“There is a kind of love that is not the love of a mother for her child, or a husband for his wife, but a love for the world itself, for the sheer fact of being alive.”
— Iris reflects on her journey and the broader meaning of life.
Archivist's Choice
Away
Amy Bloom (2007)
Genre
Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction
Reading Time
360 min
Key Themes
See below
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A young Russian immigrant, Lillian Leyb, travels from New York's Yiddish theaters to the Alaskan wilderness in search of her lost daughter after surviving a brutal attack.
Synopsis
In 1920s Russia, Lillian Leyb's family is destroyed in a pogrom, forcing her to flee alone to America. She finds a life in New York City's Yiddish theater, but then learns her daughter, Sophie, might still be alive. Driven by a mother's instinct, Lillian begins a journey across America, from Seattle's jazz clubs to the Alaskan wilderness. She follows the fabled Telegraph Trail towards Siberia, facing betrayal, hardship, and the elements. Her quest takes her across the Bering Strait into a Siberian orphanage, testing her resilience and will to reunite with her child.
Reading time
360 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Epic, Heartbreaking, Resilient, Reflective, Adventurous
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy sweeping historical sagas centered on a determined female protagonist, with themes of migration, motherhood, and survival.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer fast-paced thrillers or stories with a lighthearted tone, as this book deals with significant hardship and loss.
Plot Summary
The Pogrom and Escape to America
In 1920s Russia, Lillian Leyb's life breaks apart when her village is attacked in a brutal pogrom. Her parents and husband are killed, and her three-year-old daughter, Sophie, is taken. Traumatized and alone, Lillian is smuggled out of Russia with help from a stranger. She travels through Europe and arrives in New York City as an immigrant. Lillian is haunted by the loss of her family, especially Sophie, and carries her past while trying to live in her new, unfamiliar surroundings on the Lower East Side.
New York City and the Yiddish Theater
In New York, Lillian struggles to find her place. She eventually gets a job at a Yiddish theater owned by Kalman, a charming but somewhat harsh man. Lillian, despite her inexperience, becomes a natural performer and quickly gains popularity as an actress, known for her emotion and singing. Her relationship with Kalman grows into a passionate and complex affair. He gives her a sense of belonging and protection, but Lillian remains emotionally distant, still longing for Sophie and the life she lost.
A Glimmer of Hope
Lillian's life in New York changes unexpectedly when she receives a letter from a distant relative in Russia. The letter contains shocking news: Sophie was not killed in the pogrom but was taken and might still be alive in an orphanage in Siberia. This news brings back a desperate hope in Lillian, turning her grief into fierce determination. The chance of finding Sophie becomes her only goal, overshadowing her theater life and her relationship with Kalman.
The Journey Begins: Across America
Driven by the small chance of reuniting with Sophie, Lillian decides to leave New York and begin a dangerous journey. She says goodbye to Kalman, who, despite his protests, cannot stop her. Her path takes her across America, first by train. Along the way, she meets various people, some helpful, some dangerous, all adding to her understanding of the world beyond the Lower East Side. She faces financial hardship and the constant threat of exploitation, but her resolve to find Sophie keeps her moving.
Seattle's Jazz District
Lillian reaches Seattle, a busy port city with a lively jazz scene. Here, she finds work as a singer in a speakeasy, using the stage name 'Lily Bell' to distance herself from her past. She forms a relationship with Arthur, a kind musician who offers her companionship. This time in Seattle is peaceful and even joyful for Lillian, allowing her to experience a different kind of life, less defined by her trauma. However, Sophie still calls to her, and she knows Seattle is only a stop on her quest.
The Alaskan Wilderness
Leaving Arthur and Seattle, Lillian continues north, towards the remote Alaskan landscape. Her goal is the Telegraph Trail, a route that could lead her closer to Siberia. The Alaskan wilderness is a challenge, with its wild beauty and harsh conditions. She meets various people: prospectors, trappers, and indigenous people, all living at the edge of civilization. Lillian's resourcefulness and inner strength are tested daily as she battles the elements and the doubts of others.
The Telegraph Trail and the Search for Information
Lillian begins her difficult trek along the historic Telegraph Trail, a path full of danger and isolation. Her determination is strong, fueled by Sophie's image. She learns to ride a dog sled, navigate tough terrain, and survive on her wits. Along the trail, she meets other travelers and settlers, always asking about a young girl, always searching for any information that might lead her to Sophie. Each encounter, each piece of advice, brings her a step closer or sometimes further from her goal, showing the huge scale of her task.
Betrayal and Resilience
As Lillian goes deeper into Alaska, she experiences a betrayal that threatens to stop her mission. A seemingly helpful person she trusted exploits her, stealing her few resources and leaving her in a dangerous situation. This incident shatters her already fragile trust in others and forces her to face the harsh realities of her isolated journey. Despite despair, Lillian's resilience shows. She refuses to give up, finding the inner strength to continue, even when hope seems dim and her path forward is unclear.
