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Крещённые крестами
Книга Эдуарда Кочергина - главного художника Большого драматического театра им. Г.А.Товстоногова - основана на воспоминаниях о тяжелых послевоенных временах, когда он бежал из омского детприемника для детей "врагов народа" на родину в Ленинград, - о беге, длившемся более шести лет, со всеми перипетиями и скитаниями по "эсэсэрии" с ее тогдашними казенными домами, детприемниками НКВД и колониями.
В 2010 году книга получила одну из престижнейших литературных премий - "Национальный бестселлер".
В 2010 году книга получила одну из престижнейших литературных премий - "Национальный бестселлер".
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Eduard Kochergin
10 books4 followersЭдуард Кочергин — бессменный главный художник Большого драматического театра им. Г.А.Товстоногова с 1971 года. В последнее время он также известен как писатель. Его первая книга "Ангелова кукла" (2003) сразу стала сенсацией в литературной жизни и была отмечена Царскосельской художественной премией. В 2010 году Кочергин стал обладателем престижной литературной премии "Национальный бестселлер" (за книгу "Крещённые крестами"), в 2011 году — Литературной премии им. Сергея Довлатова "За достижения в современной отечественной прозе", в 2014 году — новой литературной премии "Театральный роман" (за книгу "Записки Планшетной крысы").
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 8, 2021
Мальчик возвращается домой к маме через всю страну, которую только что в очередной раз переехало двадцатым веком.
September 14, 2021
Какая же прекрасная и жизнеутверждающая книга, несмотря на совсем не праздничный контекст. Не буду оригинальной и напишу, что страшные истории, рассказанные от лица ребёнка авторами, у которых действительно получается стать детьми, ужасно тёплые и светлые несмотря ни на что. И эта как раз такая.
October 16, 2021
Одна из лучших книг года (слушала в исполнении любимого Александра Клюквина). Большое спасибо Анастасии Завозовой за рекомендацию!❤️
April 2, 2014
Интересно выхваченные байки из быта беспризорника великой отечественной.
Надо, конечно, понимать, что тогда все жили не лучше.
Естественно, детприемники воспринимались этими пацанами как "тюрьма". Но хорошо, что их развернули в стране, хоть как-то кормили и обучали оставшихся без семей ребят, когда миллионы гибли на войне, а в тылу люди голодали.
Разбегаясь летом "на волю", дети неизбежно попадали в криминогенную среду - автор ведь явно не стал включать в эти воспоминания такие эпизоды.
В целом, воспоминания выглядят так "несколько месяцев жил впроголодь в детприемнике, а потом сбежал и добрый дядя военный накормил обедом из трех блюд на вокзале, самым вкусным в моей жизни".
Интересно описание деталей, да и сама жизнь у автора этой автобиографии была весьма насыщенной событиями.
А то, что это передается через призму самого беспризорника, откуда и отъявленно злые "вертухаи", и беспричинные отправки в карцер и прочее - естественно для такого рассказа.
Нам из нашего сытого настоящего точно нельзя про это судить, да и потом понимание ситуации в целом никак не отменяет конкретной жизни.
Возможно, эта книга - повод попросить (пра)дедов и (пра)бабок, у кого еще остались, в очередной раз рассказать про их жизнь в то время. Наверно, всем есть что рассказать.
Надо, конечно, понимать, что тогда все жили не лучше.
Естественно, детприемники воспринимались этими пацанами как "тюрьма". Но хорошо, что их развернули в стране, хоть как-то кормили и обучали оставшихся без семей ребят, когда миллионы гибли на войне, а в тылу люди голодали.
Разбегаясь летом "на волю", дети неизбежно попадали в криминогенную среду - автор ведь явно не стал включать в эти воспоминания такие эпизоды.
В целом, воспоминания выглядят так "несколько месяцев жил впроголодь в детприемнике, а потом сбежал и добрый дядя военный накормил обедом из трех блюд на вокзале, самым вкусным в моей жизни".
Интересно описание деталей, да и сама жизнь у автора этой автобиографии была весьма насыщенной событиями.
