A review by leslielu67
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen

5.0

I picked this book up on a whim, partly because of the title and partly because of the book cover (yes, I am that shallow). It is a fascinating memoir of food, family and growing up in the USSR; the author had family that was both part of the establishment (WWII hero granddad, with accompanying privileges) and part of the non-establishment (mother held her out of school on the day all kids made the pledge to the Young Pioneer group). The author was a black marketeer at an early age (Juice Fruit). Added bonusus: experiences as an emigree to America (the bit about bananas is funny), what kept the USSR together and what broke it apart (hint: the same thing), and recipes at the back!