{"title":"Margarita Gokun Silver","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into Margarita Gokun Silver's poignant explorations of identity, family, and resilience. Perfect for readers who appreciate insightful storytelling with a touch of warmth and cultural richness. Discover her moving novels here.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"i-named-my-dog-pushkin-and-other-immigrant-tales-book-margarita-gokun-silver-9781909770669","title":"I Named My Dog Pushkin (And Other Immigrant Tales)","description":"Buy a pair of Levi's, lose the Russian accent, become an American... how hard could it be?  Moscow, 1988. After years of antisemitic harassment, countless hours waiting in line for toilet paper, and having zero access to cool jeans, Margarita decides it's time to get the hell out of the Soviet Union. While dreaming of buying the boat-sized Buick she'd seen in a pirated VHS of Miami Vice and getting a taste of whatever it is Bruce Springsteen is singing about, she comes up with a plan to escape Mother Russia for good.   When Margarita arrives in the US with her family, she has one objective - become fully American as soon as possible, and leave her Soviet past behind. But she soon learns that finding her new voice is harder than avoiding the KGB.  Because, how do you become someone else completely? Is it as simple as changing your name, upgrading your wardrobe and working on your pronunciation of the word 'sheet'? Can you let go of old habits (never, ever throw anything away), or learn to date without hang-ups ('there is no sex in the Soviet Union' after all)? Will you ever stop disappointing your parents, who expect you to become a doctor, a lawyer, an investment banker and a classical pianist - all at the same time? And can you still become the person you dreamed you'd be, while learning to embrace parts of yourself you've wanted to discard for good when you immigrated?  Absolutely hilarious, painfully honest and sometimes heart-breaking, the award-winning I Named My Dog Pushkin will have fans of David Sedaris and Samantha Irby howling with laughter at Margarita's failures, her victories and the life lessons she learns as she grows as both a woman and an immigrant, in a world that often doesn't appreciate either.    What readers are saying about I Named My Dog Pushkin:  'Hilariously funny, whip-smart and absolutely fascinating... Silver shows that the only person she needs to ever become is herself. Just amazing.' Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You  'Laugh-out-loud funny... a particular pleasure to see our splintered country through the eyes of this determined and appreciative emigree.' NPR Books  'An eye-opener... a whole other brand of Jewish humor... The book's wit, drama and erudition appear to me wholly miraculous. Margarita deserves a literary prize.' Alicia Bay Laurel, New York Times bestselling author of Living on the Earth  'Hysterically funny and thought-provoking... perfect for anyone fascinated with the USSR' FangirlNation  'I thoroughly enjoyed Margarita's witty and acerbic voice. This book was a delight!' Jen Mann, New York Times bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat  'Hilarious... From one USSR immigrant to another... I related a lot.' Margarita Levieva, HBO's The Deuce  'Hilarious and thought-provoking.' California Bookwatch  'A memoir like this is so very rare, one in which you learn a great deal, while laughing throughout. Highly, highly recommended.' Wandering Educators  'Plunges the reader into a world in which Coca-Cola is synonymous with freedom... riveting... moving... Gokun Silver is a gifted, witty writer.' Los Angeles Review of Books  'Sure to delight while tugging at your heartstrings.' Jewish Book Council  'Had me laughing and smiling all the way through... a perfect balance of wit and seriousness... Superb.' Goodreads reviewer  'Laughed my socks off!' Goodreads reviewer  'I loved this book so much... I just could not stop reading.' NetGalley reviewer  'A sharp, witty memoir... Margarita captured Jewish joy and grief together perfectly.' Goodreads reviewer  'Darkly funny... reminiscent of other acerbic comedian authors like Sara Barron... fascinating.' 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Really, how difficult could it be?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFake an exit visa, fool the Soviet authorities, pack enough sausage to last through immigration, buy a one-way Aeroflot ticket, and the rest will sort itself out. That was the gist of every Soviet-Jewish immigrant's plan in the 1980s, Margarita's included. Despite her father's protestations that they'd get caught and thrown into a gulag, she convinced her family to follow that plan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen they arrived in the US, Margarita had a clearly defined objective - become fully American as soon as possible, and leave her Soviet past behind. But she soon learned that finding her new voice was harder than escaping the Soviet secret police.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe finds herself changing her name to fit in, disappointing her parents who expect her to become a doctor, a lawyer, an investment banker and a classical pianist - all at the same time, learning to date without hang-ups (there is no sex in the Soviet Union), parenting her own daughter 'while too Russian', and not being able to let go of old habits (never, ever throw anything away because you might use it again). Most importantly, she finds that no matter how hard you try not to become your parents, you end up just like them anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWitty, sharp and unflinching, \u003cem\u003eI Named My Dog Pushkin \u003c\/em\u003ewill have fans of Samantha Irby and Jenny Lawson howling with laughter at\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMargarita's catastrophes, her victories and her near misses as she learns to grow as both a woman and an immigrant in a world that often doesn't appreciate either.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat readers are saying about \u003cem\u003eI Named My Dog Pushkin\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'I thoroughly enjoyed Margarita's \u003cstrong\u003ewitty and acerbic \u003c\/strong\u003evoice. This book was\u003cstrong\u003e a delight\u003c\/strong\u003e ' Jen Mann, New York Times bestselling author of \u003cem\u003ePeople I Want to Punch in the Throat\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eHilarious and thought-provoking\u003c\/strong\u003e...A fine way of understanding the special challenges of the immigrant experience' \u003cem\u003eCalifornia Bookwatch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A memoir like this is \u003cstrong\u003eso very rare\u003c\/strong\u003e, one in which you learn a great deal, while laughing throughout. \u003cstrong\u003eHighly, highly recommended\u003c\/strong\u003e.' Wandering Educators\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eI loved this book so much\u003c\/strong\u003e...I just\u003cstrong\u003e could not stop reading\u003c\/strong\u003e. I loved everything in this book.' NetGalley reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eA sharp, witty memoir\u003c\/strong\u003e...Margarita \u003cstrong\u003ecaptured Jewish joy and grief together perfectly\u003c\/strong\u003e' Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eWhat a delightful book\u003c\/strong\u003e...Margarita gives us good look behind the Iron Curtain that alternates between \u003cstrong\u003eserious, funny and sweet\u003c\/strong\u003e' Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eI loved this book\u003c\/strong\u003e...\u003cstrong\u003ethoughtful, humorous\u003c\/strong\u003e, and at times even \u003cstrong\u003ea bit heartbreaking\u003c\/strong\u003e' Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003cstrong\u003eDarkly funny\u003c\/strong\u003e...reminiscent of other acerbic comedian authors like Sara Barron...\u003cstrong\u003efascinating\u003c\/strong\u003e' NetGalley reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Gokun Silver treats her journey with \u003cstrong\u003ehumor and an eye for cultural details\u003c\/strong\u003e...\u003cstrong\u003ean engaging read\u003c\/strong\u003e...\u003cstrong\u003ean eye-opener\u003c\/strong\u003e...Many of the stories Gokun Silver shares about her parents acclimating to American life will ring true to any first or second-generation immigrant family.' NetGalley reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49787071496465,"sku":"CIN1800195354G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":50391657054481,"sku":"CIN1800195354A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50422180708625,"sku":"GOR013944493","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51051166859537,"sku":"NIN9781800195356","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":53699434610961,"sku":"CIN1800195354VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1800195354.jpg?v=1751313346"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-margarita-gokun-silver.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}