Name: Laura's review of Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey
Item: Bears in the Streets
Rating: 5
Author: Laura

Lisa Dickey

Lisa Dickey traveled across the whole of Russia three times—in 1995, 2005 and 2015—making friends in eleven different cities, then coming back again and again to see how their lives had changed. Like the acclaimed British documentary series Seven Up!, she traces the ups and downs of ordinary people’s lives, in the process painting a deeply nuanced portrait of modern Russia. From the caretakers of a lighthouse in Vladivostok, to the Jewish community of Birobidzhan, to a farmer in Buryatia, to a group of gay friends in Novosibirsk, to a wealthy “New Russian” family in Chelyabinsk, to a rap star in Moscow, Dickey profiles a wide cross-section of people in one of the most fascinating, dynamic and important countries on Earth. Along the way, she explores dramatic changes in everything from technology to social norms, drinks copious amounts of vodka, and learns firsthand how the Russians really feel about Vladimir Putin. Including powerful photographs of people and places over time, and filled with wacky travel stories, unexpected twists, and keen insights, Bears in the Streets offers an unprecedented on-the-ground view of Russia today.

Three Journeys Across a Changing Russia

Bears in the Streets

Laura

I hate writing nonfiction reviews. What's more, I hate writing reviews for nonfiction books I like. Because I genuinely enjoyed this novel and I have no idea what to say about it. 

It was a smartly written, entertaining novel about the everyday people of Russia, told through the perspective of a remarkably unbiased American woman. I picked it up primarily because I'm a russophile, and the summary intrigued me. I was curious to see how Russia evolved in modern times, especially since most of what I've read about Russia is primarily from the modern times. In some ways, it reminded me of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and a lot of The Tsar of Love and Techno, especially the parts about the Chechen war. 

While I don't know if I'd be as attracted to this novel if it wasn't about Russia, it did, kind of unexpectedly, satisfy the observer in me. The person who is fascinated by other people and the different lives other people live, especially those so radically different than my own. It reminded me of why I love books like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil- the crime in that book is fascinating, but what interests me more is the people Berendt comes across. It's the same thing that always draws me to blogs and YouTube channels and the like. I just like knowing how other people live.

Continue reading this review on my blog here: https://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/2...

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Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey

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Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey