Russian Tattoo by Elena Gorokhova

Russian Tattoo by Elena Gorokhova

When Elena Gorokhova arrives in America, the only link back to her Russian past is a suitcase filled with twenty kilograms of what used to be her life. This is the story of what it means to be an outsider, and what happens when the cultures of our past and present collide. Above all, it is an insightful portrait of mothers and daughters.

Full of vivid imagery and memorable description, this is a wonderful trip into existential bewilderment.. As a sequel or a stand-alone, Russian Tattoo is compelling, colourful and hugely enjoyable. * Observer *

This incredibly powerful book slips into your unconscious with charm and warmth and then grabs you by the gut. By the time you reach the end, you’ll have experienced the laughter, sorrow, joy, regret, love and hurt of a real life. And you’ll have a lump in your throat the size of Petersburg.
With a magical command of language, Elena Gorokhova has painted images on my brain I won’t forget, as if I’d lived those moments myself. Because, somehow, I did.

-- Alan Alda, bestselling author of Never Have Your Dog Stuffed
Written with a novelist’s touch ... Gorokhova weaves a rich tapestry of meaning, juxtaposing her current situation with her previous life experience ... The descriptions of life in Leningrad make the memoir a fascinating insight into life behind the Iron Curtain ... Gorokhova’s honesty and unflinching rendering of her life’s trials and tribulations are testament to her writing skill ... One of the most touching memoirs I’ve ever read; I defy you not to shed a tear. * Culture Fly *
An affecting and beautifully written meditation on the mother-daughter bond; and on being inextricably caught in limbo between two worlds * Editor’s Choice, The Bookseller *

Russian Tattoo is the story of an immigrant, of leaving what you know and love. It is the story of mothers and daughters, of three generations of strong women battling for control. It is about loss and grief, wounds that sever our souls in half and never heal. It is ultimately the story of love, forgiveness, and the desire to belong.

-- Anya von Bremzen, author of Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking

Elena Gorokhova grew up in St Petersburg, Russia, although for most of her life it was known to her as Leningrad. At the age of twenty-four she married an American and came to the United States with only a twenty kilogram suitcase to start a new life. The author of A Mountain of Crumbs and Russian Tattoo, she has a Doctorate in Language Education and currently lives in New Jersey. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, on BBC Radio, and in a number of literary magazines.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780099592051
ISBN 10	0099592053
Title	Russian Tattoo
Author	Elena Gorokhova
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cornerstone
Year published	2015-06-04
Number of pages	336
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.