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Rating: 
Summary: A slight book
Review: ... I have to agree that this book doesn't say much about Russia. It's kinda fun, in its own way, but the coverage of some of the major world events of the 1990s is so superficial as to leave the reader wondering if the author really understands the importance of what was happening in Russia. Stories about taxi drivers and neighbors don't really tell you much about anything, and even something that could have been fun and interesting like the interview with Lee Harvey Oswald's wife doesn't deliver the way it should. ... What's good about this book? It's a fast read, it isn't difficult to understand, even without a basic understanding of Russia. But, that's about it. There are so many better books about this period out these days, so I can't recommend this one.
Rating: 
Summary: An extended tabloib column
Review: As a young woman in my late-20s with a passion for politics, travel, and brainy adventure -- I couldn't recommend this book more highly... I looked forward to reading each chapter: each one a portrait of a people and a culture, painted so vividly I felt like I could jump right in. I read this book for the first time a few years ago... it was a gift that I received before beginning my own adventures in grad school where I'm studying Eastern European politics. Of the many books I have read about Russia, this remains my favourite -- Gould's down-to-earth writing style, lively descriptions, as well as the sensitivity and warmth she brings to her subjects -- are nothing short of inspiring. Not only have I read this book many times over the past few years, but also it remains a favourite to give as gifts for friends... Go ahead, take the journey to the FSU with a funny, bright, clever and downright wonderful writer... it'll be the best armchair adventure you'll ever take!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Breezy
Review: I found that this book was at its best when it introduced and described the life of "everyday" Russian people. The cleaning ladies, the "drivers", orphans, etc. are described so vividly I felt as if I'd met them. This book is at its shallowest when it delves into the politics of Russia. An example of this is when the author covers the assassination of CIA station chief Fred Woodruff in Georgia. She interviews his alleged girlfriend--Marina Kapankhadze who she suspects is lying through the entire interview. The author uses a lot of cloak-and-dagger melodrama ("(Marina) agrees to meet me after midnight, when she finishes her shift at the piano bar."). The melodrama sometimes comes across as naivete on behalf of the author and the author's analysis of what the CIA is doing in Georgia is scattered and lacking substance. On the one hand, the author says that the US is helping Georgia to fight for freedom--on the other hand, the author alludes to the fact that the US is helping Russia to keep Georgia within Russia's control and help Yeltsin save face. Confused? Thus, said, I liked the book for describing everyday life and real people (the chapter about Russian miners was compelling). This is where the author truly shines.
Rating:
Summary: Breezy
Review: I found that this book was at its best when it introduced and described the life of "everyday" Russian people. The cleaning ladies, the "drivers", orphans, etc. are described so vividly I felt as if I'd met them. This book is at its shallowest when it delves into the politics of Russia. An example of this is when the author covers the assassination of CIA station chief Fred Woodruff in Georgia. She interviews his alleged girlfriend--Marina Kapankhadze who she suspects is lying through the entire interview. The author uses a lot of cloak-and-dagger melodrama ("(Marina) agrees to meet me after midnight, when she finishes her shift at the piano bar."). The melodrama sometimes comes across as naivete on behalf of the author and the author's analysis of what the CIA is doing in Georgia is scattered and lacking substance. On the one hand, the author says that the US is helping Georgia to fight for freedom--on the other hand, the author alludes to the fact that the US is helping Russia to keep Georgia within Russia's control and help Yeltsin save face. Confused? Thus, said, I liked the book for describing everyday life and real people (the chapter about Russian miners was compelling). This is where the author truly shines.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Engaging
Review: This book was about the author's journey, or perhaps, adventure in Russia. Instead of simply reporting what was on the surface, she digged deep & managed to give us, readers an insight of what Russia was all about. She talked about everyday Russians that had fallen victims to the term 'democracy', that Westerners have already taken for granted. The post communist Russia was filled with abandoned street kids, young and rich mafias that worked hand-in-hand with local officials and who wouldn't know if they are going to live the next day, Russians that were stranded in far away outposts as inflation had simply eroded their life-time savings, prisoners that were still being held despite enterpreneurship that put them in jail at the first place is deemed a legal activity now, spies. Due to so much uncertainties, some Russians preferred to revert to the old Communist system when they wouldn't have to worry about finding a roof over their heads, and food on their plates. As the old story goes, someone has to be blamed & promises would be made (even though at times, promises would be far-fetched but still, the public bought them), & thus, the local politicians swept themselves to power (namely, someone like Zhirinovsky, Yeltsin). It was quite interesting to know that whilst Gorbachev was revered in Western countries, he was highly despised in Russia for breaking the Great Russia into pieces. The author also sneaked into hot spots such as Georgia; Checnya, investigating about the disappearance of Fred Cuny of the Open Society Institute (OSI) supposely fronted by George Soros but it was rumoured to be a cover for US involvement in Russia applying the divide and rule strategy to keep Russia's power at bay. To conclude, Russia was a huge melting pot with a tendency of extremity. In a way, the author was drawn to the country in its pursuit of good but evil obviously came as part of the package. Overall, the book was full of intrigues & I couldn't help myself but read it voraciously till the very end. B&W pictures and a map of Russia & its neighbouring countries were bonuses. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Engaging
