Synopses & Reviews
Elena Gorokhovaand#8217;s andlt;Iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbs andlt;/Iandgt;is the moving story of a Soviet girl who discovers the truths adults are hiding from her and the lies her homeland lives by.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Elenaand#8217;s country is no longer the majestic Russia of literature or the tsars, but a nation struggling to retain its power and its pride. Born with a desire to explore the world beyond her borders, Elena finds her passion in the complexity of the English languageand#8212;but in the Soviet Union of the 1960s such a passion verges on the subversive. Elena is controlled by the state the same way she is controlled by her mother, a mirror image of her motherland: overbearing, protective, difficult to leave. In the battle between a strong-willed daughter and her authoritarian mother, the daughter, in the end, must break free and leave in order to survive.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Through Elenaand#8217;s captivating voice, we learn not only the stories of Russian family life in the second half of the twentieth century, but also the story of one rebellious citizen whose curiosity and determination finally transport her to a new world. It is an elegy to the lost country of childhood, where those who leave can never return.
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and#8220;A Mountain of Crumbs vividly, devastatingly conveys what it was like growing up in the shabby disillusion of the Brezhnev-era Soviet Unionand#8212;and also swooningly indulges the nostalgia for place and landscape thatand#8217;s seemingly steeped into every Russian soul. . . . Marvelous reminiscence.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Ben Dickinson, andlt;Iandgt;Elleandlt;/Iandgt;
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"This is a diamond of a memoir. Elena Gorokhova captures the essence of a vanished world with a poet's eye, taking the reader on an unforgettable journey, where every detail transcends the commonplace and every page bears witness to the deepest longings of the human heart. This memoir offers a rare glimpse of life in the former Soviet Union, and also of the universal search for love and autonomy that binds us all together, regardless of time and place." -- Carlos Eire, author of andlt;iandgt;Waiting for Snow in Havanaandlt;/iandgt;
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"An honest, captivating story of a girl from a middle-class Soviet family, growing into a young woman, searching for her identity and unable to find it...In the spirit of Dostoyevsky, it is also an endlessly Russian quest for self-redemption...I advise you to read the book. It will give you pleasure." -- Sergei Khruschchev, son of former Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev
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"Elena Gorokhova has written the Russian equivalent of andlt;iandgt;Angela's Ashesandlt;/iandgt;, an intimate story of growing up into young womanhood told with equal grace and humor." -- Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate
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" An instant classic...[A] deeply affecting memoir . . . recalled with spare, lyrical beauty and wry humor.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Carmela Ciuraru, andlt;iandgt;Moreandlt;/iandgt;
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"The story of a young person of sparkling intelligence, full of curiosity about the world, struggling to grow and blossom under a duplicitous, censorious, and unremittingly mean-minded social system. Elena Gorokhova conveys all the ugliness of daily life in Soviet Russia, as well as its humiliations, but is awake to its strangled, submerged poetry too. An enthralling read." -- J. M. Coetzee, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature and author of andlt;iandgt;Summertimeandlt;/iandgt;
Review
A January 2010 Indie Next Pickandlt;BRandgt;One of O Magazineand#8217;s 10 to Watch For, February 2010andlt;BRandgt;One of the Christian Science Monitorand#8217;s 10 Best Motherand#8217;s Day Books, 2010
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and#8220;[A] witty, illuminating book . . . with telling detail, and a winning balance of affection, insight and satiric bite.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Misha Berson, andlt;Iandgt;The Seattle Timesandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Elena Gorokhova reveals with beautiful writing the panic of growing up inside the secrecy of Brezhnevand#8217;s Soviet Union. . . . Even if Elena Gorokhova werenand#8217;t such a gorgeous writer, her memoir, and#8220;A Mountain of Crumbs,and#8221; would be a terrific read. . . . She writes with irony and subtlety about the and#8220;bright futureand#8221; of the Soviet Union, even as she plans her exodus. What makes this book so remarkable, though, is Gorokhovaand#8217;s evocative and sensuous writing.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Laurie Hertzel, andlt;Iandgt;The Star-Tribuneandlt;/Iandgt; (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
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and#8220;A moving memoir about one womanand#8217;s journey from the Soviet Union . . . Captivating.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;The Daily Beast
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and#8220;Artful memoir about the angst and joys of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. . . . Articulate, touching and hopeful.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Extraordinarily rich in sensory and emotional detail . . . An engrossing portrait of a very lively, intelligent girl coming of emotional and intellectual age in the post-Stalinist Soviet Union.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Bookpageandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Wry . . . both comic and anguished . . . but never cold or simple.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Booklistandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Three pages into this beautifully crafted memoir and you know that Gorokhova has always been a writer. . . . the kind that envelops and transports you and every so often leaves you breathless. . . . Recounted in shimmering detail.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Bill Ervolino, andlt;iandgt;The Bergen Recordandlt;/iandgt; (New Jersey)