А то, что это передается через призму самого беспризорника, откуда и отъявленно злые "вертухаи", и беспричинные отправки в карцер и прочее - естественно для такого рассказа.
Нам из нашего сытого настоящего точно нельзя про это судить, да и потом понимание ситуации в целом никак не отменяет конкретной жизни.
Возможно, эта книга - повод попросить (пра)дедов и (пра)бабок, у кого еще остались, в очередной раз рассказать про их жизнь в то время. Наверно, всем есть что рассказать.
October 21, 2021
Прекрасный язык, поразительное внутреннее благородство. А сама история возвращения мальчика через всю страну к матери - поразительная.
December 5, 2012
Reason for Reading: I enjoy this time period in history and am very interested in people who survived or escaped the evils of Communism.
This is the author's story of his childhood from when he was about 6 to 12. He starts in an orphanage in Siberia, escapes and spends the intervening years making his way across the country to his hometown of St. Petersburg (Leningrad) where he hopes to find his mother who was imprisoned during the war as a public enemy. At first I had thought this was going to be a Christian book because of the title but it is in no form that way inclined. The author explains in a brief foreword about his title ending with "The expression is capacious and ambiguous." The author is Polish Roman Catholic but that has little to do with the tale except for some cultural differences between him and the Orthodox Russians. I was a little disappointed at first, since I'd been expecting a Christian tale, but it had no affects on my enjoyment of the story.
Of course the author had a rough and tough childhood with the worst of it being in the orphanages he stayed. The one in Siberia being the worst of the worst; where the children were treated inhumanely. A good portion of the beginning is dedicated to this time of his life and here we find the reminiscences of an old man remembering when he was six to be vague. Rather than telling a story, the book starts off with vignettes and assorted remembrances that may or may not be in chronological order. I found this part of the book slow and thus hard to get into. However once he escapes and grows a bit the story starts to take on more coherence and reads more like a book, rather than snippets. He spends the summers traveling the rails, meeting up with all kinds of people, some good, some bad and he learns survival skills from some while learning trades from others. Already good at drawing he became a skilled artist, drawing decks of cards, shaping the two leaders out of wire, learnt to paint from a Chinese man and learnt the Japanese method of tattooing. These skills would forever keep him just beyond starvation over the years. He meets fellow orphan (or half) travellers like himself along the way making good friends. Some of them have happy endings to their stories, others do not. But overshadowing the whole journey is the fear and terror of the communist soldiers, guards, inspectors, government officials; who if they found him illegally riding the trains could easily send him back to Siberia and make his journey for nought. In the winters he would find a city orphanage to report too, tell them the truth about the last orphanage he was at and where he was headed and he would be put up. He'd be warm and half-way fed, possibly beat, but sometimes educated and then come spring he'd hit the rails again.
An interesting story of a life that so many must have lived at that time. So many families were torn apart by communism and the struggle of the littlest ones trying to find their way back home to someone who loves them is a heart-rending read.
This is the author's story of his childhood from when he was about 6 to 12. He starts in an orphanage in Siberia, escapes and spends the intervening years making his way across the country to his hometown of St. Petersburg (Leningrad) where he hopes to find his mother who was imprisoned during the war as a public enemy. At first I had thought this was going to be a Christian book because of the title but it is in no form that way inclined. The author explains in a brief foreword about his title ending with "The expression is capacious and ambiguous." The author is Polish Roman Catholic but that has little to do with the tale except for some cultural differences between him and the Orthodox Russians. I was a little disappointed at first, since I'd been expecting a Christian tale, but it had no affects on my enjoyment of the story.
