"The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain" by Eugene Yelchin

I was skeptical going into this book. As someone who also grew up behind the iron curtain, I sometimes find that books catering to the western audience tend to be overly negative, sarcastic or just plain ridiculous. Some descriptions in this book do border on the absurd and many of the characters are caricatures of certain types rather than representations of real people. That being said, this is a great (and accurate) depiction of what life was like in late 1950s-early 1960s in the Soviet Union. 

My mother is only two years older than the author of this book, and her experiences were similar in some ways and very different in others. For one, she did not grow up in a big city. Eugene as a little boy had access to museums, art teachers, ballet, libraries etc. People in provinces did not enjoy the same privileges. So as you read and get horrified by the conditions his family lives in, just imagine that this is the lifestyle the majority of people in the USSR did not get to "enjoy". For example, the house my mother grew up in (and where I also spent the first three years of my life), had no central heat, plumbing, or running water. On the upside, my family had a small vegetable garden so at least we could grow potatoes. But dreams of trips to foreign countries or access to black market goods like blue jeans and records were definitely off the table for anyone living in the provinces. 

I also really appreciated that the Soviet state-sponsored anti-Semitism is such a big focus in this book. Viewed through the eyes of a six-year old boy, it is particularly horrifying and outrageous, and needs to be talked about. This book made me angry, outraged, sad. And even then, I kept thinking that this is a glimpse into the life of a Soviet family that was relatively successful (and was able to emigrate in the early 80s). For many people life was even harder. To sum up, I highly recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

"Next Year in Havana" by Chanel Cleeton

I don't know why I waited so long to pick up this book. I've had it on my shelf at least for a couple of years. If you have Audible, it is included with your membership (you do not need to spend a credit to buy the book). So earlier this month, I decided to listen to it, and I was immediately sucked in by the story and beautiful storytelling. In the novel, we follow Marisol who travels to Cuba with her grandmothers ashes. While there, she starts unraveling family secrets and a love story that her grandmother had kept hidden for over 50 years. 

The book follows a dual timeline: we switch between Marisol's story in the present-day Havana, and that of Elisa, Marisol's grandmother in 1959, as Fidel Castro was about to take over Cuba. The book has two beautiful love stories and gorgeous descriptions of Havana and the Cuban culture. It also examines the violent events that took place in Cuba in 1959, their effects on Cubans, issues of immigration and one's identity; what it means to be a patriot of one's country and the best way to serve it. Ultimately, it is a love song to Cuba, or the idea of Cuba that those who left it and even those who have never set foot there cherish while living far from it. Fittingly, the phrase taken for the title of the book "Next Year in Havana" is the toast Cuban-Americans use on Christmas and New Year's Eve. It represent the yearning not just for the lost homeland but also for the way of life that is no more. I really enjoyed this book and will plan on reading more from this author soon. 5 out of 5 stars.