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andlt;Iandgt;and#8220;andlt;/Iandgt;Gorokhova has the reader in the palms of her hands. . . . Stellar . . . This compelling and unusual tale . . . is inherently captivating.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Christine Thomas, andlt;Iandgt;The Miami Heraldandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Exquisitely lyrical . . . Every page of Elena Gorokhova s coming-of-age-in-the-Soviet-bloc memoir unveils the magic of her origins. . . . Stunning.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Anne Grant, andlt;Iandgt;Providence Journal-Bulletinandlt;/Iandgt; (RI)
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and#8220;A dream ride . . . A delight . . . with pitch-perfect lyricism, tremendous power of recall, and disarming wit.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Kapka Kassabova, andlt;Iandgt;The Guardian andlt;/Iandgt;(UK)
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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and#8220;Brims with an elegiac emotion and sensuality which even Turgenev, in his own European exile, might have envied.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Charlotte Hobson, andlt;Iandgt;The Spectator andlt;/Iandgt;(UK)
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and#8220;Remarkable . . . beautiful and evocative and worth your attention.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Nathan Thornburgh, DadWagon.com
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and#8220;Her richly detailed story explores the reality of her politically subversive passions for language and freedom in a fearful, failing society that distrusted its citizens and repressed individuality.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Saga andlt;/Iandgt; (UK)
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and#8220;Gorokhova is a lush and beautiful writer. Her tidy, witty descriptions of characters keep the book moving along at a good clip . . . the rich political milieu of the former Soviet Union sets this book apart. You really do get the feeling of what it smelled, tasted and felt like to grow up in that particular place and time.andlt;Bandgt;and#8221;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212; Ellen Silva, senior editor, NPRand#8217;s andlt;Iandgt;All Things Consideredandlt;/Iandgt;
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"An exquisitely moving memoir detailing Gorokhova's experiences of growing up behind the Iron Curtain.
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and#8220;Despite the specificity of the memoir, the themes and characters have universality - a domineering mother, a rebellious child, finding passion and beauty in surprising places. A celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity and oppression.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;andlt;iandgt;Easy Living andlt;/iandgt;(UK)
Review
and#8220;Combining Gorokhovaand#8217;s fantastic eye for an image with her acute sense for the absurd, andlt;Iandgt;Aandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/Iandgt; elegantly dramatizes the bewildering chasm between the projected, glittering idealism of the Soviet Union and its drab, quotidian reality.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Claire Allfree, andlt;Iandgt;Metro andlt;/Iandgt;(UK)
Review
and#8220;In this gently delightful memoir, Elena Gorokhova recounts her coming of age in Russia during 1960s and 1970s . . . Thereand#8217;s a wonderful cozy intimacy to her writing; her use of the present tense keeps it fresh and unburdened . . . I loved reading andlt;iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/iandgt;. Gorokhova is a fine writer with a delicate, sensitive touch, whose voice in nonetheless fearless and clarion. I hope thereand#8217;s a sequel. After coming of age comes surely that other great memoir, coming to America.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Wendell Steavenson, andlt;iandgt;The Sunday Times andlt;/iandgt;(UK)
Review
and#8220;It takes talent to write a good memoir and Gorokhova has more than most. Fascinating anecdotes show us her motherand#8217;s youth, and her own recollections spring to life with an artistand#8217;s eye for those details that can conjure a mood or a moment. The privations, oppressions and joys are all described with shining curiosity in this captivating book.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Waterstoneand#8217;s Books Quarterlyandlt;/Iandgt;
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"The Russian equivalent of Angelaand#8217;s Ashes."andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Billy Collins, two-time US Poet Laureate
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and#8220;Exquisitely wrought . . . A master class in memoir writing.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; --Elena Lappin, andlt;iandgt;The New York Times Book Reviewandlt;/iandgt;
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"Gorokhova is a lush and beautiful writer."andlt;BRandgt; --NPR's All Things Considered
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and#8220;What is it about andlt;Iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/Iandgt; that makes it so damn readable? . . . This is a rich experience and#8211; a personal journey paralleled by huge national changes and ending in a deeply satisfying portrait of peace in America.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;Frank McCourt
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"Her spare lyricism delicately captures a vanished world."
-- Korina Lopez, USA Today
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and#8220;The story of a young person of sparkling intelligence . . . struggling to grow and blossom under a duplicitous, censorious, and unremittingly mean-minded social system. . . . An enthralling read.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;J.M. Coetzee
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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"A Mountain of Crumbs is . .
