My debut novel is inspired by the first person I worked for in Russia. He had an ambition to build an ice rink. But he died before he was able to fulfil his dream. So I decided to build it for him. The result is Gorgito’s Ice Rink, which was Runner Up in the 2015 Writing Magazine Self-Published Book of the Year Awards.
Two small boys grieving for lost sisters — torn between family and other loves. Can the fulfilment of one promise make up for the failure to keep an earlier one?
When Gorgito Tabatadze sees his sister run off with a soldier, he is bereft. When she disappears into Stalin’s Gulag system, he is devastated. He promises their mother on her death-bed he will find the missing girl and bring her home; but it is to prove an impossible quest.
Forty years later, Gorgito, now a successful businessman in post-Soviet Russia, watches another young boy lose his sister to a love stronger than family. When a talented Russian skater gets the chance to train in America, Gorgito promises her grief-stricken brother he will build an ice-rink in Nikolevsky, their home town, to bring her home again.
With the help of a British engineer, who has fled to Russia to escape her own heartache, and hindered by the local Mayor, who has his own reasons for wanting the project to fail, can Gorgito overcome bureaucracy, corruption, economic melt-down and the harsh Russian climate in his quest to build the ice rink and bring a lost sister home? And will he finally forgive himself for breaking the promise to his mother?
A tale of love, loss and broken promises, Gorgito’s Ice Rink tells one man’s story through the eyes of the people whose lives he touched.
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J. Johnson –
I liked the characters, but the main character seemed remote.
This book has very heartwarming moments. My favorite scene was where Emma meets Gorgito at the open-air ice rink. The gathering of families and the flavor of Russian tradition made me want to join them. However, Emma comes across as somewhat remote to me. I felt as if she was not quite strong enough as a main character.
I loved Gorgito, he had that favorite uncle quality. Everyone came to life in this book, but the overall pace was a bit slow for me. I didn’t feel drawn along, although I did continue reading. I think I would prefer this as a film, since ice skating is so visually engaging.
These are some things that detracted from the story for me:
– Confusing beginning. Was not sure location of main character. Got the impression she was in a flashback in England, turned out she was in Russia. High number of characters introduced in a short amount of time.
– use of single quote punctuation mark instead of double quotation. When a character is speaking, need to use double quotation mark. When a character is quoting someone else, single quotation mark is used.
– omniscient voice needs to be grammatically correct. If the book is written in first person, more leeway with grammar. If book is in third person, must be grammatically right.
– characters actions need to be separated by paragraphs. If a character is speaking, including the actions of another character in the same paragraph is confusing.
There may be some issues that are a matter of personal taste, but overall the strength of this story is the realness of the characters.
B W Clayton –
An Interesting Book.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is an intriguing novel set in Russia. The story begins slowly, allowing the reader to learn about Gorgito’s factory and life in Russia and get to know the main characters. The story switches to different time periods and the author handled this well allowing the reader to follow the compelling story with ease. I loved how the different elements of the story all came together at the end and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Rebecca –
A tale of love, loss and broken promises.
It’s 1995 and Emma Chambers is an English engineer working in Russia to help set up a tablet packing plant. Her grandmother was Russian so she speaks the language and is a hit with her new colleagues. She’s married to Pete, an accountant back home in Exeter and she knows she’s spending a little too much time away from home.
“Emma and her team arrived back in Nikolevsky a few weeks later for their next two-week visit. It was going to be a busy fortnight where distractions would be unwelcome and hard work the order of the day.
⠀⠀As soon as they arrived, Gorgito announced the Tuesday of the second week would be the official opening of the factory.
⠀⠀’But, Gorgito,’ Emma said, as soon as she heard the news, ‘I thought that was last week. That’s why we left our visit until now – to let you get the opening out of the way.’
⠀⠀’Emma,’ Gorgito purred, throwing wide his arms and grinning broadly at her, ‘how could I possibly have a party without my wonderful midwives?’
⠀⠀Emma wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.
⠀⠀’Midwives?’
⠀⠀’Yes, of course. This factory is my baby – my pride and joy – and you helped me give life to it – you were here at its birth. You have to be here for the celebrations.’”
Gorgito Evgenyvich Tabatadze is a big Georgian business man, born in 1940. He’s enthusiastic, he’s motivated and he’s a little quirky. When we first meet him, his goddaughter Yulia is nineteen years old and an aspiring skater. Her brother Dima is just nine years old and is devastated to learn that his sister will be leaving Russia for a future in the US. Gorgito has a history that means he can’t stand seeing this little boy upset and he’s determined to do everything he can to build a ice-rink that will bring his goddaughter back home to Nikolevsky.
I was really interested to read this book as I can’t say I have any real knowledge or experience of Russia. I feel that now I’ve finished, I’ve had a small taste of the country and can understand a few things about their history, culture and customs thanks to the author’s descriptive writing.
The story flicks back and forth between time, but is mostly set in the 1990s. The author had a similar experience to Emma, working as a production project manager in Russia during this time herself, so you know that this is a book written with great care and plenty of real life experience.
I was particularly fond of Emma and I think this is because she was the character I could relate to most. I found it a little strange that a lot of the characters were repeatedly referred to by their full names (maybe this is a Russian thing?), but in general the characters were realistic and mostly likable.
The book was a little long for my tastes and I think I’d have enjoyed it a little more if had been a short story or novella. That said, I found it to be very interesting, and I’d recommend it for anyone looking to learn a little more about Russia through a beautifully descriptive piece of fiction.
Overall rating: “Gorgito’s Ice Rink” is an interesting story, especially for someone with little knowledge of Russia. This book is a tale of love, loss and broken promises that deserves a little love on its publication birthday. I’m sure many people will enjoy this story and learn a little bit while reading too.
Mrs M –
Left Me Cold!
A very odd novel which failed to engage me. It’s written in a plain, simplistic way, lacking any individual style. The author was a technical writer and it shows in the rather mechanical prose. Far too much dialogue, which rarely rings true. It is what it is – a creative writing project. The plot and themes had potential but the writing just does not manage to realise them. The Russian settings are a bit contrived and lack any real atmosphere. Not for me.
Noelle –
Mid-Century Saga.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is at its core a family saga, set largely in Russia and alternating in time between the mid to late 1990’s and the post-WW II era in 1949. It derives from the author’s travel experiences and her background in helping writers set up and run their small businesses. The story develops from the loss of their sisters by two small boys, one in the 1990s and another in 1949.
Emma Chambers meets the larger-than-life Georgian, Gorgito Tabatadze, when she takes over for another in her company in order to get Gorgito’s factory up and running in the picturesque town of Nikolevsky, Russia, in 1995. She discovers, while watching figure skaters on the River Volga, that Gorgito wants to build an ice rink for the most talented of them, Yulia Semenova, to draw people to his town. Having had a Russian Grandmother, Emma speaks the language and fits well into the community. When Yulia is lured to the US to train, leaving her little brother Dima behind, Gorgito becomes even more determined to fulfill his plan, in order to bring Yulia home. Gorgito himself lost his sister, Maria, who left home without telling anyone where she was going. She was following the love of her life, an older soldier she’d met in her tiny rural town, to Moscow. She disappears from Gorgito’s life and he cannot find her in the vast spaces of Russia and with the Communist regulations of the time.
The first part of the book is written in third person omniscient. I think because of this, the reader never makes the emotional connection with Emma that is made in the second part of the book with Maria. Maria’s story is told in first person, and because of that, this part of the book came alive and spoke to me.
In part three, Emma returns to Nikolevsky, despite the fact her first job there was over; she discovers her husband has had an extended affair with their next door neighbor during her long absence and realizes she has no strong ties to what was her home. Gorgito enlists her to help him run his factory and run interference with the local Mayor, who has very personal reasons for blocking the construction of the ice rink. Can Emma and Gorgito overcome bureaucracy, corruption, economic melt-down and the harsh Russian climate to get the ice-rink built and bring home a lost sister?
The strength of this book is in its characters and the accurate descriptions of life in Russia. Gorgito himself is a scene stealer, with all his foibles and love for life. Victor Romanovitch, the Mayor, undergoes a transformation as the story progresses, as the reader learns more about him and Maria. Maria, is colorful, if foolish, but loyal and deeply in love with Alexander Rastinov, who reminds me of the character Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind: bookish, loyal and proud, but deeply caring of his family.
The Russian background comes through loud and clear, the English background much less so. Having lived in a Soviet satellite during the Cold War, I found the author’s descriptions of life in Russia to be spot on – politics, regulations, food, deprivations, and the spirit of the people.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is a leisurely read that gradually draws the reader into the saga. It is informative to readers not familiar with that time and place, and while emotionally understated, is a lovely story.
Daniela I. Norris –
A wonderful tale of secret motivations and depth of the human-ego.
Set against the backdrop of 1990s Russia (which I personally knew very little about before reading this book) this intriguing novel is not only a human story full of understated emotion but also a tribute to gallantry and an examination of the human ego. Gorgito – a successful and self-made man in a place where ‘manhood’ is measured by glasses of vodka and by the power to make things happen – is on a mission to build an ice-rink for his goddaughter – a talented ice-skater whose talent is going to waste in their small town.
Through this vehicle of narration the author skilfully weaves a tale full of hidden motives and obvious challenges, with memorable characters that stay with the reader well after the last page has been turned. Emma, an Englishwoman following her career but forgetting to examine her own heart, befriends Gorgito and through this unlikely friendship discovers many things about her own journey as a woman and as a human-being. A riveting story that left me wanting to read more from Elizabeth Ducie.
Mary Anne McFarlane –
Gorgito for 2015.
This is a most impressive first novel, the story is entertaining, the descriptions show the author’s experience of the country as well as her skill and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A good way to start the New Year!
bea –
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this excellent novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this excellent novel. The characters resonated strongly with my experience of travelling to, and working with, Russians (and Georgians) in various place around the world. I recommend it without hesitation.
Suze Lavender –
Fascinating.
Emma’s grandmother is Russian and Emma speaks the language well. She’s an engineer and is being sent to Nikolevsky to work on a factory project. Gorgito, the owner of the factory, is a passionate man. He doesn’t only want to expand his business, he also wants to build an ice rink for his goddaughter. This means Emma has a lot of work to do and while being in Russia she might learn more about herself than she ever thought she would.
After many years Gorgito still hasn’t found his older sister Maria. She left when he was a child and he’s never been able to locate her. He promised his mother he’d track her down, but so far he doesn’t have any leads. His goddaughter Yulia wants to go to America to become a professional ice skater. Her brother Dima will be left behind just like Gorgito all those years ago. That’s why Gorgito wants to build an ice rink. Maybe he can convince Yulia to stay home, so history won’t repeat itself. Can Emma help him to succeed at this enormous project?
Gorgito is a special man. He’s positive and enthusiastic, he’s always got some kind of plan and nothing is too crazy for him. I immediately liked him and admired his cheerful personality and sunny disposition. He’s a dreamer with a big heart. He welcomes Emma with open arms and therefore she feels at home in Nikolevsky straight away. She struggles with the choice between two countries, does she belong in England or in Russia? She’s sweet and caring and she’s also smart and practical, which makes her good at what she does. She doesn’t take impulsive decisions, which makes her a perfect candidate to work together with Gorgito. She can help him to make his dreams become reality.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is an interesting book. Elizabeth Ducie starts her story at a slow pace, so it’s easy for the readers to get to know her main characters and find out more about the factory and life in Russia. Gradually she adds more layers to the story and quickens the pace. I enjoyed learning something about the Russian way of life and loved reading about a country that went through many changes in the years Elizabeth Ducie describes. She clearly knows a lot about her subject and that instantly fascinated me.
I liked that Gorgito’s Ice Rink is set in different periods of time. Before Emma came to Russia Gorgito lived in a small village with his parents and sister. She describes their lives and tells Maria’s history, which was my favorite part of the story. True love complicates her life and because of it she leaves her family. I was impressed by her bravery and had tears in my eyes when I read about what happened to her and why Gorgito couldn’t find her. Every main character is somehow connected to Gorgito. I loved how I got to know him really well by reading about the lives of the people he loves. Everything together makes Gorgito’s Ice Rink an original and fabulous book, I liked it very much.
Eleanor –
A fascinating world.
This is a novel with a very different setting. I know very little about Russia and the world described in the novel so I became as intrigued by the whole background as much as by the story which is thoroughly believable – so much so that one wonders how much is fiction and how much based on real events. The characters are complex – real individuals with whom the reader can empathise. A very enjoyable and satisfying read.
John Harding –
Highly recommended.
A wonderful story of love and friendship. Takes you along at a cracking pace with many twists and turns along the way. Having visited Moscow and St Petersburg in 1990 it brought back vivid memories of long queues and empty shelves and the bleakness everywhere. But as then the warmth and kindness of the Russian citizens remains with us and shines through in the book. Thank you Elizabeth Ducie for much pleasurable reading on New Years Day.
Salfeatures –
A captivating read.
Where do I start with this fab book? I started reading this on a Wednesday and finished it Thursday! I just could not put it down! I cried, I laughed and I cried a bit more! I went on 2 or 3 journeys within the book that had me completely captivated! A fantastic story, a fantastic read that I thoroughly recommend to friends and family!