Of course the author had a rough and tough childhood with the worst of it being in the orphanages he stayed. The one in Siberia being the worst of the worst; where the children were treated inhumanely. A good portion of the beginning is dedicated to this time of his life and here we find the reminiscences of an old man remembering when he was six to be vague. Rather than telling a story, the book starts off with vignettes and assorted remembrances that may or may not be in chronological order. I found this part of the book slow and thus hard to get into. However once he escapes and grows a bit the story starts to take on more coherence and reads more like a book, rather than snippets. He spends the summers traveling the rails, meeting up with all kinds of people, some good, some bad and he learns survival skills from some while learning trades from others. Already good at drawing he became a skilled artist, drawing decks of cards, shaping the two leaders out of wire, learnt to paint from a Chinese man and learnt the Japanese method of tattooing. These skills would forever keep him just beyond starvation over the years. He meets fellow orphan (or half) travellers like himself along the way making good friends. Some of them have happy endings to their stories, others do not. But overshadowing the whole journey is the fear and terror of the communist soldiers, guards, inspectors, government officials; who if they found him illegally riding the trains could easily send him back to Siberia and make his journey for nought. In the winters he would find a city orphanage to report too, tell them the truth about the last orphanage he was at and where he was headed and he would be put up. He'd be warm and half-way fed, possibly beat, but sometimes educated and then come spring he'd hit the rails again.
An interesting story of a life that so many must have lived at that time. So many families were torn apart by communism and the struggle of the littlest ones trying to find their way back home to someone who loves them is a heart-rending read.
October 1, 2021
Started reading this book with a blank state, had no idea about author altogether.
A story of an orphanage boy set in post-WW2 Soviet Union. Grim, gritty prose narrated from the point of view of a nine-year-old, doesn't shy away from crime and horrors of life. Very special and vivid language, full of juicy expressive jargon, extra enjoyable as an audio book.
A story of an orphanage boy set in post-WW2 Soviet Union. Grim, gritty prose narrated from the point of view of a nine-year-old, doesn't shy away from crime and horrors of life. Very special and vivid language, full of juicy expressive jargon, extra enjoyable as an audio book.
January 12, 2018
Вопреки сложной теме, удивительно легко написанная, светлая книга. Сборник рассказов? Роман? Мемуары? Советская Одиссея? Сказ? Жанр книги сложно определить.
Ещё одна грань истории советской России, увиденная глазами мальчика, и талантливо рассказанная взрослым художником.
Читается на одном дыхании.
Ещё одна грань истории советской России, увиденная глазами мальчика, и талантливо рассказанная взрослым художником.
Читается на одном дыхании.
December 16, 2012
I was very excited to read this book. I love books about survival stories and it's even better when they are non-fiction survival stories. "Christened with Crosses" is just the sort of survival story that I like. At a very young age, the main character is forced to make his way across Russia as a young child. There are probably not many people in the world who would have been able to make that same journey and thrive the way that he was able to thrive. It was truly amazing.
The story takes place during the 1940s, which if you know anything about the Soviet Union during that time, you know that it was not the kind of place you would like to be if you were on the wrong side of the government. By being a veritable orphan, the author is just that. He escapes in and out of different orphanages. Orphanages were not places you wanted to be in the Soviet Union. The author vividly describes some of the things that happened to him and those he knew and some of it was definitely hard to read.
Through this book, we get to learn a lot of the stories of different people in the Soviet Union. I think that because the author is Polish, he has an especially interesting story. He is in a country where at first, he really doesn't even know the language of the places where he is staying. Language, we know, is an integral part of being able to get along in the world. The author comes across so many different people from different walks of life. He tells not only his story but many of their stories too. Some are happy stories. Some are sad stories. Everyone has been affected by the new reality of the Soviet Union during the end of WWII.
Bottom line: this book is often hard to read because of the hardship but it is worth the read.
The story takes place during the 1940s, which if you know anything about the Soviet Union during that time, you know that it was not the kind of place you would like to be if you were on the wrong side of the government. By being a veritable orphan, the author is just that. He escapes in and out of different orphanages. Orphanages were not places you wanted to be in the Soviet Union. The author vividly describes some of the things that happened to him and those he knew and some of it was definitely hard to read.
Through this book, we get to learn a lot of the stories of different people in the Soviet Union. I think that because the author is Polish, he has an especially interesting story. He is in a country where at first, he really doesn't even know the language of the places where he is staying. Language, we know, is an integral part of being able to get along in the world. The author comes across so many different people from different walks of life. He tells not only his story but many of their stories too. Some are happy stories. Some are sad stories. Everyone has been affected by the new reality of the Soviet Union during the end of WWII.
