Dancing Spoons and Khachapuri: A Russian Tale

ISBN-13: 9781446180624 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 264 str.

Sherry Marie Gallagher

Opis

A fairytale story and cleverly designed plot that is full of symbolism having to do with the Russian soul and nature. It's a nice, relaxing read with beautiful language and descriptions of the Russian folkways. The Russian-Afghanistan war is mentioned as a gross afterthought, but not too heavily so as to distract the reader from the main story about a Russian girl coming of age and losing her English expatriate father in Egypt. Even the hardships of the Russian poor and the father's imprisonment are crafted so as to present a glimpse of present social situations without being overdone. All in all, it's a lovely tale with strong characters that give the reader a taste of Eastern life, its joys and its difficulties.

Born of a Russian mother - a pianist at the State Conservatory - and expatriate English professor, a girl coming of age resolves a family dilemma while disclosing its mysterious past. After her fathers strange disappearance during a business trip to Cairo, Anastasiya searches for those who can help her track him down. She finds, instead, a long, lost uncle whose lives in intrigue but appears to be simply an art restorer, currently living and working at the well-known monastery complex of Sergiev Possad. Dancing Spoons springs out of the authors love story with Russia herself.