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jmcdbrock's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very engaging, accessible, decade-by-decade look at Soviet (and then Russian) history told through its cuisine changes. The author and her mother recount both of their experiences, which were often divergent, with great culinary detail. I would think this book would have broad appeal, even to non-history buffs and non-foodies. The writing style is exquisitely emotive.
carincoco's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautifully written book.
I'm gonna make sure I try at least a couple of the recipes at the end.
I'm gonna make sure I try at least a couple of the recipes at the end.
chelsea_not_chels's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this, but not as much as I thought I would. It is not nearly as food-oriented as the title and beginning of the book would have you think. Now, the Soviet Union certainly went through long periods of famine for a variety of reasons, from siege to politics, I still thought there would have been more linkage with the thought of food than their was. This is more a family history than anything else, and then von Bremzen shoves some recipes in at the end to strengthen the connection with food. It's an interesting take on Soviet history, from someone who was born and spent most of her formative years in the USSR before moving the US, and her humor and snark were certainly welcome, but looking for that connection with food (or even the lack of it) sometimes felt exhausting, particularly in some of the portions that were longer to begin with, such as the section on her grandparents.
alissanelson's review against another edition
4.0
Wish I'd started with this instead of Roy Choi's book for my Read Harder food memoir.
Bigger than a personal relationship with food, this is a social and economic history of food throughout the history of the USSR (from the 1910s-2010s). Very readable and very informative, rarely lagging (if a bit long). I also really appreciate the recipes being collected at the end rather than throughout.
Bigger than a personal relationship with food, this is a social and economic history of food throughout the history of the USSR (from the 1910s-2010s). Very readable and very informative, rarely lagging (if a bit long). I also really appreciate the recipes being collected at the end rather than throughout.
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.