THE DIAMOND EYE is the latest work of historical
fiction from Kate Quinn (
The Alice Network,
The Rose Code and
more). Based on a true story, this novel shares the adventures of a female WWII
sniper, Lyudmila "Mila" Pavlichenko, credited with 309 kills. I particularly liked the
cynical comments about the Russian military and about propaganda in general
which were sprinkled throughout. Many chapters even begin with memoir excerpts
like this: “My memoir, the official version: On the morning of the second day
of October, our mighty military machine moved crisply into action at Tatarka,
organized and efficient. … My memoir, the unofficial version: it was about as
organized and efficient as a monkey shit-fight in a zoo.”
In addition to Pavlichenko’s military exploits, Quinn has
crafted tales of Mila's travels in the United States, including time as the first
Soviet citizen invited to stay at the White House. The fictionalized tête-à-têtes
with Eleanor Roosevelt offer an interesting contrast to the military exploits as
does the mystery associated with an assassination attempt on FDR. Ultimately, that
turns into a very exciting chase near Rock Creek Parkway. THE DIAMOND EYE
received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. Pick up
this title (or listen to the excellent audiobook version) if you like strong
heroines and historical fiction.
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