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katmignocchi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
mayar_reading_stuff's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I remember reading somewhere that many people use communist symbols because they look cool and how that's pretty insensitive to people who were crushed by it.
I think this book has the same soul of that, but actually by a citizen. The USSR sounds cool from afar, but it isn't. Is any political ideology good, though?
Under capitalism man exploits man. Under Communism, it's the other way around and all that.
This book was boring at first, not even good on an emotional level. However, I was hooked by the halfway point. It is quite emotional and personal, but also a history through an individual's eye.
I remember reading somewhere that many people use communist symbols because they look cool and how that's pretty insensitive to people who were crushed by it.
I think this book has the same soul of that, but actually by a citizen. The USSR sounds cool from afar, but it isn't. Is any political ideology good, though?
Under capitalism man exploits man. Under Communism, it's the other way around and all that.
This book was boring at first, not even good on an emotional level. However, I was hooked by the halfway point. It is quite emotional and personal, but also a history through an individual's eye.
westywest220's review against another edition
3.0
I can't wait to go home for break so I can hide myself in my room and read for a month straight
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Classism
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Racism, Death, Infertility, and Infidelity
While I feel like 'enjoyed' might be the wrong word for a book about Soviet Russia, it might be the best word I can come up with here. It was engaging, and the narrator had a soothing voice with the perfect amount of Russian accent to give the right feel while still being understandable. I especially appreciate stories like this (The Girl with Seven Names is the other one that comes to mind) that talk about the complex emotions of leaving a country that is run very badly but still kind of feels like home.majrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
appletonkelli's review against another edition
5.0
This book was recommended by an online friend whose opinion I trust. I cannot imagine that I would have ever picked this book on my own.
I'm so glad that I chose this! USSR history is not the most enjoyable of topics, but by telling the family story through the food, and lack thereof, the author gives us a personal view of the sweeping heartache of history and the resolve of individuals to survive.
I'm so glad that I chose this! USSR history is not the most enjoyable of topics, but by telling the family story through the food, and lack thereof, the author gives us a personal view of the sweeping heartache of history and the resolve of individuals to survive.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
5.0
03/28/16 - I'm bumping my rating for this book up to a full 5 stars. Originally, I rated it 4.5 stars because I felt the ending wasn't as strong as the rest of the book. However, I read this book over many weeks as class projects, exams, and travel interrupted my reading time, and therefore likely dampened my reading experience.
As I mentioned earlier, I read this book for the food memoir task of Book Riot's 2016 Read Harder challenge. I do not typically read food memoirs, and was a bit wary of the goal. But this book is an example of the best possible outcome of a reading challenge: it pushed my boundaries, I learned SO much, I can't stop thinking about it, and I can't stop recommending it to friends.It is also a standout in terms of other genres in which it could be classified - e.g. straight-up memoirs, history, etc. I don't know if there are other food memoirs out there that are as good as this one, but reading it has made me much more open to trying other books in the same genre. Highly recommended.
As I mentioned earlier, I read this book for the food memoir task of Book Riot's 2016 Read Harder challenge. I do not typically read food memoirs, and was a bit wary of the goal. But this book is an example of the best possible outcome of a reading challenge: it pushed my boundaries, I learned SO much, I can't stop thinking about it, and I can't stop recommending it to friends.It is also a standout in terms of other genres in which it could be classified - e.g. straight-up memoirs, history, etc. I don't know if there are other food memoirs out there that are as good as this one, but reading it has made me much more open to trying other books in the same genre. Highly recommended.