Crossing the Bering Strait
With her focus on Sophie, Lillian eventually reaches the western coast of Alaska, where she must find a way to cross the Bering Strait into Siberia. This part of her journey is perhaps the most dangerous, with treacherous ice, unpredictable weather, and the threat of starvation. She relies on help from indigenous communities and experienced guides, learning to adapt to extreme conditions. The crossing shows her extraordinary will and how far a mother will go to find her child, pushing her physical and mental limits.
Siberia and the Orphanage
After an unimaginable journey, Lillian arrives at the remote Siberian orphanage where Sophie was reportedly living. Her heart pounds with hope and dread as she confronts the officials. The reunion she has dreamed of is not to be. She learns that while Sophie was there for a time, she has since been adopted and moved elsewhere, her new location unknown. The news is devastating, a cruel twist of fate after all her sacrifices, leaving Lillian shattered and her quest seemingly over.
The Aftermath and a New Path
The discovery that Sophie is gone, likely forever out of her reach, causes Lillian deep grief. She has traveled halfway around the world, endured hardships, only to find an empty promise. However, in her despair, a quiet strength appears. Lillian realizes that while she may not have found Sophie, she has found herself. She has changed from a traumatized girl into a resilient, independent woman capable of surviving anything. The journey, though not ending as she wished, has made her a new person.
Return and Reflection
With her search for Sophie concluded, though tragically, Lillian begins the long journey back from Siberia. The path back is different; she is no longer driven by a single, desperate hope, but by quiet acceptance and a deep understanding of her own abilities. She thinks about the people she met, the places she saw, and the woman she has become. While the pain of losing Sophie will always remain, Lillian carries the strength and wisdom gained from her journey, ready to face whatever new life awaits her, a true survivor.
Principal Figures
Lillian Leyb
The Protagonist
Lillian evolves from a traumatized victim into a formidable, self-reliant woman, finding her inner strength and identity through her arduous journey.
Sophie Leyb
The Mentioned/Driving Force
Sophie's arc is external, as the object of the quest, rather than internal. Her fate ultimately teaches Lillian about acceptance and self-discovery.
Kalman
The Supporting
Kalman remains largely static, representing the settled life Lillian chooses to leave for her quest.
Arthur
The Supporting
Arthur's arc is limited to his interaction with Lillian, serving as a catalyst for her emotional healing during her journey.
The Old Woman (Smuggler)
The Supporting
Her role is brief but crucial, initiating Lillian's escape and her subsequent journey.
The Man on the Ship (Harry)
The Supporting
His brief appearance underscores the theme of fleeting connections on a long journey.
Aunt Fanya
The Supporting
Her role is purely functional, providing the inciting incident for the main plot.
The Russian Officials/Orphanage Staff
The Antagonistic/Obstacle
They serve as the final, unavoidable obstacle in Lillian's journey, delivering the resolution to her quest.
Themes & Insights
The Enduring Power of Maternal Love
The novel's main theme is a mother's fierce and unwavering love for her child. Lillian's entire journey, from the Lower East Side to the Siberian wilderness, is driven by her love for Sophie. This love gives her the strength to endure hardships, overcome betrayal, and face the elements. The hope of finding Sophie is her guide, her reason for living, showing how maternal love can cross borders, cultures, and seemingly impossible obstacles, even when the outcome is not what is hoped for, as seen when she continues after hearing Sophie is gone.
“She would find her daughter, or she would die trying. There was no other choice.”
Resilience and Survival
Lillian Leyb embodies resilience. After surviving a horrific pogrom, she is thrust into a new country alone, learns a new language, finds work, and then begins an even more dangerous quest. She faces poverty, exploitation, betrayal, and the brutal forces of nature in Alaska and Siberia. Each setback, instead of breaking her, seems to harden her resolve and teach her new survival skills, whether performing on stage, riding a dog sled, or enduring extreme cold. Her journey shows the human spirit's ability to adapt and persist against overwhelming odds.
“She had survived. She would survive again. It was all she knew how to do.”
Identity and Transformation
Lillian's journey is not just physical but also a deep internal change. She sheds different identities—the traumatized Russian villager, the Yiddish theater star, 'Lily Bell' in Seattle—as she moves through different worlds. Each experience, relationship, and challenge shapes her, forcing her to confront who she is and who she can become. By the end, even though her initial quest ends sadly, she has forged a new, stronger identity, defined by her experiences and self-reliance, rather than solely by her past or her role as Sophie's mother.
“She was not the girl who had left the village, nor the woman who sang on the stage. She was something else now, something forged in ice and fire.”
The Immigrant Experience and the American Dream
The novel addresses the harsh realities and brief promises of the immigrant experience in early 20th-century America. Lillian arrives in New York with nothing, navigating a new language and culture while facing prejudice and exploitation. Her initial success in the Yiddish theater offers a glimpse of the 'American Dream,' but she ultimately leaves it behind. The story shows the diverse nature of immigrant life, from the lively cultural areas of the Lower East Side to the rugged individualism of the American West and Alaska, highlighting the constant struggle for belonging and survival.
