I can still recall a time in the early 1960s when I became aware of the world beyond the little town where I lived. I became fascinated with geography and with learning the names of capitals and residents of far away countries. The growing perception of a Soviet threat was part of my earliest understanding of things. The Cuban missile crisis when I was eleven years old is a vivid memory. So when I read positive reviews of this book about Russian in the late 1950s through 1970, I immediately obtained a copy. Enjoyed every bit of it. His approach to the subject works well - not a novel, not a history, not an historical novel - more like a collection of short stories based on historical records. By personalizing the events in this way, you get a better feel for the initial optimism and swagger in the Khrushchev era along with the constant dissonance between the promise of Communist Party and the realities of daily life. I really enjoyed this historical novel, mostly because it was able to explain the complexities of central planning in an accessible format. I taught it in a class, and my students got a lot out of it as well. Spufford is a beautiful prose writer, and the book is full of historical footnotes at the end. I think the book is also great for complicating preconceived notions about life in the Soviet Union.
Very enjoyable. Lots of different viewpoints from the USSR, all pointing to a rather barmy society!
—Molly
Series of vignettes On Russian central planningCompelling, funny.
—justina
This is how history books should be written!
—Donald
origineel boek. en lekker melancholisch
—Rachi
More like 3.5 Stars, but good stuff.
—maizy777
