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Summary: A True-Life Russian-American Fairy Tale!
Review: Adopting Alyosha is the poignant story of a single man's struggle to find a son. The book is written in three sections: The Why, Stateside and Russia. The tension builds as you delve further and further into the story, making each section more suspenseful than the previous. By the time you are "in Russia" you are biting your nails in anticipation of the outcome. Not only is this story moving, heartfelt, and intense but it is also delightfully humorous. It is a real life Russian-American Fairy Tale with a twist. I am anxiously awaiting a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Provides a good description of his Russian experience.
Review: After reading 8 books on foreign adoption and speaking to others who have adopted from Russia, I was pleased to find Klose's first hand account. Particularly useful are the day-to-day realities of the adoption process and emotional rollercoaster experienced once Klose arrived in Russia. Klose addressed the living conditions for a home-stay and for the orphanage, the personalities of the Russian adoption counterparts to his agency, the frustrations of the Russian legal system, the blat factor - subjects not addressed in the how-to books. Written with a sense of humor that obviously served to defuse potentially explosive emotional situations. In some places, the text was a bit sugary. Such as falling in love at first sight with a photo of Alyosha. The author sounded desperate, obsessed. Describing Alyosha as calling Klose "papa" the first time he met him makes it sound as though this was fate. What it revealed to me was that Klose has never been in an orphange before or he would know that many children run to adults calling them mama or papa to pull heartstrings and get them to take them home. These kids aren't stupid. The love at first sight description is romantic but unrealistic I think. Otherwise, a good rendition of what it is like for a single man to adopt in Russia, which is difficult indeed.
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Summary: An interesting look at the emotional side of adoption
Review: Although I am not personally interested in adoption, a friend recommended this book to me. I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It was witty, personal and uplifting. I recommend it to everyone.
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Summary: He hits the nail right on the head!
Review: As a fellow single dad who just completed the adoption of my son from Romania, I can certify that Bob Klose has accurately rendered what many (if not most) single men who want to adopt go through. International adoption has its own special set of ups and downs, and he related these with a sense of humor (and irony) that helped me prepare for my own adoption journey with a little less fear.I think all prospective adoptive parents (and most certainly all single male prospective adopters!) have something to gain from this book. I also think that it's a wonderful, loving story that offers a lot to everyone else -- it's nice to read a "warm fuzzy" story every now and then, isn't it?
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Summary: It was touching to know what happened
Review: Before moving to Westbrook (where I live now) I lived in Orono and Alyosha Klose was one of my best friends, and his Dad was all ways very kind to me. So I found it very interresting and touching to know what happened to Robert before and after getting Alyosha. It was A great book! And I hope to see Alyosha soon again.
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Summary: Tender, funny, inspiring,generous...
Review: Could not put it down !A must read for anyone who has ever wanted a child, had a child, or been a child. Important statement about men having the strong but tender mothering qualities, too often falsely attributed only to women.
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Summary: The best narrative of the adoption journey
Review: Every one of us who has adopted internationally knows our experiences would make a good book (particularly ours, but let's not go into that here). Robert Klose actually sat down and wrote it. I would really recommend reading this at the outset of your adoption wait. You may think it's discouraging, but at the end you'll realize he didn't tell you anything you didn't need to know. If you have done this, you'll be nodding in recognition. Klose is also very upfront in describing the sometimes nebulous and shadowy nature of international adoption as he moves from pondering an Eastern European child to a Latino one and back and forth, through different agencies and facilitators, of varying reliability. He must have gotten very down at some points, though he keeps his sense of humor up (albeit in a very cynical way). The best moment (althogh he didn't think it was that funny, I did ... but then again it didn't happen to me) is when the referral video comes and the FedEx man, seeing only the agency's name and the nature of the package, assumes it's porn. He shows you how adoption agencies really work (or don't), being short $4,000 even after his Russian adoption to a facilitator who never delivered in Guatemala. This leads him to Russia in its Wild West days of the early 1990s. Some of the scenes are pretty grim, but unlike other such memoirists he doesn't stoop to condescension, mindful that this is the culture his son will look to for his roots. Having been to Russia on an adoption experience myself I can assure he's not making this up. In the end, after bureaucratic complication on top of absurd demand for money followed by logistical screwup, Alyosha (Alexey, really, but that's OK) comes home with him. I, too, would love some form of sequel, or some update on how they're doing.
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Summary: A delightful read filled with hope, love & strength
Review: Good things DO HAPPEN to GOOD People. Robert's ability to take us down that uncertain path to adoption is remarkable! I felt every joy, every tense moment and of course every ounce of joy and relief for both Robert & Alyosha. The focus on the goal impressed me, the obstacles were challenges and nothing or no one would stop this man from his quest of sharing his life with a child. Truly inspirational!!!
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Summary: Adopting Alyosha
Review: Have you ever wonder what would you tell your son or daughter when you come face to face for the first time? Do you wonder what your thoughts will be? Are you ready to share in a journey? If you want to know the answers to the questions and would like to participate in the adventure, I strongly recommend ordering the book. As you sit back, be ready to go through a range of emotions as Robert Klose takes you in his quest for adoption. You will feel as if you were part of the action. From despair to total joy with the humor of a season comedian and a heart of gold, he takes you in to become a silent and absent yet present passenger in the most important ride of his life. Parenthood and his son Alyosha. A must read to anyone that is currently interested in adoption. You will not be disappointed. As most others, I too wonder about a follow up book?
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Summary: Heartfelt and humorous
Review: Having had a similar experience with my wife, I can't imagine how difficult it would have been as a single man. (until I read the book) Klose's prose is elegant and witty and often speaks the truths we think but seldom express out loud. I loved the book and would reccomend it to anyone. It's definitely a "must read" if you are planning to follow the same path of adoption.
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