pairs' gold medalist Sergei Grinkov on 20 November 1995. In this poignant memoir, his partner and widow, Ekaterina Gordeeva, shares the story of their lives together as skaters, husband and wife, and as parents. Gordeeva and Grinkov - G&G - were perhaps the greatest pairs skaters of all time. Thoroughout their career, they touched the hearts of millions, bringing an elegance and perfection to ice that the sport has never seen before - or since.
Through this joyous look back at their career and lives, Katia shares their story, from humble beginnings as athletes in the Soviet sports machine to their triumphant Olympic gold medal wins in 1988 and 1994. She offers a rare insider's glimpse into the recently-scandalous world of Olympic skating and the preparation that goes into every performance.
Despite its tragic ending, the book is uplifting to read, which is one of the reasons that I have dog-eared my copy many times over. Katia's gentle, yet simple storytelling is both heart-wrenching and funny, especially her stories about their lives in America as recent immigrants to a world so different from the one they were raised in. Throughout, she fondly remembers the various competitions, routines, and holidays that marked her life.
It is rare to find a memoir that is so soul-bearing and touching as "My Sergei". While it is a love story, it is also so much more. It's a story of triumph, of the strength of the human spirit, and of love conquering over all.
I first read this shortly after its original publication, and have delved into it many times since. It's one book that I never tire of, and it is one that has touched millions of readers, skating fans and non-fans alike.
Book Review: NL-S approved book
Summary: 5 Stars
Ekaterina Gordeeva's book My Sergei is an excellent book about her life. Ekaterina Gordeeva's book, My Sergei, is one of the best autobiographies's I have read about the life of a famous ice skater. It is a well-written book that has a very real life feel to it. It reveals that the life of an ice skater is not as easy as most people believe it to be. I found that it was easy to relate to Ekaterina. She is a very self-disciplined person, and she has worked extremely hard to get to where she is.
The setting changes throughout the book, from the US, to Russia, to friends' homes, to the Olympics. The plot was romance, but also hinted at some adventure when she talks of the Olympics and her life now, without Sergei and how she is dealing with it.
The book was not to difficult to read. It feels like she is right there talking to you, which creates a warm feeling. The parts that were most interesting to me were: when she would talk of how she felt before a performance or when she described what a day in her life was like. I found it to be quite different than what I had imagined.
People who are interested in ice skating and the story of how Ekaterina came to be what she is would be interested in this book. This book taught me that even when your life changes drastically, as in the death of your husband you can still find joy in the ones you love, and they will help you cope.