Weather of the Heart: A Child's Journey Out of Revolutionary Russia

by Nora Lourie Percival and Nova Lourie Percival

Book Overview

From the perspective of the 21st century, the author looks back with a clear eye to the turbulent days following the Russian Revolution. Nora Percivals research illuminates her personal story, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971304505
• ISBN13: 9780971304505
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: High Country Publishers
• Length: 351 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Nora Percival began her life as a pampered, well-loved child in Samara, Russia, on the banks of the Volga River. Her father was a businessman, her mother a talented pianist. Her early years were fun and happy, and Nora was a bubbly, curious child. Soon, though, upheaval overtook her life with the advent of the Russian Revolution. Nora's father, targeted by the Communist regime, escaped to America, leaving behind Nora and her mother, a woman in fragile health who suffered from depression. The two were forced to move in with Nora's grandparents, aunts, uncle, and cousins in a small apartment, where food and heat were scarce. Everyone, from the wealthy to the poorest, suffered during this time. Starvation was rampant and Nora's family became alarmed when first small domestic animals disappeared, then small children. Nora's father finally managed to get funds to the family, and eventually Nora and her mother sailed to America. But Nora's mother's homesickness sent them back across the ocean, only as far as England, where Nora's mother was hospitalized and Nora ended up first in a work house, then in a hostel for transmigrates, where she anxiously awaited word from her father and longed to be back in America. What an interesting, wonderful story. Nora is a prodigious child who learns to read at an early age and teaches herself English. Her effervescent personality shines throughout the book, and one feels sorrow for such a young girl forced to live in horrific depravity, while taking on adult responsibilities and caring for her mother, whose depression never lessens. Percival excels at drawing the reader into her story with rich descriptives and prolific insight enmeshed within a period of history that is as fascinating as it is tragic. Historic buffs will appreciate a first-hand look at the events leading up to the Russian Revolution as well as those during and after. Excellent book. Highly recommended.

Wonderful lady;wonderful story

I happened upon Nora Percival in Valle Crucis, NC where she was signing her books. I feel so lucky to have personnally autographed copies of her books and a photo of me with her. Nora Percival is as captivating in person as she is in her story. "Weather of the Heart" is wildly educational, exciting and inspiring, a study in optomisism. I literally could not put it down: I carried it from room to room and took it with me if I left the house. When I finished reading the book, I missed Nora the child because I found her so charming; WHAT A GIRL!! What a book!

Weather of the Heart

I learned so much about revolutionary Russia and a different way of life from this book. Reading Ms. Percival's life story was intriguing--full of happy reunions and sad partings. The book really makes you realize that people are the same all over the world. This story of a young girl's long journey to America will inspire you and make you cry.

Weather of the Heart

Nora Percival's book vies with Frank McCourt's book as an honest, heart-wrenching memoir. It is a book every American needs to read and it one of the finest books of this decade.

Weather of the Heart

One of the finest books of the decade is Nora Percival's "Weather of the Heart." It vies with Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" accurate heart-wrenching memoir. Mrs. Percival's account of her escape from Revolutionary Russia, as a child of eight, is a book every American needs to read.