Russian Tattoo: A MemoirFinalist for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing From the bestselling author of A Mountain of Crumbs, a “brilliant and illuminating” (BookPage) portrait of mothers and daughters that reaches from Cold War Russia to modern-day New Jersey to show how the ties that hold you back can also teach you how to start over. Elena Gorokhova moves to the US in her twenties to join her American husband and to break away from her mother, a mirror image of her Soviet Motherland: overbearing, protective, and difficult to leave. Before the birth of Elena’s daughter, her mother comes to help care for the baby and stays for twenty-four years, ordering everyone to eat soup and wear a hat, just as she did in Leningrad. 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. As Elena strives to bridge the gap between the cultures of her past and present and find her place in a new world, she comes to love the fierce resilience of her Soviet mother when she recognizes it in her American daughter. “Gorokhova writes about her life with a novelist’s gift,” says The New York Times, and her second memoir is filled with empathy, insight, and humor. |
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Aeroflot airport American Andy says Andy’s apartment arms aunt back home beef Stroganoff called can’t couldn’t courtyard dacha daughter doctor doesn’t door dress English eyes face father feel floor Frankie Frankie’s friends front glass Gulf of Finland hair hand hate head hear hospital I’ve imagine inside Ivanovo Kahlúa Kineshma kitchen knew leave Lenin Leningrad Leningrad University living room look Mama Mama’s Marina married Millie Millie’s mind morning Moscow mother mother’s mouth moving mushrooms never Nevsky Prospekt night Nina pretending Pulkovo Airport Roxana Russian Sagar Sasha says Andy shoes sister slices smells smile someone soup Soviet standing stare stop street talk tattoos teaching tell Texas Texas Instruments theater things thought told turn voice waiting walk wall watch wear week what’s window woman word Yakov Smirnoff