“America was a land of a thousand doors, and most of them were closed.”
Loss and Grief
At its heart, 'Away' is a story about loss and the lasting nature of grief. Lillian's journey begins with the traumatic loss of her entire family in the pogrom, a wound that never fully heals. Even the hope of finding Sophie is tied to the pain of her absence. The novel explores how grief can be a powerful motivator, driving an impossible quest, but also how it can shape a person's entire life. The ultimate, heartbreaking truth about Sophie forces Lillian to confront her grief in a new way, moving towards acceptance rather than endless searching.
“Grief was a country she knew well, and she had traveled its borders many times.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The MacGuffin (Sophie's Survival)
The letter suggesting Sophie's survival acts as the primary driver for Lillian's journey.
Sophie's potential survival, hinted at by Aunt Fanya's letter, functions as the central MacGuffin of the novel. It is the object or goal that Lillian relentlessly pursues, propelling her across continents. While the emotional core is Lillian's maternal love, the information itself is the narrative device that initiates and sustains the plot. The actual fate of Sophie, though ultimately heartbreaking, is less important than its function in motivating Lillian's incredible odyssey and facilitating her transformation.
The Hero's Journey (Ordeal and Transformation)
Lillian's epic quest mirrors the classic monomyth, featuring departure, initiation, and return.
Lillian's story closely follows the structure of the Hero's Journey. Her 'call to adventure' is the letter about Sophie. She 'crosses the threshold' by leaving New York, facing numerous 'trials and tribulations' (betrayal, harsh weather, dangerous travel). Her 'ordeal' is the entire journey to Siberia and the confrontation with the truth. Though she doesn't achieve her initial goal (finding Sophie), she returns as a 'transformed hero,' having gained profound wisdom, resilience, and a new sense of self, embodying the spiritual rather than literal reward of the journey.
Geographical Progression as Character Development
Each new location Lillian visits reflects and contributes to her evolving character.
The novel uses Lillian's geographical progression as a key device for her character development. Each distinct location—the ravaged Russian village, the bustling Lower East Side, the vibrant Seattle jazz district, the harsh Alaskan wilderness, and the desolate Siberian plains—presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. These settings are not merely backdrops; they actively shape Lillian's experiences, forcing her to adapt, learn new skills, and shed old identities, thus mirroring her internal transformation and increasing resilience as she moves further 'away' from her past.
The Doppelgänger (Lillian's Stage Personas)
Lillian adopts different identities and stage names, reflecting her changing self.
Throughout her journey, Lillian takes on different personas, most notably 'Lily Bell' in Seattle. These alternate identities function as a form of doppelgänger, allowing her to explore different facets of herself and escape the pain of her past. Her stage performances in the Yiddish theater and Seattle also represent a way for her to channel her emotions and find a voice, even as she remains guarded in her personal life. These personas highlight her adaptability and the fragmented nature of her identity after such profound loss.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Grief was a country she had not known she was a citizen of, and now she could not leave.”
— Iris grapples with the loss of her daughter, Sophie.
“You can always make a new life. It might not be the one you wanted, but it will be a life.”
— An older woman offers advice to Iris early in her journey.
“The past was a stone in her pocket, heavy and smooth, and she carried it everywhere.”
— Iris is constantly haunted by memories of her past in Russia.
“America was a place where you could invent yourself, if you were brave enough.”
— Iris's initial perception of America as a land of opportunity.
“Sometimes you have to break everything to put it back together in a new way.”
— Iris makes a difficult decision to pursue a risky path.
“Loneliness was a kind of hunger, and she was starving.”
— Iris experiences profound isolation during her travels.
“The world was full of small kindnesses, if you knew how to look for them.”
— Iris encounters unexpected help from strangers on her journey.
“There was no going back, only forward, into whatever came next.”
— Iris accepts the irreversible nature of her journey and decisions.
“Hope was a dangerous thing, a small bird that could be crushed so easily.”
— Iris feels her hopes repeatedly dashed by circumstances.
“She learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward in spite of it.”
— Iris faces numerous perils and continues her search.
“Love was not a gentle thing, but a fierce, sharp blade that cut you open.”
— Iris reflects on the painful intensity of her love for her daughter.
“The greatest stories were not always of triumph, but of survival.”
— A character reflects on the true nature of heroism and endurance.
“She carried her secrets like treasures, buried deep where no one could find them.”
— Iris keeps aspects of her past hidden from those she meets.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The central premise of 'Away' revolves around Lillian Leyb, a young Jewish woman who immigrates to America after her family is killed in a Russian pogrom. Her primary motivation is the desperate hope of reuniting with her daughter, Sophie, who she believes might still be alive, leading her on an extensive journey across North America.
About the author
Amy Bloom is an American author and psychotherapist. Her notable works include the novels "Away" and "Lucky Us," as well as the short story collection "Come to Me," which was a finalist for the National Book Award. Bloom's writing often explores themes of family, identity, and the complexities of human relationships with sharp wit and emotional depth.
