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Each year at Christmas I go to the bookstore and buy myself a book I‘ve never heard of before. This is my 2019 book. I hope it‘s good! #elfies #wintergames #festivetradition

A really interesting look at Russian culture and history. The whole thing was a bit soul destroying though. 'Big hearted, warm and witty' said someone on the back cover. For me it was just a sad book about a terrible country. A timely read as we watch our freedoms in America dissolve into a more Soviet version of capitalism.

Loved the writing and was fascinated by the main character‘s life in Moscow. One of my favorites of the March ToB short list so far. I don‘t even know which book won yet. After I get through the list, I‘ll go back and read the results. Better late than never! #ToB

One of the books lingering on my stack at home from the Tournament of Books long list, A Terrible Country is the story of Andrei, an ABD in Russian Studies in 2008 just as universities are cutting Russian Studies programs and his job and romance prospects are bleak. His brother asks him to return to Russia to care for their grandmother, and that's where the story begins.

Next time someone tells me I‘m biased against books by white men, I‘ll remind them that I adore books like this one in a hands-shaking, breath catching in throat way when writers work THIS hard to show me a heart wrenching picture of immigration, age (for countries and people), relationships and how they fade (for countries and people), history and what it‘s like to want to be a better person and not be sure how. Smashed my expectations. #tob2019

Hi guys! I‘ve been a bit silent recently, I was in oxford celebrating my birthday this weekend (actual bday is Wednesday but I wanted to do it at the weekend). I‘ve had a great time but now I‘m tired and hungover and ready to curl up and read!

I‘m nearly halfway through but this one and it‘s really taking my breath away! I‘ve seen mixed reviews but I don‘t really see how it could disappoint me now

My February finishes—what can I say, it‘s a short month! They were all good but Terrible Country was my favorite. #tob2019 #bookclub

Free lunch in the middle of a v hectic day at work, nice to get a couple of pages in. This book is really something special!

Next up, the last book I plan to read from the #tob2019 list! There are 2 that I can‘t get on audio or ebook and I can‘t afford to buy paper copies 😞 I‘m very pleased to be in a position to get through al the ones I could afford before it starts tho

Oof! I did a terrible job on the image for this one. Andrei was imperfect and I‘m not changing it as I think he‘d approve.

Suddenly bawling on my #audiowalk and not just because of the weather

Still loving this relatively uneventful tale of a new adult living with his grandmother in Moscow #Russia

There are two hummingbirds frolicking and it is the loveliest privilege to watch them fly. #audiowalk

Very interesting sky on tonight‘s #audiowalk

A Terrible Country is my first audiobook of 2019. It takes awhile to get going, but Ari Fliakos‘ fantastic narration kept me interested. After a few hours, I began to like the story more. I didn‘t realize how much I liked it until it was almost over. A Terrible Country is about everyday life in modern day Russia, and while that may not seem all that interesting, I was quite invested by the end of the book. Overall rating: 4.49 stars.

Enjoying a few minutes reading before the day gets going. Tarzan is always willing to join me. #CatsofLitsy

This novel, about a man who returns to Russia to care for his Grandmother, is wonderful so far.

Current day Russia is interesting, but the white man whining is unbearable.
#tob.

50 pages in and we still haven‘t gotten as far as the second paragraph on the cover blurb. 🙄🙄 Nope.

Not great reviews here on Litsy, so we will see how far I get. 😂

I don‘t know how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was a crash course on Russia and Russian culture in the context of the 2008 financial crisis and a magnificent story but on the other hand, it was a tedious boring overwritten plot. I guess they‘re not mutually exclusive, though. Doesn‘t help me figure out how I feel but it wasn‘t terrible. Keep it on your radar but not necessarily a can‘t miss and get it today kind of book.

🎉🎉🎉

Several reviews I‘ve seen about this book call it charming and delightful. But for me, it was just meh. #netgalley #netgalleyTBRattack

Coming in July—I am halfway through this one and enjoying it immensely. It is funny, heartwarming, and very insightful.