Away

Away follows Lillian Leyb, a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrives in New York City in 1924 after surviving violent upheaval in her home country. She finds work at a Yiddish theater and begins building a new life, until news about her young daughter Sophie forces her to embark on an urgent cross-country journey. The narrative tracks Lillian's passage through America as she attempts to reach Alaska and then cross into Siberia. Her path takes her through the criminal underworld of Seattle, telegraph offices in the wilderness, and refugee camps near the Bering Strait. The story centers on Lillian's unstoppable determination as a mother while depicting the varied characters and communities she encounters during her trek across 1920s North America. Her experiences reveal the complex social fabric of immigrant life and the lengths people will go to chase impossible hopes. At its core, Away explores themes of survival, reinvention, and the power of maternal love against a backdrop of cultural displacement and human migration. The novel maps both physical and emotional journeys while questioning what truly makes a life worth living.

Readers found the novel compelling for its vivid historical details and memorable protagonist Lillian, with many noting the rich portrayal of 1920s immigrant life. The writing style earned particular praise, with reviewers highlighting Bloom's economy of language and ability to create complete character sketches in few words. What readers liked: - Fast-paced narrative structure - Realistic portrayal of female survival and resilience - Vibrant supporting characters - Historical accuracy and period details What readers disliked: - Abrupt ending that left questions unanswered - Some found the prose style too detached - Several side plots felt unresolved - Violence and sexual content disturbed some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (250+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) "The prose is lean but the story is rich" - common sentiment across multiple reader reviews. Several readers compared the narrative style to folk tales and epic journeys.

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🌟 Author Amy Bloom based parts of the novel on her own Russian Jewish family's immigration story, including details about their early life in New York City. 📚 The Trans-Siberian Railway, which features prominently in the book, was the world's longest railway line in the 1920s, stretching 5,772 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok. 🗽 During the time period of the novel (1920s), more than 2.5 million Russian Jews had immigrated to America, fleeing persecution and pogroms in their homeland. 💫 The book's protagonist, Lillian Leyb, travels through 23 different locations across North America and Asia during her epic journey. 🎭 Before becoming a novelist, Amy Bloom worked as a psychotherapist, which helped inform her deep understanding of human behavior and relationships that she portrays in her characters.