What do you think?
Rate this book
Swimming in the Daylight: An American Student, a Soviet-Jewish Dissident, and the Gift of Hope
There is always some part of the world where human rights are trampled and oppression quashes the human spirit. In the 1980s, it was the Soviet Union. In Swimming in the Daylight , Lisa Paul, a Catholic-American student living in Moscow in the early ’80s, details how she grew to understand the perverse reality of the pre-Gorbachev Soviet regime as her friendship with her Russian-language tutor, Inna Kitrosskaya Meiman, blossomed. Inna, a Soviet-Jewish dissident and refusenik, was repeatedly denied a visa to receive life-saving cancer treatment abroad. The refusal was an apparent punishment imposed on both her and her Jewish husband, Naum, for his participation in the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group—the lone group fighting for human rights in the U.S.S.R.
Before Lisa returned to the United States, she promised Inna she would do all she could to get her out of Moscow. But Lisa was one person, what could she possibly do that would make a difference? Inspired by her faith and rights as an American, Lisa staged a hunger strike, held press conferences, and galvanized American politicians to demand Inna’s immediate release.
In this heartfelt, compassionate, and inspiring narrative, Lisa brings the reader along with her as she learns indelible lessons from her heroic teacher. Inna’s greatest lesson—that it is possible to swim through treacherous waters, in daylight, not in despair—is as relevant today as it was during the final years of the Soviet regime. At a time when international strife seems insurmountable and worries at home seem to paralyze, this story will teach people everywhere that it is the courage inside, not the chaos outside, that defines us.
Before Lisa returned to the United States, she promised Inna she would do all she could to get her out of Moscow. But Lisa was one person, what could she possibly do that would make a difference? Inspired by her faith and rights as an American, Lisa staged a hunger strike, held press conferences, and galvanized American politicians to demand Inna’s immediate release.
In this heartfelt, compassionate, and inspiring narrative, Lisa brings the reader along with her as she learns indelible lessons from her heroic teacher. Inna’s greatest lesson—that it is possible to swim through treacherous waters, in daylight, not in despair—is as relevant today as it was during the final years of the Soviet regime. At a time when international strife seems insurmountable and worries at home seem to paralyze, this story will teach people everywhere that it is the courage inside, not the chaos outside, that defines us.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2011
9 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Lisa C. Paul
1 book3 followersLisa C. Paul was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, in 1962, and moved to Appleton, Wisconsin, when she was four. She is a 1980 graduate of Appleton West High School.
She first traveled to the Soviet Union in 1982 as part of a Soviet Studies semester during her sophomore year in college. A year later, she returned to Moscow to work as a nanny for an American family. She lived there from 1983 to 1985, just before Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and ushered in an era of openness and political reforms.
Lisa graduated with a major in Russian Area Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1986, and then she moved to Washington, D.C., to work on a landmark conference on U.S.-Soviet relations. After the conference, she worked for the American Committee on U.S.-Soviet Relations, and then decided to pursue a career in law.
She returned to her home state of Wisconsin in 1990 to attend Marquette University Law School. Lisa is currently a civil litigation attorney in Milwaukee, where she lives with her husband, Ross Puppe; their two daughters, Catherine, age 12, and Jamie, age six; and their dog Rascal.
She first traveled to the Soviet Union in 1982 as part of a Soviet Studies semester during her sophomore year in college. A year later, she returned to Moscow to work as a nanny for an American family. She lived there from 1983 to 1985, just before Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and ushered in an era of openness and political reforms.
Lisa graduated with a major in Russian Area Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1986, and then she moved to Washington, D.C., to work on a landmark conference on U.S.-Soviet relations. After the conference, she worked for the American Committee on U.S.-Soviet Relations, and then decided to pursue a career in law.
She returned to her home state of Wisconsin in 1990 to attend Marquette University Law School. Lisa is currently a civil litigation attorney in Milwaukee, where she lives with her husband, Ross Puppe; their two daughters, Catherine, age 12, and Jamie, age six; and their dog Rascal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 28, 2014
Swimming in the Daylight: Lisa C. Paul
A vacuum is defined as an enclosed space from which matter, especially air, and has been partially removed so that the matter or gas remaining in the space exerts less pressure than the atmosphere. An empty space devoid of matter creating the absence of human contact, air, almost like being sent down into a black hole can make a person feel more than just constricted. Imagine living your life within this vacuum. A room whose walls are devoid of anything, painted white, sound proofed so that no one can hear your thoughts when spoken or listen as you take a breath. Imagine spending time speaking out and wanting to express your thoughts but they fall on deaf walls or you might say deaf ears. Hitler was a monster and what he did to the Jewish people cannot be forgiven or forgotten. What the SS officers did as they followed his orders and you might say did his bidding in a gruesome, violent and horrific manner, pales in comparison to what some are enduring even today at the hands of officials who play havoc and God with people’s lives. Lisa Paul was a young college student in the 1980’s who decided to leave her home in the Midwest and find a place for herself in a country whose rules and mores were anything that its citizens could deal with and whose primary goal was to instill hate, fear and compliance. Lisa Paul decided to leave school and take a job as a nanny in Moscow. Leaving her family, much to the chagrin of her mother but with the support of her father, she decided to take a chance, follow her dream and learn about a country filled with such disharmony, disrespect for its citizens and a caste system that makes India’s pale in comparison.
