The Red Fog: A Memoir of Life in the Soviet Union

by Lilija Zarina, Gunna Dickson (Translator)

As a teenager during World War II, author Lilija "Lita" Zarina's idyllic life of perfumed soaps, shelves full of books, and carefree parties explodes into irretrievable pieces after a Soviet bomb strikes her family's property in Latvia. The Russian army demands the surrender of passports, radios, and typewriters, destroys books, and changes the local language and street signs. Independent thinking is discouraged and success is guaranteed for those who denounce God, family, and country to serve the Communist Party.Separated from her parents, Lita studies medicine at the University of Latvia and dreams of the day she can afford a decent meal. She earns a doctorate of medicine in 1950, but even a doctor's monthly salary is not enough to buy a substandard pair of shoes. Lita's trusting nature leads her into a bad marriage and makes her easy prey for a handsome but highly unscrupulous man. Ultimately, chance meetings, unlikely alliances, and unexpected developments come together to facilitate her escape from the suffocating red fog of communism.A cautionary tale for anyone who cherishes freedom, The Red Fog is a memoir of one woman's life behind the Iron Curtain that explores how political oppression dehumanizes people, while fear renders them silent and helpless.

222 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2006

Reviews

[Sintija Meijere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autobiogrāfisks stāsts par jaunas meitenes dzīvi II Pasaules kara beigās Jelgavā, studiju uzsākšanu Rīgā un pieaugšanu/dzīvi/izdzīvošanu Padomju okupācijā pēckara gados.
Ļoti patika! Iesaku, ja patīk romāni par mūsu pašu vēsturi.

[Kristiāna K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Izcils personisks stāsts par padomju okupācijas sākuma gadiem Latvijā. Lai arī par šo laiku lasīts daudz, joprojām šokē režīma absurds un cilvēku liekulība, ļaunums, pērkamība, spēja nodot, vulgaritāte, tāpēc nav brīnums, ka daudz ko no tā sabiedrībā nevaram izskaust vēl šodien. Cieņu izraisa autores atklātība un stingrā ticība Latvijas neatkarībai. Žēl, ka šis ir vienīgais Lilijas Zariņas darbs, jo labprāt vēlētos lasīt vēl. Autore norādījusi, ka viņasprāt, nav apveltīta ar rakstniecības talantu, tomēr aizraujošais vēstījums liecina par ko citu.

[Aloiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first look I thought:"This is gonna be some anti-communist stuff," and I was totally right. Not saying that this is something bad, it just looks, that there were no Nazis in Latvia at all, and USSR forces was the only one occupant in WW2. It just seems, that writer didn't wanted to bring up some memories about German invasion, or she was somewhere out at that time.
Sometimes story feels too disconnected and you will be left with unanswered questions. Many questions. I think, it's worth to mention that there are no year references at all - you just have to guess.
The pros are simple language and easy understanding - you don't have to live in Latvia to understand what and where is going on something.
So, after all, this bio isn't the best - it's too one-sided. If I wasn't Latvian, I probably wouldn't read this book.

[Māra Vimba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaut arī 40 gadus nodzīvoju PSRS, sākot lasīt likās - pārspīlēts, bet tā nav, tā tiešām viss arī bija. Kad autore aizbrauca no PSRS, sākās manas skolas gaitas tieši tādos pat ideoloģiskajos žņaugos. Tikai mums, piedzimušajiem jau padomju laikā, kaut kādā ziņā bija vieglāk pieņemt to divējādo dzīvi, kā arī mēs jau neko labāku nebijām redzējuši , tikai dzirdējuši no vecākiem, cik nu viņi varēja, neriskējot, pastāstīt, kā bija dzīvot brīvā valstī. Tikai pamazām, sabrūkot PSRS, varējām uzzināt, kas īsti ar Latviju ir noticis un cik sarežģīta bijusi tās vēsture 2 okupācijās. Aiz dzelzs priekškara nebija arī nekādas info par pārējo pasauli. Autorei citādāk, viņa uz PSRS režīmu skatījās, nokļūstot vienā mirklī demokrātiskā iekārtā un kad rakstīja grāmatu, PSRS vēl bija tālu no sabrukuma.

[Sera · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like Animal Farm, except with people. This was a fascinating story, but it was clear the author was glossing over parts, such as her bad marriage. There were also so many names and places that it was hard to keep track of anyone. She didn't explain some parts very well, and I wish she had written a little more about what happened to her after she escaped the Soviet Union, but overall, it was a good read.