Pauline –
Award winning read.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink by Elizabeth Ducie has received a Chill with a Book Readers’ Award.
“This is a beautiful read and transports the reader to a 1990s Russia where life was very very slowly emerging from the breakdown of the Soviet Union.”
“There is love, envy, power and dreams that set the life paths of the main characters.”
“It is different and that is what made it a lovely read.”
Bodicia –
Recommended!
Emma finds another family in Russia to call her own in this tale of one man’s wish to put a wrong right at any cost. Gorgito failed to fulfill a promise to his mother to find his sister and bring her home. When another young lad is distraught at his own sister’s departure to America to train with professionals, Gorgito promises to tempt her back home by building an ice rink in their town.
This is a lovely story. It beautifully depicts what Russia was like for those living there in the 1990′s. The uncertainty, the loss of personal liberty and the bribes. The author writes from first hand experience of the times in this story and this shines through. I particularly liked the various love stories threaded through this story; unrequited, difficult, impossible, all consuming and fulfilling. Gorgito’s passion for his cause is palpable and the ending is immensely satisfying too. This is a tale of misunderstandings, assumptions and regrets and makes for an involved and emotional read.
Scribbling Advocate –
Great read.
I should declare an interest in this book as the author and I helped each other to edit our books. Elizabeth has made some interesting changes to the novel from the time I first read it. It is a tale of broken promises, misunderstandings and love. The novel is set in Russia in both the 1990s and 1950’s; a country the author knows well and I found the descriptions of the countryside fascinating.
The character of Gorgito is totally believable as he fights bureaucracy, to build the ice rink and reunite a brother and sister. Emma Chambers, the English engineer is well drawn and her marital problems and her love affair with a Russian journalist add depth to the story line.
It is ideal reading for a winter’s evening.
dash fan –
4☆ An Endearing, Heart Felt, Authentic Read.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is a heart warming and compelling story about family, loss, reuniting, set in Russia, using alternate timelines.
Gorgito’s goddaughter Yulia is very talented and passionate about ice skating.
Gorgito is desperate not to let history repeat itself, by letting Yulia disappear never to return.
So he comes up with a plan to build her an ice rink in the hope she returns and stays.
Maria, Gorgito’s sister run away during the war to be with a soldier, never returning home and never in contact. Unable to ever find Maria, Gorgito can’t face the heartache again. So he hopes that the ice rink will bring Yulia back home.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink is a heart felt and poignant read.
Ducie has created an Authentic and Emotional read, you can see how much passion and research she has done into creating what it was like in Russia and it’s rich history.
The Characters are wonderfully engaging and well written.
Overall Gorgito’s Ice Rink is a wonderfully unique, endearing and compelling read, it has a sprinkle of romance, emotion, heartbreak, friendship, it’s rich in history and gives the reader a deeper insight into the history and life of Russia.
I highly recommend this gem of a book.
M JOANNOU –
Excellent storyline. There are many unexpected changes in the plot which keep the reader wanting to turn to the next page. Very well written. I enjoyed reading this book immensely.
A reader –
Absolutely loved it.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. The author has a lovely way of writing and the story was really touching. I hope more of her novels will be published in the future – I’m a big fan!
V –
A great book, and really enjoyable. One of those books that you want to keep reading to the end and not have to put down to get on with other things. Hopefully we will have more form Elizabeth Ducie. Try her short stories too.
J Liggins –
This is Elizabeth’s first novel and even though I had enjoyed her short stories I didn’t know if this would live up to expectations but it did. There is a very strong sense of place and a growing involvement in the lives and hopes of the characters, well worth reading.
Donna –
Outstanding story.
The story is based in Russia and has a determined edge to it which I found compelling. A really enjoyable story to read.
Geoff Powell –
Thoroughly good read.
An interesting story with lots of twists and turns right up to the end.
Madalyn Morgan – Treaddell –
A lovely story, rich in description and characters. I loved Elizabeth Ducie’s debut novel, Gorgito’s Ice-Rink. The story kept me turning the pages. The descriptions of Russia, from the breath taking countryside to the beautiful buildings in Moscow, were amazing. And her characters were richly drawn, and believable. I look forward to reading more from this author.
CG –
Don’t skate over this!
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Elizabeth Ducie. Set mainly in Russia during the 1990’s, it weaves together the past and present lives of ordinary people trying to make things happen. When Emma Chambers travels to Nikolevsky, to start work at the pharmaceutical plant, she has no idea about her colleague Gorgito’s plan to build an ice-rink. He believes that it will encourage his goddaughter, Yulia the talented young skating star, to come back home. But Russian bureaucracy and in particular, Victor, the local mayor, are major obstacles. Why Gorgito is so determined and why Victor is equally determined to stand in his way?