Lisa Paul has an indestructible will and determination when she believes in an issue, cause and a person. As the story opens we meet Lisa as she begins her journey, meets many new friends and has yet to find her way to the Russian teacher who would change the course of many lives forever. Swimming in the Daylight tells the story of a nation that hinders its people, denies them basic human rights and human dignities and finds pleasure in demeaning, faulting and placing dissidents and anyone who dares to speak out against the beliefs of the government, wants to pray and practice a religion or even emigrate to another country finding themselves jailed, imprisoned, beaten, or sent to internal exile or worse.
Lisa wants to learn more about Russia and to speak the language more fluently. With the help of Inna Kitrosskaya Meiman she hoped to succeed. But, payment would be unusual and not in a monetary fashion as many Russians wanted American items as simple as Nescafe coffee or even special chocolates or teas which they could not even think about getting on their own. Added in they are limited to what the government allows them to watch, read in papers or even what books are allowed in their homes. Imagine what happens when the soldiers or police come into your home and take everything that matters to you because they can! Swimming in the Daylight hopes to raise awareness for not only those living the nightmare back in the 1980’s but for those living it today. The friendship that formed, the bond that Lisa and Inna had would never be broken even in death. Russian officials did not hear the words of those that cried for help. They did not care about the welfare of their people. Living in Russia before the end of the Soviet Union came to pass, Lisa Paul takes readers back in time to allow them a first hand account of Inna’s story. A woman that taught English for so many years, penned and authored many titles and was internationally known and denied more than just the right to emigrate to another country. Inna had a tumor in the back of her neck and it needed further treatment that could not be provided by the doctors in Russia. With many other countries offering services, help and transportation to their medical facilities, all that stood in her way was a simple Visa. Asking for the Visa to emigrate to another country caused her to be labeled a Refusenik and caste aside as if she no longer existed. Medical treatment that would save her life was denied each step of the way and every time she asked for her freedom she was denied.
Lisa talks about her roots and being raised in a country founded on the value of importance of the individual, self-reliance and freedom of expression all denied to those living in the Soviet Union. As you hear the officials, read the many letters, feel the frustration, anger and meet those that were part of her other Russian life you will come to know Daphne, Andrei, Volodya, Natasha and Uvol and the true meaning of friendship, trust, distrust, fear and what happens when you have to watch your words because you never know who might be listening in. But, Lisa had many hard decisions to make and some required that she access the help and advice of others. Gary a young nineteen year old worked in the black market and fear that he might be conscripted. Rather than land within the jail or prisons he managed to wind up in a mental hospital careful to adhere to their rules, say what they wanted to hear and hopefully escape the worst. Many who went against the government’s ideologies or dared to speak out were sent to these hospitals, jailed, and placed in internal exile or worse. But, an incident as simple as borrowing a book would bring to light just how confined, defined and paranoid the Russian’s made their citizens. Lisa’s friend Galya’s mother borrowed a book to read and then left it somewhere and prayed that someone would be able to replace it before someone realized it was missing. Working at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences, she was responsible for reviewing written “material by authors in the West.: in plain terms: Censorship. Bringing home a George Orwell book created a frenzy because she was excited to read it but forgetting it and leaving it unattended would cause her to be fired, lose her home and more if not replaced. With a government that prided itself on controlling the thoughts, words and actions of those living in the Soviet Union, imagine what would happen if they learned about the missing book. Soviet Laws many stated were made for the government to control or ruin our lives. Getting to know Inna during their lessons she reflects on what Lisa needed to understand. What would she do if she could not walk freely or read what she wanted and live wherever she chose? How do you live in a vacuum and how do you live devoid of being allowed to think?
The hardest thing to come by was the most coveted and that was a Visa either to enter Russia or to leave as Lisa’s mother finally was granted one to come and visit and meet her friends. The Soviet Government’s assurance that she received the visa Lisa stated was an important lesson about Soviet bureaucracy and much more.
Wives denied visits when family members were arrested and some never saw them ever again as the author relates the story of one woman named Larisa and her husband Anatoly. Aptly put: The world is an organ, and the Soviet Union is the cancer within that organ. Perfectly said!