Review: This book was about the author's journey, or perhaps, adventure in Russia. Instead of simply reporting what was on the surface, she digged deep & managed to give us, readers an insight of what Russia was all about. She talked about everyday Russians that had fallen victims to the term 'democracy', that Westerners have already taken for granted. The post communist Russia was filled with abandoned street kids, young and rich mafias that worked hand-in-hand with local officials and who wouldn't know if they are going to live the next day, Russians that were stranded in far away outposts as inflation had simply eroded their life-time savings, prisoners that were still being held despite enterpreneurship that put them in jail at the first place is deemed a legal activity now, spies. Due to so much uncertainties, some Russians preferred to revert to the old Communist system when they wouldn't have to worry about finding a roof over their heads, and food on their plates. As the old story goes, someone has to be blamed & promises would be made (even though at times, promises would be far-fetched but still, the public bought them), & thus, the local politicians swept themselves to power (namely, someone like Zhirinovsky, Yeltsin). It was quite interesting to know that whilst Gorbachev was revered in Western countries, he was highly despised in Russia for breaking the Great Russia into pieces. The author also sneaked into hot spots such as Georgia; Checnya, investigating about the disappearance of Fred Cuny of the Open Society Institute (OSI) supposely fronted by George Soros but it was rumoured to be a cover for US involvement in Russia applying the divide and rule strategy to keep Russia's power at bay. To conclude, Russia was a huge melting pot with a tendency of extremity. In a way, the author was drawn to the country in its pursuit of good but evil obviously came as part of the package. Overall, the book was full of intrigues & I couldn't help myself but read it voraciously till the very end. B&W pictures and a map of Russia & its neighbouring countries were bonuses. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An extended tabloib column
Review: This is not a profound book. Though at times comical and endearing it reads a bit like an extended tabloid column. There is a tendency at trivializing the events in the former soyuz (the union) with the aim of offering us a pastiche of civil society there, but there is little effort to go beyond the events. The post-modern title is very telling in that sense.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, englightening
Review: This is the true story of this journalist's experience in the former Soviet Union between 1992 and 1995. At that time she was just 24 years old and a recent graduate of Columbia school of Journalism. A Canadian citizen, she didn't know how to speak Russian and had no job waiting for her. She did get work though, writing for some English editions of Russian papers and freelancing for The Village Voice. the San Francisco Chronicle and the Toronto Star, and even did a prestigious Playboy interview with Vladimer Zhironovsky who was campaigning against Boris Yeltzen at the time. We see Russia through the eyes of this young woman, feel its corruption, contradictions and dangers. We travel with her in private cars and taxicabs to gangster nightclubs and private parties. We move with her into a succession of apartments, taste the vodka, meet the men who want to date her, and share the adventure of a young woman in the wild and wooly wilderness of the new Russia. We sail down the Volga, visit Siberia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Chechnya. We feel the danger and the eat the foods, and meet a wide variety of people. Ms. Gould is at her best when describing her own experiences. However, when she goes into Russian history and tries to analyze some of the politics, she seems out of her league. I found it hard to follow these parts and could not absorb it all. However, my intention was not to learn everything about Russia in one sitting. Instead, I enjoyed the experience of joining her on her own personal adventures, which, admittedly were from a young pretty Western woman's point of view. Her observations were good but were not quite dynamic enough and even though I enjoyed the book I don't know how much I really learned about Russia. I'd recommend this book for someone like me, with little or no knowledge of this vast and complicated land. It's like dipping your toes into an ocean and just beginning to feel the water.
Rating:
Summary: A Young Journalist's View of The Former Soviet Republic
Review: This is the true story of this journalist's experience in the former Soviet Union between 1992 and 1995. At that time she was just 24 years old and a recent graduate of Columbia school of Journalism. A Canadian citizen, she didn't know how to speak Russian and had no job waiting for her. She did get work though, writing for some English editions of Russian papers and freelancing for The Village Voice. the San Francisco Chronicle and the Toronto Star, and even did a prestigious Playboy interview with Vladimer Zhironovsky who was campaigning against Boris Yeltzen at the time. We see Russia through the eyes of this young woman, feel its corruption, contradictions and dangers. We travel with her in private cars and taxicabs to gangster nightclubs and private parties. We move with her into a succession of apartments, taste the vodka, meet the men who want to date her, and share the adventure of a young woman in the wild and wooly wilderness of the new Russia. We sail down the Volga, visit Siberia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Chechnya. We feel the danger and the eat the foods, and meet a wide variety of people. Ms. Gould is at her best when describing her own experiences. However, when she goes into Russian history and tries to analyze some of the politics, she seems out of her league. I found it hard to follow these parts and could not absorb it all. However, my intention was not to learn everything about Russia in one sitting. Instead, I enjoyed the experience of joining her on her own personal adventures, which, admittedly were from a young pretty Western woman's point of view. Her observations were good but were not quite dynamic enough and even though I enjoyed the book I don't know how much I really learned about Russia. I'd recommend this book for someone like me, with little or no knowledge of this vast and complicated land. It's like dipping your toes into an ocean and just beginning to feel the water.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I read this year!
Review: This was a great book! Each chapter seems to tell its own separate story and yet the author weaves it all together with a captivating narrative. I love books where you can be entertained while learning about new cultures as well as the history and politics of a place. I really enjoyed this book because while I laughed at some stories, cringed at others and overall was totally entralled and caught up in the the author's experiences, I also learned so much about the Soviet Union, its breakdown and how it affected the country and the people. Buy it, read it, enjoy it.
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