Review: Moscow at 1991
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 26, 2013
I picked up Dr. Julia Gousseva's "Moscow Dreams" to have a nice Sunday read. The book was about Moscow and how it transitioned from communism to democracy.I expected a heavy and gloomy tone.  Then I realized the book was actually a coming-of-age novel and it's a coming-of-age novel at very special time.  It was at the Moscow at 1991. Right when Yeltsin has consolidated his presidency after elected.  For the uninitiated, living in a communist regime is very different from our lives in United States: you might need to join the communist party to excel in school or choose career choice you like.Imagine you are a high-school girl, Marina, and your career in high-school has followed the party's instruction.  But the government has suddenly changed and all you worked in your life can be in vain. What would you do?  How would that affect your life, your friendship and your relationship?  Those are questions I keep on asking myself while I was reading.Another part I like about "Moscow Dreams" is that it is not over-sensational as you would expect in many literatures about different communist regimes in the world.  It has a light mood and a good ending for characters you love. Dr. Gousseva, who has a Master of English Language and Linguistic and a PhD of Second Language Acquistion, tells a beautiful story in a voice unique to her background: She was also a Russian immigrant who lived in Moscow in 1991.All-in-all, I love this book and give it 5 star.  To quote George R. R. Martin, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. "  I am glad that I live Marina's high school' life. Thanks to "Moscow Dream".