Very enjoyable, gave an insight into life in Russia. “Exquisitely wrought, tender memoir of growing up in the Soviet Union.” The New York Times Book Review “An enthralling read.” J.M. A military tattoo is a performance of music or display of armed forces in general. I certainly enjoyed reading this memoir and have tremendous respect for Gorokhova. While Russian Tattoo is a story of what it is like to immigrate and acclimate to a culture vastly different than what Elena is accustomed to, it is far more. A Brilliant And Hilarious Passage From Old World To New. That, however, pales compared to coming to America from what was Soviet Russia! Themes of separation and loss, grief and struggle, and power and powerlessness run throughout this … Instead of a recollection of events as memoirs are typically written, it was written in present tense and felt more like​ ​you're​​ ​reading an actual novel which made it an incredibly quick ​and captivating​ read. By the time she has her daughter Sasha, she feels confident and secure enough for her mother to visit, not knowing the visit will last 24 years. I enjoyed Mountain of Crumbs which preceded this memoir, but found this even more engrossing. I am not the fastest reader- normally it takes me a long while to finish non-fiction- but I could not put this book down. It is the story of mothers and daughters--a story of love, forgiveness, and the desire to belong., Self-effacing and candid, yet also deeply observant and as powerfully descriptive as a novel, Russian Tattoo is that rare book written by an immigrant that helps a native understand their country better, seeing it from the peeled-back perspective of a newcomer., An exquisite memoir of emigrating from Russia. Ms. Gorokhova made me understand the tremendous paralysis one feels when provided with choices! Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Russian Tattoo: A Memoir at Amazon.com. With an online teaser from F. Murray Abraham and Alan Alda I can't wait to see who picks up the screen rights; even so I think Elena Gorokhova should write the screenplay. Why I ultimately decided to give it 4 stars is that I work with a lot of Russian families in my job and I could see many of the things she had mentioned in her book in those families. Based on this book, I will definitely be looking for it. A fascinating read and insight into the thoughts and fears of Elena as she navigated her new home with no help from her emotionally distant first husband. She is often ruminating and contrasting the different aspects of life here and abroad, feeling torn between two countries. I found the interactions between these three women to be intriguing and rather powerful. Elena Gorokhova's memoir, Russian Tattoo, is spectacular. I LOVED READING IT. This short wrap up does not do the book justice. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Themes of separation and loss, grief and struggle, and power and powerlessness run throughout this … The rest of the novel focuses on her amazement at the wonders of the US that we all take for granted-from our abundant supermarkets to our houses and stores. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2017. Russian Tattoo is a poignant memoir of three generations of strong women with very different cultural values, all living under the same roof and battling for control. Russian Tattoo: A Memoir Home / Russian Tattoo: A Memoir. As she flounders about in her first months, you suffer alongside her, knowing that she will find her way but sorry that she didn't feel able to totally confide in anyone. There is one very amusing scene where a socialist professor in America praises the great Soviet experiment to her and her thoughts on just how misguided this fool was is worth reading. Russian Tattoo, Elena Gorokhova’s memoir of her journey to America from her homeland, is a tale of two worlds, and one very charming, brilliant and curious woman, who, for her sense of humor and an eye on both her past and her future, invites us in for a lesson, and what a lesson it is. As the book moves into Gorokhova's more recent years, with the exception of her relationship with her mother, her story feels a bit more guarded. The follow-up to A Mountain of Crumbs. Fascinating, honest and something we (as former immigrants) can all relate to. I went back and forth between giving it 3 or 4 stars. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for giving me access to a free copy of Russian Tattoo. The bestselling author of. Why I ultimately decided to give it 4 stars is that I work with a lot of Russian families in my job and I could see many of the thi. Gorokhova also does not hesitate to point out that the "new" Russia is not much different than the old. While Russian Tattoo is a story of what it is like to immigrate and acclimate to a culture vastly different than what Elena is accustomed to, it is far more, this is a story of three generations of women, each strong willed and who view life from very different mindsets. For those people who like memoirs, this is a real winner! Elena Gorokhova beautifully and painstakingly recounts her life as a woman caught between two opposite cultures as she transitions from an American wife and academic to a Russian-born mother. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Russian Tattoo: A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova A 20-kilogram suitcase holds everything Elena Gorokhova brings with her when she leaves behind her life in Soviet St. Petersburg to head to the United States in the 1980s. But this is a minor flaw. She depicts the feeling of being torn between two such different cultures, not knowing where you belong anymore, so well. The glory of the book is in its little things: the pride that comes from feeling respected by a parent, and the trust needed to … I love novels where I learn something more that enlightens my life and this book certainly filled the bill. A Memoir, Russian Tattoo, Elena Gorokhova, Simon & Schuster. And you’ll have a lump in your throat the size of Petersburg. I read it for my book club and everyone thought it a good read not to be missed. Simon & Schuster, $26 (336) ISBN 978-1451689822. Such is the life that Elena Gorokhova imagines for herself if she cannot escape Russia. Russian Tattoo is the story of a unique balancing act and a family struggle: three generations of strong women with very different cultural values, all living under the same roof and battling for control. The dizzying variety of products with all their permutations and complications - the fact that Americans are so polite and do not show stronger emotions easily - coupled with a husband who never saw fit to take her in hand and teach her these things! By the time she has her daughter Sasha, she feels confident and secure enough for her mother to visit, not knowing the visit will last 24 years. Russian Tattoo is the story of a unique balancing act and a family struggle: three generations of strong women with very different cultural values, all living under the same roof and battling for control. This is Elena Gorokhova's second book, which tells the story of her arrival and assimulation to life in the U.S. by Simon Schuster. Russian Tattoo by Elena Gorokhova is a lovely memoir of not only Elena, but of her mother and her daughter. Irina, a school teacher. Everything in this review is my own opinion. My only really substantial complaint after reading this book was that i kept getting hungry while i was reading :) Books about food are some of my favorites--for example, Like Water For Chocolate. According to some historians, the month of April is actually named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, by way of the Romans.... An exquisite portrait of mothers and daughters that reaches from Cold War Russia to modern-day New Jersey, from the author of A Mountain of Crumbs—the memoir that “leaves you wanting more” (The Daily Telegraph, UK). It was really painful to read this part because it mirrored my complicated relationship with my mom, who passed away two years ago. I received a free ARC from Simon & Schuster through the First-reads program. Elena Gorokhova’s memoir, Russian Tattoo, provides a glimpse of what it’s like coming from the USSR which was known for bread lines, rusty plumbing, commitment to the collective and hospitals with a lack of clean sheets and modern technology, to the United States where local hospitals shine like 5-star hotels, catsup is left unsupervised on restaurant tables and where service is generally delivered with a smile. Ms. Gorokhova made me understand the tremendous paralysis one feels when provided with choices! There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Welcome back. well written and kept my interest. ​Elena Gorokhova's memoir, Russian Tattoo, is the​ ​​reenactment of her escape from Russia and her overbearing mother in the hopes of creating a life on her own. This review in its entirety was originally posted at, This is a sometimes gripping, sometimes frustrating memoir of a young Soviet woman who comes to this country in the early 1980s. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2015. Elena’s journey from Soviet Russia was not an easy one and the learning curve was steep. The memoir largely focuses on how she navigates these roles while being plagued with this feeling of foreignness with her family. Elena Gorokhova’s memoir, Russian Tattoo, provides a glimpse of what it’s like coming from the USSR which was known for bread lines, rusty plumbing, commitment to the collective and hospitals with a lack of clean sheets and modern technology, to the United States where local hospitals shine like 5-star hotels, catsup is left unsupervised on restaurant tables and where service is generally delivered with a smile. Their countries for other shores, i could n't wait to tackle this novel is Elena Gorokhova 's was... After immigrating from the Soviet Union s purveyance of a young Soviet woman who comes to find love the! 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