pickYelchin's memory tale of being a child behind the Iron Curtain is beautiful but harrowing as he navigates the everyday experiences of growing up, along with a crushing regimen of state surveillance, old family secrets, vicious antisemitism, and pressure from his parents to excel so that he may one day escape his circumstances. His art is his solace, and the illustrations throughout are gorgeous and interspersed creatively among the text.
pickGreat memoir for kids about writer/artist Yelchin‘s childhood in Leningrad. He is trying to figure out his talent and get answers about the past but it makes everyone nervous. https://cannonballread.com/2022/10/the-genius-under-the-table-growing-up-behind-...
pickI enjoyed reading this memoir of Yelchin recounting his childhood in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. I like how it provides a good blend of humour and seriousness amidst the backdrop of the tensions of Cold War, KGB spies, and anti-semitism. Although a #middlegrade book, it has many layers that adult readers will discover. And I was amused by the grandmother‘s outspokenness and wit.
so-soI slid into the non-fiction quarter of #readingenvyrussia with a short illustrated memoir of a childhood under the "iron curtain." I loved the illustrations, particularly of the mother, always shown in one ballet position or another. These were difficult times and moreso for this family, being Jewish. There is no indication of what happened later on in his life, so it just feels like a capture of a moment in time.
pick“…told with such exquisite humor and illustrated with such wonderful, biting drawings that, in spite of its darkness, I savoured every word, and every picture. A treat.” ~ Uri Shulevitz
#onesittingread #mustread
pickCaptivating memoir. Playful pencil drawings bring the text alive. Yelchin recounts his childhood in Soviet Russia with humor and warmth.
pickI loved this book. I wish everyone could read it! It‘s a very funny but touching #memoir about growing up in #Russia during the Cold War. Lots of drawings and doodles that touch on the Soviet experience from a Jewish angle. I‘ve already ordered a copy to keep. Reminds me a lot of the book tagged ⬇️. #middlegrade
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The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain | 
