Red Square Blues

by Kim Traill

In 1990 Kim Traill set off for the former Soviet Union with a smattering of vocabulary a lust for wild adventure and a swag of youthful idealism about the great Communist experiment. It would take some time for the scales to fall from her eyes. Over the next 17 years Kim discovered a Russia few tourists see. She ate some of the world's worst food went to places few of us would venture made good friends and met a lot of seriously dodgy people. On collective farms and on 40-hour train journeys at red carpet parties and in marriage agencies on nuclear bases and in the frozen wastes of Siberia she navigated the country's changing fortunes bearing witness to the horrific events of war nuclear accidents drug and alcohol addiction and ethnic rivalries. She even tried to make herself into a good Russian woman abandoning her uniform of jeans boots and Russian prison coat for heels and a skin-tight dress. Red Square Blues is a full-blooded charge through a crumbling empire as it lurches from dark power to open society and back again. It is an eye-opening portrait of an eternally surprising country leavened with the kind of bone-dry humour only life in a repressive police state can produce.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History, Russia

520 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredicle, sweeping perspective on Russia since the wall came down, yet always pulling back to a personal perspective through the many former USSR citizens the author introduces. The book highlights the glaring differences in political policy between the 90's and the naughties, and how organised crime exploited all resulting weakness for profit without mercy and at any human cost. This also explains why most Russians seem to approve of Putin: as a strong man against the strong men.

A real page-turner, however I feel there is almost TOO much in this book: it could have been split into two volumes quite easily. I found the first half more interesting: the domestic perspective on Gorbachev and Yeltsin, et. al., clarified a lot of startling and curious events I remember seeing on TV that didn't seem to make any sense at the time. Essential reading for anyone looking to understand the contemporary society of all the peoples between St Petersburg and Vladivostok.

[DJ Sandals · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect insight of life in Russia. A unique perspective of daily life in Russia before, during and after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Shines a light on extremely compelling, yet otherwise ignored features of the region, with a bit of personal narrative thrown in to make any biases well known.

My only criticism is that the ending of the book perhaps could've been wrapped up a chapter or two sooner.

If you know nothing of Russia (like me), then don't waste your time reading about the pre-revolution elites, this is the perfect place to start.

[DJ Sandals · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect insight of life in Russia. A unique perspective of daily life in Russia before, during and after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Shines a light on extremely compelling, yet otherwise ignored features of the region, with a bit of personal narrative thrown in to make any biases well known.

My only criticism is that the ending of the book perhaps could've been wrapped up a chapter or two sooner.

If you know nothing of Russia (like me), then don't waste your time reading about the pre-revolution elites, this is the perfect place to start.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great and interesting book. One of my favourites and my second time reading it!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an interesting read. Having finished it I'm not sure what was more disheartening. Life in Soviet Russia or life in the new "democratic" Russia.

Soviet Russia wasn't so bad, there was no food in the supermarkets but at least everybody could afford it.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good memoir and recent history / current affairs book on Russia. I wouldn't normally read this kind of book, but I entered a competition and won. I have a vested interest in Eastern Europe and was fascinated to read about the fall of communism in Russia and the mayhem that followed. Very interesting and easy to reading. My only gripe is that sometimes I forgot how Kim knew certain people but that didn't detract from the story.

[Timothy James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. The author (Kim Traill) was in the right place (Soviet Union) at the right time (1989). And also the right person... Continually making adventurous decisions to explore the country, get around and live life with local people.

A fascinating balance of epic history and personal stories. Some heart breaking stories told from different phases of Russian history. Some small glimmers of hope in there as well.

[Velvetink]

1 of 20 books for $10.