Bottom line: this book is often hard to read because of the hardship but it is worth the read.
December 12, 2012
I was given the opportunity to read Christened with Crosses by Eduard Kochergin for a blog tour and I must say I feel honored to have been selected to read this book. This story is so gripping and emotional you cannot help but to be drawn into it. There were times I swore I could feel the nip of the Siberian Winter at my feet.
One of the main reasons you feel such a connection to this story is that it is Eduard Kochergin’s story told how he lived it. Spending part of his life in an orphanage in Siberia you can imagine that he had some rough times. Once he escapes from the orphanage he flees to St. Petersburg in hopes to find his Mother.
I have always enjoyed reading about Russian History and this time of upheaval is one that I have studied. However despite my knowledge of things I was left somewhat unprepared for this story of someone who actually lived the hardness that war torn times in Russia offered. I don’t want to give to many secrets away from Christened with Crosses because you really need to read it yourself to appreciate the story. I found it made me look back and rethink some of the things in my life that I complain about and realize perhaps they really are not that bad.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history and living.
One of the main reasons you feel such a connection to this story is that it is Eduard Kochergin’s story told how he lived it. Spending part of his life in an orphanage in Siberia you can imagine that he had some rough times. Once he escapes from the orphanage he flees to St. Petersburg in hopes to find his Mother.
I have always enjoyed reading about Russian History and this time of upheaval is one that I have studied. However despite my knowledge of things I was left somewhat unprepared for this story of someone who actually lived the hardness that war torn times in Russia offered. I don’t want to give to many secrets away from Christened with Crosses because you really need to read it yourself to appreciate the story. I found it made me look back and rethink some of the things in my life that I complain about and realize perhaps they really are not that bad.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history and living.
September 14, 2012
Occassionally, there are those rare books that deserve a better rating system than 5 stars allows. That is because those novels are awesome and mind blowing.
This book is one of those.
It didn't catch me on the first few pages, but from the moment Stepanich described being transported by bus to an airport while being strafed by machine gun fire, wrapped and swaddled like a papoose, and then being tied to the walls of a wooden plane headed for a place he didn't even know, by people he didn't know, only to have the plane shot down (at approx 4-6 years old)...he had my attention.
This was such an amazing story of trial and perseverance, that I repeatedly checked to make sure I had not imagined the fact that I was reading a memoir. WWII was a unique time in American History and the babyboomers don't get a chance to know what it wa like except through the memoirs of those who went through it. I can only say that the author was miraculous even as a child.
I hope that more quality memoirs are translated into English so that I may continue to vicariously experience the phenomenal lives of these men and women (boys and girls.)
This book is one of those.
It didn't catch me on the first few pages, but from the moment Stepanich described being transported by bus to an airport while being strafed by machine gun fire, wrapped and swaddled like a papoose, and then being tied to the walls of a wooden plane headed for a place he didn't even know, by people he didn't know, only to have the plane shot down (at approx 4-6 years old)...he had my attention.
This was such an amazing story of trial and perseverance, that I repeatedly checked to make sure I had not imagined the fact that I was reading a memoir. WWII was a unique time in American History and the babyboomers don't get a chance to know what it wa like except through the memoirs of those who went through it. I can only say that the author was miraculous even as a child.
I hope that more quality memoirs are translated into English so that I may continue to vicariously experience the phenomenal lives of these men and women (boys and girls.)
September 14, 2012
An absolutely outstanding book. Eduard Kochergin tells us about his tough childhood when he escapes the orphanage in Siberia to return to Leningrad to find his mother that was arrested as a spy.
He wrote this book in a very simple, story telling tone. Really like someone who is just telling you a story. I think this is one of the reasons why it is so easy to imagine what was happening to him, even though it is hard to see a child going through such a life.
Besides telling about himself we also get to know more about the post-war Russia from the places he describes and the people he met. And he really met a large diversity of people on his journey. From them he experienced some cruelty but also some human kindness that helped him in life
The book is very interesting and also pretty touching at some points. Like for example about his first big friendship with Mityai.