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and#8220;andlt;Iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbs andlt;/Iandgt;is . . . a stunning memoir: subtle, yet brimming with depth and detail.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Viv Groskop, andlt;iandgt;The Daily Telegraphandlt;/iandgt; (UK)
Review
and#8220;An exquisitely moving memoir detailing Gorokhovaand#8217;s experiences of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Her story of oppression and hope is described in distinctive poetical prose.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;andlt;iandgt;Marie Claire andlt;/iandgt;(UK)
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"Her spare lyricism delicately captures a vanished world.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt;and#8212; Korina Lopez, andlt;iandgt;USA Todayandlt;/iandgt;
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"What is it about andlt;iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/iandgt; that makes it so damn readable? Is it the setting -- the Soviet Union in the second half of the last century on the verge of disintegration? Is it the author's way with the English language? This is a rich experience -- a personal journey paralleled by huge national changes and ending in a deeply satisfying portrait of peace in America. Those who have traveled from another place to America will find themselves in this rich memoir." -- Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of andlt;iandgt;Angela's Ashesandlt;/iandgt;
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and#8220;[An] exquisitely wrought, tender memoir of growing up in the Soviet Union. . . . andlt;iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/iandgt; could be taught as a master class in memoir writing. . . Gorokhova writes about her life with a novelistand#8217;s gift for threading motives around the heart of a story . . . Each chapter distills a new revelation in poetic prose . . . This moving memoir made me cry . . . Powerful.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Elena Lappin, andlt;iandgt;The New York Times Book Reviewandlt;/iandgt;
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"Elena Gorokhova has written an endearing, sensitive story of her early years in the USSR. Her memoir is proof that the human spirit can triumph even in the most repressive of times." -- Edward Hower, author of andlt;iandgt;The New Life Hotelandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;The Storms of Mayandlt;/iandgt;
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"andlt;iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/iandgt; is an extraordinary memoir. Elena Gorokhova's writing -- gorgeous and evocative -- is enriched by her connection to two languages, Russian and English. Brilliant and moving." -- Ursula Hegi, author of andlt;iandgt;Stones from the Riverandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Almost painful in its authenticity, this hypnotically readable memoir has the sweep and power of a great Russian novel." -- Bruce Jay Friedman, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and author of andlt;iandgt;A Father's Kissesandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Sternandlt;/iandgt;
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and#8220;A smart, spirited tale about growing up in the colorless Soviet Union of the 1960s.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Peopleandlt;/Iandgt;
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and#8220;Elena Gorokhova doesn't use broad strokes to paint a picture of daily life in Brezhnev-era Soviet Union. Vivid memories . . . brightly dot the harsh, gray background of everyday life in Gorokhova's native Leningrad. . . . Her spare lyricism delicately captures a vanished world.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212; Korina Lopez, andlt;Iandgt;USA Todayandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220;[L]eavened with wistful humor . . . This memoir offers valuable insight into those bleak years bracketed by Khrushchev and Afghanistan . . . [R]endered with sharp detail . . . Gorokhova is attuned to the inherent absurdities of a society that, while aspiring to a supposedly common idealandnbsp; . . . cannot care for its citizens on the most rudimentary level.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Alexander Nazaryan, andlt;Iandgt;Christian Science Monitorandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
and#8220;Gorokhovaand#8217;s engaging, beautifully written memoir depicts her childhood in 1960s Leningrad and her restless dissatisfaction with life behind the Iron Curtain.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Donna Marchetti, andlt;Iandgt;The Plain Dealerandlt;/Iandgt; (Cleveland)
Synopsis
Elena Gorokhova's A Mountain of Crumbs is the moving story of a Soviet girl who discovers the truths adults are hiding from her and the lies her homeland lives by.
Elena's country is no longer the majestic Russia of literature or the tsars, but a nation struggling to retain its power and its pride. Born with a desire to explore the world beyond her borders, Elena finds her passion in the complexity of the English language--but in the Soviet Union of the 1960s such a passion verges on the subversive. Elena is controlled by the state the same way she is controlled by her mother, a mirror image of her motherland: overbearing, protective, difficult to leave. In the battle between a strong-willed daughter and her authoritarian mother, the daughter, in the end, must break free and leave in order to survive.
Through Elena's captivating voice, we learn not only the stories of Russian family life in the second half of the twentieth century, but also the story of one rebellious citizen whose curiosity and determination finally transport her to a new world. It is an elegy to the lost country of childhood, where those who leave can never return.
Synopsis
Elena Gorokhova grows up in 1960's Leningrad where she discovers that beauty and passion can be found in unexpected places in Soviet Russia.
About the Author
Elena Gorokhova grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia,andnbsp;although for most of her life it was known to her as Leningrad. At the age of twenty-four she married an American and came to the United States with only a twenty kilogram suitcase to start a new life. The bestselling author of andlt;iandgt;A Mountain of Crumbsandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Russian Tattooandlt;/iandgt;, she has a Doctorate in Language Education and currentlyandnbsp;lives in New Jersey. Her work has appeared in andlt;iandgt;The New York Timesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Daily Telegraphandlt;/iandgt;, on BBC Radio, and in a number of literary magazines.