Gradually, a past love story of unfolds. In the difficult and repressive post war years, Maria, Gorgito’s sister runs away to find her soldier lover. Where her journey takes her and how her story impacts on Gorgito, Emma and the local community forms a substantial part of this novel.
Gorgito’s Ice-Rink is a moving story, full in insight into Russian life. I leant a lot.
limey –
Fascinating insight into life in Russia.
The story follows the lives of three women and the passion of one man, Gorgito, to build an ice rink in rural Russia in honour of his lost sister and his god-daughter, a professional ice skater. Their stories intermingled over the years, going from England to Russia to the US. The writing is good and descriptive, building up images of places far removed from most people’s experience. I look forward to her next book.
Julie C –
Russia is a country I know very little about (other than the usual stereotyping) but one which fascinates me. So the setting for this novel was intriguing from the outset, and played a prominent part in the story. I was soon drawn into the lives of the people who were so important to Gorgito, in both his past and present. Although I knew I had to get up early in the morning, I couldn’t stop reading as I had to find out how all the strands were woven into the final whole. I laughed in places, and cried in places, and finally put the book down feeling I had been on a very worthwhile journey. I am looking forward to further novels by Elizabeth Duce.
Mr. M. Stead –
Insight into Russian life.
A constantly interesting read casting light onto present day and early/mid 20th Century Russia. The narrative picks up when back stories enter, supporting the actions of current day characters. And, of course, romance for good measure. Read it and learn.
Welsh Annie –
A wonderful story, a compelling history, and a unique cultural experience.
When I started to read this book, the rain was driving down outside, the wind was picking up – but it all entirely passed me by as I was whisked away to rural Russia in the 1990s, to find the book’s characters battling with bureaucracy, following their dreams and struggling to deliver their promises. The story itself – on the surface, larger than life factory owner Gorgito’s quest to build an ice rink at Nikolevsky to enable his god-daughter Yulia to fulfil her dreams without leaving her homeland and young brother behind – is simply wonderful.
But there’s also a compelling history behind the opposition and enmity of local mayor Victor – and that’s a fascinating and emotional story, as we find out more about Gorgito’s promise to his mother through his sister Maria’s first person telling of her heartbreaking post-war story. I really loved the way the book was structured, both story lines with their echoes of love and loss – this really was story-telling at its very best.
And I equally enjoyed the story of Emma – an English engineer working with Gorgito in his factory in Nikolevsky, becoming his friend and confidante, while facing personal challenges of her own and finding her way in an unfamiliar environment, with an unexpected and convincing touch of romance along the way.
There’s a realism about Emma’s life evidently drawn from the author’s first hand experience, and I really enjoyed all the little touches – like the trick with vodka and water! – that brought the realities of her day-to-day so vividly to life. The author’s depiction of rural Russia within the timeframe of the story (and the post-war years) was also remarkable – great descriptions, decline and decay, and you could feel the weight of wading through officialdom, with power invested in individuals who frequently misuse it.
I’d recommend this book most highly – an engrossing story, a very sure emotional touch, and an opportunity to explore a culture and way of life that was totally outside my experience. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get round to reading it…
sophy –
Exciting with great dual timeline.
There’s nothing better than a book that takes you away to a far off country and fills you with sights and sounds that you’ve not yet experienced. I truly hope that one day I visit Russia in the snow. There is such romance tied up in the dream of skating down a frozen river. It makes me think of Bruegel, Diagilev and Dr Zhivago (from a costume perspective mainly!) all combined, and that’s how the book begins, with skaters on the river.
My favourite parts were the 1940’s ones, for me these sections had power, with characters that felt more real and developed than the contemporary (1990’s) protagonists. Maybe this is because Emma herself wasn’t someone I particularly related to, but her story arc was well put together driving the whole novel towards a satisfying conclusion.
Sheila Pearson –
Couldn’t put it down!
This is a great read – a real page turner! A story of the loves and losses of families and friends separated by distance and circumstances.
Set in Russia, it is brilliantly descriptive and benefits from the author’s years of travel in the former Soviet Union and clearly shows her love of the country and it’s people.
The story is gripping and fast paced and full of interesting, well drawn characters that you care about as soon as they are introduced.
I would highly recommend this novel, along with Elizabeth’s previously published collections of short stories and other writing.