I really recommend this book to anyone. It is about a very interesting and unique life and is also written well.
* I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
He wrote this book in a very simple, story telling tone. Really like someone who is just telling you a story. I think this is one of the reasons why it is so easy to imagine what was happening to him, even though it is hard to see a child going through such a life.
Besides telling about himself we also get to know more about the post-war Russia from the places he describes and the people he met. And he really met a large diversity of people on his journey. From them he experienced some cruelty but also some human kindness that helped him in life
The book is very interesting and also pretty touching at some points. Like for example about his first big friendship with Mityai.
I really recommend this book to anyone. It is about a very interesting and unique life and is also written well.
* I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 25, 2012
This tale of Kochergin's life truly is amazing! Action-packed, it is full of tension and drama. The events are well-described, as are the places that the reader journeys through along with our narrator.
It is often hard to believe that this really happened to anyone! The world which we find ourselves emersed in is so different from that of the western world in which most of us live. Its hard to imagine living in such a situation.
Throughout the difficult times, this book tells of hope and determination. It has the potential to give hope to even the most lost, and is truly educational in its own right.
Those more familiar with dyspotian novels will be surprised how familiar this story seems, whilst readers of travel logs will be interested by the variety of places mentioned. Anyone who enjoys stories about individuals and human interactions will find much to fascinate. I truly recommend this book and hope any who try it will enjoy it as much as I have.
February 25, 2013
An easy to read book, told in very simple language. I don't know if the simple child-like voice was intentional by the author or whether it may be as a result of translation into English. Regardless the voice makes friends with the reader.
I came away amazed at the perseverance of a young boy to get home to his mother, living from day to day, for about eight years, by his wits and his wiles.
I also found it interesting that I was quite willing to be so amazed and charmed and forgiving of the boy's exploits, some of which were criminal in nature (stealing). I wonder why I (and others) are not so forgiving of young criminals in our own country. How do we know that they are not suffering similar hardships?
I came away amazed at the perseverance of a young boy to get home to his mother, living from day to day, for about eight years, by his wits and his wiles.
I also found it interesting that I was quite willing to be so amazed and charmed and forgiving of the boy's exploits, some of which were criminal in nature (stealing). I wonder why I (and others) are not so forgiving of young criminals in our own country. How do we know that they are not suffering similar hardships?
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March 18, 2021 memoir, russia, librarything early reviewers Eduard Stepanovich Kochergin was born in 1937 and lived in Leningrad/St Petersburg, that is until he was taken away to spend his childhood in state orphanages. But his one aim is to get back to St Petersburg and to be re-united with his mother. This is an account of his long trek from Siberia over several years to that end. It is not, and does not claim to be a continuous record, but is rather a series of recollections based on the author's notes take as and when he could, and as a child.
Although initially a little uninspiring (more about that below), one is soon drawn in, and it proves to be a fascinating and at times very moving account, and reveals a very resourceful, creative and determined boy as Stepanych lives on his wits through the summer months and then come the autumn hands himself over to the authorities to spend the cold winters in the local orphanage, ready to escape the following spring and repeat the process many times. Once on his travels he survives on his resources, earning his daily rations trough his artistic talents, or by working for others including spell conscripted by a band of train burglars. a€long the way he makes some friends, experiences moments of happiness but also faces tragedies.
My one reservation regarding Christened With Crosses is I think probably due to the translation, I felt it failed to convey any flavour of mid-20th Century Russia, the language used seems to set the account in the West and in the present day. I was frequently left wondering how the young Stepanych really would have expressed himself. Of course once fully absorbed in the account it is easier to overlook this, but I wonder how much more compelling it would have been had the translation been more convincing.
Although initially a little uninspiring (more about that below), one is soon drawn in, and it proves to be a fascinating and at times very moving account, and reveals a very resourceful, creative and determined boy as Stepanych lives on his wits through the summer months and then come the autumn hands himself over to the authorities to spend the cold winters in the local orphanage, ready to escape the following spring and repeat the process many times. Once on his travels he survives on his resources, earning his daily rations trough his artistic talents, or by working for others including spell conscripted by a band of train burglars. a€long the way he makes some friends, experiences moments of happiness but also faces tragedies.
