Review ~ Despite the Falling Snow by Shamim Sarif

Metro Publishing
This film tie -in edition released in 2016

You can betray your country

But not your heart

Love and betrayal are the two themes at heart of this dual time novel which is set in the turbulent years of The Cold War during the mid-nineteen fifties, and also some forty years later in Boston in the late-nineteen nineties.  The story focuses on the relationship between Katya and Alexander who meet in Moscow and where despite all odds, and their different political viewpoints, they meet and fall in love. But there are secrets and lies between them and although Katya hopes that she can start a fresh life with Alexander, sinister forces are unleashed of which they have no control. Forty years later, in Boston we meet up with Alexander again, now the owner of a successful catering company but with no sign of Katya, there is an obvious mystery to uncover.

I thought that story got off to something of a slow start and it took me a good third of the novel to really start to gel with the characters, but once the  relationship between Katya and Alexander started to emerge, the story started to settle and became more interesting. If I’m honest, I much preferred the Russian 1950’s era of the story to the more contemporary American setting where the book, for me, lost some of its appeal.

The author writes well and with confidence and is adept at description, bringing scenes alive quite vividly, particularly the bleakness of post-Stalinist Russia. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I think that the author has created a nice atmosphere between both past and present.The conclusion of the story, when it comes, is nicely done and finishes the story appropriately. 

Despite the Falling Snow has been made into a movie starring Charles Dance as Alexander and Rebecca Ferguson as Katya. The film was released in cinemas in the UK on the 22^nd April 2016.

Best Read with ...Slices of Autumn Cake from Marian's Bakery and cups of aromatic tea...

About the Author

Website 

Facebook

Twitter @shamimsarif

Read an interview with the author here

Amazon UK

My thanks to the publishers for my review copy of this book

~***~

Blog Tour ~ Despite The Falling Snow by Shamim Sarif

Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to host today's stop on the 

Despite The Falling Snow

Blog Tour

Metro Books London
7th April 2016

I am delighted to introduce the author Shamim Sarif to the blog...

Hi and welcome, Shamim.....

Please tell us a little about Shamim Sarif‏, author.

I am an author, but also a screenwriter and director – a storyteller in many forms. It’s a great privilege but more than that I love having my family – my wife Hanan and two sons Ethan and Luca. I was born and raised in the UK, of parents who are South African Indian in heritage. It’s a rich background and I drew on it for my first two books and films, The World Unseen and I Can’t Think Straight.

How long have you been writing and what got you started?

I’ve been writing for more than twenty years. It always felt natural to me to express myself in written words, much more than in spoken words. And I was captivated from the time I could read by the fact that the characters and places I knew from books could feel as real as everyday life. I began writing, without really telling anyone, while still working for my father in his business, during which time I wrote a screenplay that was optioned and some short stories that were published. And then after The World Unseen was published, I felt more justified in calling myself a full time writer. 

What inspired you to write Despite the Falling Snow and what can you tell us about the story that won’t give too much away?

Despite the Falling Snow is about a young Soviet woman, Katya, who is passionately anti-communist. When she takes a job spying on a Kremlin official, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with him. But while she tries to sort out her feelings for him versus her duty to the Americans, the net is closing around them. I loved that period of history but more than that, I wanted to explore the ways in which love can make us see the world differently and perhaps transcend betrayal.

Are you a plotter...or ...a start writing and see where it takes you sort of writer?

It depends on the book. With Despite the Falling Snow, the central mystery of what happened to Katya needed to be solved by the end, so that gave me major plot points. But the smaller twists and turns were very much on instinct, letting the characters revelations and decisions guide the process.

What were the challenges you faced whilst writing this novel?

I was pregnant with our second son Luca while writing Despite the Falling Snow. I was about five chapters away from finishing, and ended up going into labour before I could finish. Not to be thwarted by such a small event, my wife Hanan took us all to South Africa to stay with my parents and enlisted plenty of help with the baby so I could finish the book!


What do you hope that readers will take away from Despite the Falling Snow?

Some readers have reported feeling cold with all the snow that’s in the book J But what I really would like if for people to feel moved by Katya’s journey. She is an heroic character but also a lonely young woman who finds love – just in the most unexpected place. And the transformative power of that emotion is life-changing for her, but also life-threatening. We can experience that openness and transformation and when it can happen without the sacrifices, it’s a wonderful process. 

 How can readers discover more about you and your work?

My website is at www.shamimsarif.com and all my books are on Amazon and other online stores, but I would love anyone who is interested to join me on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shamimsarif) or on Twitter (@shamimsarif). I’ve had such an outpouring of support for my books and films over the past few years that I use social media to talk to fans of the stories and love the community we’ve created there.

My thanks to the author, Shamim Sarif  and to Leanne at Midas PR for their kind invitation

be part of this lovely blog tour 

Despite The Falling Snow

Blog Tour runs from 7th - 17th April

Please visit the other stops on the tour for more informative content

~***~