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Lara Gelya

Goodreads Author

Born

Ukraine

Website

https://www.laragelya.com

Twitter

lgelya

Genre

Memoir, History, Nonfiction

Member Since

April 2022

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Born in Ukraine and going to school there, Lara Gelya spent the next two decades in the Kyzylkum Desert of the Republic of Uzbekistan, working at geological sites and expeditions of the Mining Industry. At that time Ukraine and Uzbekistan were parts of one country -- the Soviet Union.

In 1989 Lara left the Soviet Union, lived in Austria and Italy before she, at last, found her way to the United States in 1990. Starting her life from ground zero again, and trying on so many hats, she was able to make a lengthy professional career that led to her eventual retirement on the shores of sunny Florida.

Now, enjoying her retirement, Lara fills her days with enriching activities like writing, creating videos and pictures, reading, gardening, cooking, ...more

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Combine Editions
Lara Gelya’s books

Average rating: 4.71 · 96 ratings · 79 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Camel from Kyzylkum 4.70 avg rating — 94 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Camel from Kyzylkum: A Memoir of My Life Journey by Lara Gelya (Goodreads Author), Beth Deehan (Narrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

11 posts
Lara Gelya's Blog

The Holodomor — the genocide of Ukrainians.

Today, November 22, marks the 92nd anniversary of the Holodomor — the genocide of Ukrainians, a man-made famine created by the leaders of the Soviet Union in the 1930s.

As many of you know, I was born and raised in Ukraine. Growing up, the truth about the Holodomor was never written in books—it lived in whispers. In hushed voices behind closed doors, our parents and grandparents passed down the sto Read more of this blog post »

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Published on November 22, 2025 12:04 • Tags: holodomor-ukraine-laragelya

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Lara’s Recent Updates

Lara Gelya made a comment on Kendra Michell’s review of Camel from Kyzylkum " Thank you for your review. "
Dec 05, 2025 05:41PM · see review
Lara Gelya liked Kendra Michell's review of Camel from Kyzylkum: "Lara Gelya’s Camel from Kyzylkum is an unforgettable journey that transports you straight into the heart of the desert. The landscapes are painted with such vivid detail that you can feel the sun, the sand, and the rhythm of life in Kyzylkum. The cha" Read more of this review »
Dec 05, 2025 05:40PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lara Gelya liked Maria's review of Camel from Kyzylkum: "Camel from Kyzylkum is a great read. Navigating the life story that’s being told was very emotional and managed to keep the readers on their toes. The topics were all very real and thought-provoking and the way it is written like a diary makes you fe" Read more of this review »
Nov 28, 2025 09:51AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lara Gelya is now following Cassandra Clare Author of City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)
Nov 25, 2025 05:40AM · like
Lara Gelya made a comment on Samuel Darasimi’s review of Camel from Kyzylkum " Samuel, Thank you for reading my book and sharing your thoughts about it. It feels like a virtual hug! "
Nov 24, 2025 12:23PM · see review
Lara Gelya liked Samuel Darasimi's review of Camel from Kyzylkum: "Reading Camel from Kyzylkum was an experience I won’t forget. From the very first chapter, I felt completely drawn into Lara Gelya’s journey. The way she shares her life,from Ukraine to the Kyzylkum Desert,and across several countries before finally " Read more of this review »
Nov 24, 2025 12:20PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lara Gelya liked K.'s review of Camel from Kyzylkum: "We never know where life will take us sometimes. It can be miles away from the land where we take our first breath like this memoir of Lara Gelya, Camel From Kyzylkum: A Memoir Of My Life Journey. Born in Vinnitsa, Ukraine but spends 20 years of her" Read more of this review »
Nov 21, 2025 09:59AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lara Gelya rated a book it was amazing Camel from Kyzylkum: A Memoir of My Life Journey by Lara Gelya (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Camel from Kyzylkum: A Memoir of my Life Journey. What does it take to leave everything behind in search of freedom? Born in Ukraine and later working in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, Lara Gelya spent the first half of her life behind the Iron Cur ...more
Oct 30, 2025 06:33PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lara Gelya joined the group ActiveAudiobookClub
Oct 30, 2025 06:31PM · like
Lara Gelya rated a book it was amazing Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
What an honest and captivating account of a daring escape from Soviet tyranny to freedom! From the moment I opened this book, it was a page-turner and kept me on the edge of my seat. Even knowing that everything turned out well (since it's the author ...more
Oct 30, 2025 06:28PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Lara's books…

Quotes by Lara Gelya (?)

“A story told is a life lived”
― Lara Gelya, Camel from Kyzylkum

tags: inspirational, life-story, memoir

1 likes

Lara’s Quotes

“My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.”
― Nhat Hanh

tags: inspirational-attitude

1 likes

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”
― William James

tags: inspirational-quotes-about-life

1 likes

“A story told is a life lived”
― Lara Gelya, Camel from Kyzylkum

tags: inspirational, life-story, memoir

1 likes

“Lost is not a hopeless place to be. It is a place of patience, of waiting. Lost does not mean gone for ever. Lost is a bridge between worlds, where the pain of our past can be transformed into power. You have always held the key to this special place, but now you are ready to unlock the door.”
― Evie Woods, The Lost Bookshop

73 likes