My one reservation regarding Christened With Crosses is I think probably due to the translation, I felt it failed to convey any flavour of mid-20th Century Russia, the language used seems to set the account in the West and in the present day. I was frequently left wondering how the young Stepanych really would have expressed himself. Of course once fully absorbed in the account it is easier to overlook this, but I wonder how much more compelling it would have been had the translation been more convincing.
June 30, 2018
Время советское – бремя тяжёлое. С какой стороны к нему не подходи, найдёшь положительные и отрицательные черты. Всё зависит от мировосприятия. Эдуарду Кочергину мир не виделся в светлых оттенках. Он – отобранный у родителей, помещённый в детприёмник, не знающий ни слова по-русски – оказался презираем и тянулся обратно к маме, сталкиваясь с необходимостью выживать. Был он тогда юным, на дворе стоял 1939 год, Европа погружалась в хаос Второй Мировой войны. Впереди страшные годы упадка. Никакого подъёма в мыслях, сугубо мрачное небо над головой и множество обозлённых людей. Такого могло и не быть, но автор описывает самого себя, прошедшего через испытания, дабы наконец-то ощутить тепло взгляда потерянной некогда матери. Он совершенно забудет польский язык, взращенных при таких обстоятельствах, в которых ему пришлось научиться многому, законопослушному гражданину совершенно бесполезному.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
November 20, 2022
Päris uskumatu ellujäämise lugu. Nii väikese poisina nii vintske ja nutikas olemine tähendab küll toimetulemist misiganes olukorras.
Selle raamatu lugemine ei tekitanud eriti head tunnet, vaid andis pigem kinnitust sellele, kui sügavalt on kinnistunud venelastes platnoikultuur. Mõnda kohta oli siit eriti raske lugeda ja ometi on autor öelnud, et kõige hullematest asjadest ta ei kirjutanudki. Lugedes seda raamatut, kui taustal käib sõda Ukrainas, siis tajud eriti selgelt, et meil on naaber, kelle mentaliteet on püsiv ja kes kannab seda platnoikultuuri edasi põlvest põlve.
Seda raamatut oleks olnud lihtsam lugeda, kui poleks teadmist, et kogu see hullus võib korduda. Või mis võib, see kordubki ju juba.
Selle raamatu lugemine ei tekitanud eriti head tunnet, vaid andis pigem kinnitust sellele, kui sügavalt on kinnistunud venelastes platnoikultuur. Mõnda kohta oli siit eriti raske lugeda ja ometi on autor öelnud, et kõige hullematest asjadest ta ei kirjutanudki. Lugedes seda raamatut, kui taustal käib sõda Ukrainas, siis tajud eriti selgelt, et meil on naaber, kelle mentaliteet on püsiv ja kes kannab seda platnoikultuuri edasi põlvest põlve.
Seda raamatut oleks olnud lihtsam lugeda, kui poleks teadmist, et kogu see hullus võib korduda. Või mis võib, see kordubki ju juba.
August 14, 2022
Небольшая книга, но очень достоверно и живо написанная. Книга-путешествие, "road movie" малолетнего беспризорника, ребенка "врагов народа", бегство в Ленинград из надзорных учреждений. Яркий, личный и звонкий роман и жизни в Советском Союзе времен войны. Кочергин умудряется с какой-то теплотой и ностальгией рассказывать о страшных, диких и смертельно опасных вещах. Книга пышет подростковым задором, духом приключений в мрачной атмосфере военного времени. Отличный роман - немного "блатной романтики", погони и приключения, опасности и схваченный за бороду дух времени. Буду перечитывать, пять баллов.
December 12, 2019
Удивительная история шестилетнего возвращения домой маленького мальчика поездами по Советскому Союзу после ссылки матери в лагеря и расстрела отца НКВД. Ужасное путешествие и очень интересная книга. Неожиданно романтика просачивается сквозь нечеловеческие условия, угрозу жизни и отсутствие еды. Динамический портрет военного и послевоенного СРСР.
