Review: Dare to Dream!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 9, 2013
Moscow Dreams by Julia GoussevaIt's 1991 in the city of Moscow and simply put...fourteen year old Marina has a dream.  That dream is to pass the college entrance exams in two years and to be accepted into the Moscow State Linguistics University.  There is an equally important dream in her plans. Marina would like to "travel and see the world just like her father, Vasily Fedorovich", a cameraman. He has just spent two weeks on the job in Tibet. Upon his return, he shares a vial of sand which is a gift from a beautiful sand painting created by Tibetan Monks. It seems to signify the impermanence of life similar to sand sifting through ones fingers as Marina's grandmother explains. On the other hand, Marina's mother Vera Nikolaevna, has never had the opportunity with her job as an engineer to leave the Soviet Union.In order for Marina to fulfil her dreams, she has every desire to master the English language. Being fluent in the English language will definitely open up a whole host of opportunities for Marina. Her parents are encouraging her in this endeavour so that she may broaden her horizons and experience life outside of the Soviet Union.At this point in Marina's life, she appears to be no different than her teenage friends. She has every desire to move out of her comfort zone and make her college years memorable and exciting. However, a drastic change in the political climate is unfolding before her very eyes. On the way to meet her friend Nadia, Marina notices a huge tank driving down the street. This is unheard of at this time of the year as tanks are usually only visible when there is a parade in May...that is nine months away.  She pays little heed and continues to make her way to her rendez-vous with Nadia.  After they've enjoyed a meal at the new McDonald's, they soon encounter several more tanks. Both Marina and Nadia are curious about this odd activity and by asking a few questions, they quickly learn that there has been a shift in the political and military power of the country. An unlawful coup has been created called the State Emergency Committee that believes in the previous hard line philosophy of Communism akin to Stalin's era.  They are in the process of trying to usurp the power of Mikhail Gorbachev, legitimate President of the USSR with his democratic ideas. When Marina and Nadia make their way to the Parliament Building to listen to Boris Yeltsin address the crowds with his beliefs of democracy and freedom and the unlawful confinement of Gorbachev, he appeals to the Muscovites to stand their ground and support their leader.  Marina is angered as she sees the possibility of her dreams going by the wayside...Within a few weeks and soon after Marina and Nadia attend a new school in the fall, life seems to settle down.  However, Marina is focused on other important quests while Nadia is spending a great deal of time with her new boyfriend, Stanislav. Marina is also intrigue by Nikolai, with his brilliant mind and his desire to dream and make a difference especially when it comes to Communism and its lack of freedom and democracy.In reading and reviewing this incredible novel, I could go on and on about its merits. It is a fictional novel, a wonderful history lesson, and a story about blossoming young romance all in one.  Talented Author Julia Gousseva has done a brilliant job of embracing both fact and fiction in order to entice her young reading audience. This delightful novel will be of interest, not only as an educational tool, but also as a brush up history lesson for those of us that lived in this era.  Even much more than that, she describes the lives of two typical teenage girls and boys in Moscow and how different their long term goals are, yet very similar in other respects, as they dream of their individual futures. "Moscow Dreams" will touch the heart of its reading audience as it reaches out and informs others of life in other parts of the world.  There is always a price to pay in order to achieve freedom...to dare to dream...and to accomplish those dreams. As Author Julia Gousseva so adeptly states, when people begin to have choices, these choices can result in "more responsibilities, successes, and failures". Our world would never evolve or grow without taking risks and this can certainly create feelings of uncertainty. However, Marina and Nikolai in their innocence and exuberance soon realize that it is a risk well worth taking!Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores AyotteI'm Not Perfect and It's Okay