Anya von Bremzen

Took me a few chapters to get into, but once I did I found a remarkable family history spanning the end of Stalin to Putin. It’s a book that describes the vastness and scope of the USSR the paranoia, the cynicism, the complexity of a truly fucked up, unfree, memory-holed people. Whew. A rough history that Russians still manage to have a nostalgia for. It’s a sad testament to a sort of Stockholm syndrome and mother that would not ask it for herself or daughter. Wonderful book and one recipe I will probably try.… (mere)

Phenomenal book. I didn't realize it when I decided I wanted to read this book based on reviews, but Ms. von Bremsen is the author of one of my favorite cookbooks, "Please to the Table" covering Russian Jewish cooking. The author talks about the life of her and her family in Russia from right after the Revolution through to when she and her mother finally were allowed to leave the Soviet Union for the U.S. The writing is so good - you get an overview of the history, as well as the situations and mechanics of living a life in the Soviet Union, as well as the life of a Jewish family there.… (mere)