May 4, 2021
Очень любопытная книга. Грустная, трогательная и замечательная история, о том, как пацанок с самых ранних лет знакомится с оборотной стороной жизни в сталинском СССР. Калейдоскоп портретов советских людей околовоенной эпохи. Мне книга понравилась.
June 9, 2023
Хорошо. Это первая книга, позволившая мне посмотреть на ссср глазами одинокого ребенка. Подобной книгой обратившей внимание на детей в ссср, была «ночевала тучка золотая», но в ней все же было немного о другом.
January 20, 2017
Read in one breath, the story is really touching and inspiring. Inside you always know your wright way, route by intuition, by instinct. Follow your heart)
September 14, 2021
Детство сына «врагов народа» в руках у любящего государства в период с 1940 по 1950 год. Дорога домой - из детского дома в Сибири до Питера длиною в 10 лет…
September 14, 2021
Просто нет слов! Как мне раньше эта книжка не попалась?.. спасибо Анастасии Завозовой за рекомендацию.
January 9, 2022
Мамонтенок ищет маму в послевоенной России, где государство главный враг, а человеческое сострадание неиссякаемо.
April 28, 2024
"кто вы, люди или товарищи?"
Страшное детство, но с какой легкостью и весельем рассказано!
Страшное детство, но с какой легкостью и весельем рассказано!
January 10, 2018
I normally don't enjoy autobiographies but this book does not read like an autobiography. It reads like a Dickens/Stephenson 19th century orphan adventure novel, set in the cold 1940's USSR. Eduard Kochergin describes his multi-year track across half of Soviet Russia from the cruel Siberian orphanage to his Leningrad home in a quest to find his mom imprisoned as part of a Stalinist purge. (The fact that Kochergin really underwent all this, and ended up a successful theater director is all the more remarkable.) The simple matter-of-fact child-like narration of what in reality was a living hell, makes this a quick and easy read, that does not at all diminish the Herculean challenge of the author's quest. 5 stars
April 20, 2016
Mõnus lugemine. Üsna ränk teekond, mis ühel lapsel tuli läbida, et jõuda oma ema juurde - kuid see kõik on kirja pandud mõnusas võtmes, küll vanema ja kogenenud mehena sellele kõigele vaadates. Kirjanik ise tunnistab, et teoses on ilukirjanduslikke elemente, mis on läbi põimitud reaalse teekonnaga kaugelt Siberist imeilusasse kodulinna Piiterisse. Ei olegi tähtis, kui palju selles on tõde või päriselt seda mis juhtus - oluline on lugu, need hetked, mida autor peab oluliseks ka juba palju elus läbi elanuna ikka ja jälle enda mälus elustada ja kirjapildis taastada.
Lisaks veel päris paras annus tollasest Venemaa ühiskonnast ja pisut ka vene hinge ning suurust, mis teosest läbi kumab.
Lisaks veel päris paras annus tollasest Venemaa ühiskonnast ja pisut ka vene hinge ning suurust, mis teosest läbi kumab.
November 12, 2012
I won this book through first reads, but it was slow in getting to me and then sat at the bottom of my to read pile for a month.
When I picked it up it took a while for me to get in to the story, but the story itself is well told and remarkable ( if indeed a heinous story can be called such). Well written with a large literary focus.
If someone would like to read this book, comment on this review and ill get in touch and send you my copy. It is only fair that the free read is passed to others who may enjoy it.
When I picked it up it took a while for me to get in to the story, but the story itself is well told and remarkable ( if indeed a heinous story can be called such). Well written with a large literary focus.
If someone would like to read this book, comment on this review and ill get in touch and send you my copy. It is only fair that the free read is passed to others who may enjoy it.
November 13, 2012
A Goodreads giveaway that took way too long to get to. I loved the first person point of view of this story, it is admirable that someone who has experienced so much, is able to put his story into words. By honestly admitting that there are many experiences in his past that seemed to have escaped his memory, he makes the experiences he does remember have a greater impact. The complex details that are included make it so evident that Kochergin can vividly remember the events that have lasted in his memories. A great read and yet another that I think teachers could use in the classroom!
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