LACPA’s Summer Book Club Selection:

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

Please pay attention to the title and author as there are several books with similar titles.

Book Summary

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott is a historical novel about the true story of the CIA’s mission to smuggle the novel “Doctor Zhivago” into of Russia after it was banned and the author, Boris Pasternak, was forced to decline the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958.  The story moves between American and Russian perspectives and between the Gulag in the countryside outside Moscow and the Agency in Washington. It is a “literary love story” of the affair between Boris Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was the inspiration for the heroine, Lara, in Doctor Zhivago. Through the perspectives of typists at the CIA and in Russia, the political climate of the Cold War is described. 

The story captures important universal themes about literature and how art can change the world.  History is most engaging when it is character driven and told through the lens of an individual’s experience. This is a powerful novel which illustrates the often-untold stories of women’s  heroism and impact on history and the ways in which creativity and the arts can enrich our lives.

Positive reviews on Amazon

"Through lucid images and vibrant storytelling, Prescott creates an edgy postfeminist vision of the Cold War, encompassing Sputnik to glasnost, typing pool to gulag, for a smart, lively page-turner. This debut shines as spy story, publication thriller, and historical romance with a twist." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A whirlwind of storytelling. In Prescott’s supremely talented hands, the result is no less than endlessly fascinating, often deliciously fun as well as heartbreaking.
The Secrets We Kept is a dazzling, beguiling debut." —Book Page (starred review)

"The Secrets We Kept is simply sensational. Two gripping narratives unfold in the pressure cooker of the Cold War: passionate, courageous Olga who stands in the shadow of Soviet author Boris Pasternak yet inspires him to write a heroine for the ages, and the cynical, equally-overshadowed women of the CIA who help bring Pasternak's masterpiece Dr. Zhivago to bear as a weapon against Soviet oppression. From the gulags of the USSR to the cherry blossom trees of Washington DC, the story grips and refuses to let go. Lara Prescott is a star in the making."  —Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling author of The Rose Code (which the LACPA Book Club read)

"Proto-feminist Mad Men transposed to the world of international espionage—all midcentury style and intrigue set against real, indelible history.” —Entertainment Weekly

The Last Book Choice in 2025

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

Please RSVP directly to the Book Club facilitator

PLEASE NOTE: During these upcoming meetings we will also discuss recommended books for 2026.  It’s always good to hear about the books that our colleagues enjoyed and recommend as thought provoking for our discussions.  We ask that the people whose books are selected be willing to write a few paragraphs in early to mid-September for the listserv postings and an annual LA Psychologist article that the Book Club leader will write.

Westside

Sunday, August 24th at 3:00 PM

Hosted by Dr. Cris Scaglione 

[email protected]

(949) 939-1943

Santa Clarita

Saturday, August 23rd at 10 AM

This will be an In Person meeting at the home of Dr. Janet Stier

Address will be provided upon RSVP

RSVP to Dr. Lynne Steinman

[email protected]  

(661) 259-0144

Encino

Sunday, August 3rd at 3:00 PM

Hosted by Dr. Pamela McCrory

[email protected]

(818) 999- 4126 

 Join us for great discussions with fellow LACPA members!

"The opinions of presenters, and their approach to psychological issues and interventions, do not represent a formal endorsement of any position by the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, leadership or its members. The opinions, ideas, and concepts expressed are purely those of the presenter."