Lara Prescott

Twee Amerikaanse secretaresses worden in 1956 ingezet om een Russische editie van 'Dokter Zjivago' Rusland in te smokkelen; naarmate hun missie vordert komen de twee dichter tot elkaar.

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Lisa van der Heijden 

*4.5/5

“This book will take us down a spiral from which there will be no return.”

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the Dutch publisher. I was eager to read this book because of its subject. The Secrets We kept is the story of how the CIA used a book, Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, as propaganda during the cold war. This story is based on true events and shows the importance of literature. 

This book stood out for me due to its author’s masterful storytelling. It’s impressive that this is Lara Prescott’s debut novel. The story is told from the perspectives of a diverse cast of characters. The characters are all involved directly or indirectly in the publication and spread of the novel and represent the Western view as well as the view of the Soviet-Union. Due to its diversity in perspectives, the reader gets a multifaceted and fascinating view of the events. It is compelling that the story is told in a sort of dual perspective between East and West while these storylines are not directly interwoven with another. The story is told in a matter-of-fact style but it is never boring. Each chapter reviews more about the subjects and discusses important topics (e.g. sexism, homophobia, freedom of speech) in an elegant way. The ending was realistic and hopeful at the same time. 

“May our literary weapon of mass destruction make the monster squeal.”

The characters were well developed. It was a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and cultures. This resulted interesting dynamics and relationships. Even though The Secrets We Kept is a plot-driven story, the characters change and grow over time. Their growth was also made clear in the chapter headers that were fascinating and clever. I also loved how the author included an overall character perspective of the CIA typists. It created a dynamic between the chapters with the one-character perspectives as well as an overview of the important things going on at the CIA. I did not feel as connected to the characters as with some books, but this did not bother me. 

It is difficult to judge the writing style since I read the Dutch translation. However, I loved the down-to-earth, factual writing style, and the pace in which the story was told as while as the metaphors that were used. Lara Prescott kept a perfect balance between describing little details while keeping the great plot insight. It is clear that the author did a lot of research and planning before writing the plot. 

To conclude, The Secrets We Kept is a fascinating book over an even more fascinating subject. The author told the story in a magnificent way, creating a unique manner of storytelling in the process. It is a well-informed book that discusses social and cultural problems that are still relevant to this day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read historical fiction. 

Rating breakdown:
−	Plot: 5/5
−	Characters: 4.5/5
−	Writing: 4/5
−	Worldbuilding: 5/5
−	Overall enjoyment: 4/5

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