Lisa’s goal was to find a way to help Inna and every day of her life spent in Moscow and the months after retuning home, were dedicated to her studies, graduating college and keeping her promise to her friend, mentor and herself to find a way to give Inna her freedom and the right to recover. Media hype, an interview with a reputable reporter before leaving Moscow, and lots of prayer paved the way she hoped for Inna. Promises made to help others left behind but each refusal, red tape and these denials would weaken her physically but never dampen her spirits. Medical treatments so many were denied at the hands of those so cruel and unfeeling. Nothing would turn her sunlight into a stormy night. How far would you go to help a friend stay alive? How far would you go to make sure the world knew what you planned and you were doing it for a cause to save someone’s life? Naum was a member and participated in the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group fighting for human rights in the U.S.S.R. For that reason he was punished and denied his visa each time he requested it. Would he be allowed to attend her funeral if she died? As her husband he had no rights according to the government.
Would you go on a 25- day hunger strike to make a point? Press conference, media hype, an interview with Inna before she left for America with an America reporter, senators, major networks and more wanting to communicate the message but in the end would it help? American politicians rally to the cause and so many revered Lisa for what she was about to do. With the support of her parents and her family she realized that she had a long and hard road ahead of her and going on a hunger strike required that she do it in increments. What would happen to the tapes and would they find their way to the United States and be aired?
Within the center of this book the author includes photos of herself, her mother, Inna, Naum and many of the people that she met. An important article titled: Opinion sums up what Lisa was about to do, her reason for the Hunger Strike and the timeline of events that prevented Inna from coming to America. For 12 years they tried and in vain to come here. U.S. senators, media, the voices of powerful Americans, first lady Nancy Reagan, Gary Hart, and many others were approached as the impossible never seemed to ever happen until it finally did!
Speaking engagements during and after her hunger strike, meetings, television interviews and making the world aware of Inna’s plight still did not soften the hearts of those that would allow her to be free. Soviet Jews were mistreated and cancer patients were denied medical help but when Inna finally receives the green light she promises to help those left behind. Chapter 23 was the turning point and as you read this chapter and feel the heavy curtain rise and maybe the iron will fall down and allow Inna to come here and live, it lifts just so far but not far enough. Read the many letters between Inna and Lisa and many others. Hear the voices of support and finally watch the plane land as Lisa greets her friend. Can you swim in the darkness and lift its black veil and bring out the sunlight? Can you find the courage to fight for yourself because you just want to live? Can you forgive those that denied you so much and yet embrace so little? Inna Meiman fought for human dignity and human rights not just for her but for others too. Read her story, hear her voice and shed her tears. There are no winners or losers just fighters filled with determination, courage and the will to survive. This is one story that everyone should read because it is still happening as we speak today.
Told from the heart and in Lisa’s own words: Swimming in the Daylight lifts the dark clouds from sky during the darkest days.
Fran Lewis: reviewer
A vacuum is defined as an enclosed space from which matter, especially air, and has been partially removed so that the matter or gas remaining in the space exerts less pressure than the atmosphere. An empty space devoid of matter creating the absence of human contact, air, almost like being sent down into a black hole can make a person feel more than just constricted. Imagine living your life within this vacuum. A room whose walls are devoid of anything, painted white, sound proofed so that no one can hear your thoughts when spoken or listen as you take a breath. Imagine spending time speaking out and wanting to express your thoughts but they fall on deaf walls or you might say deaf ears. Hitler was a monster and what he did to the Jewish people cannot be forgiven or forgotten. What the SS officers did as they followed his orders and you might say did his bidding in a gruesome, violent and horrific manner, pales in comparison to what some are enduring even today at the hands of officials who play havoc and God with people’s lives. Lisa Paul was a young college student in the 1980’s who decided to leave her home in the Midwest and find a place for herself in a country whose rules and mores were anything that its citizens could deal with and whose primary goal was to instill hate, fear and compliance. Lisa Paul decided to leave school and take a job as a nanny in Moscow. Leaving her family, much to the chagrin of her mother but with the support of her father, she decided to take a chance, follow her dream and learn about a country filled with such disharmony, disrespect for its citizens and a caste system that makes India’s pale in comparison.
Lisa Paul has an indestructible will and determination when she believes in an issue, cause and a person. As the story opens we meet Lisa as she begins her journey, meets many new friends and has yet to find her way to the Russian teacher who would change the course of many lives forever. Swimming in the Daylight tells the story of a nation that hinders its people, denies them basic human rights and human dignities and finds pleasure in demeaning, faulting and placing dissidents and anyone who dares to speak out against the beliefs of the government, wants to pray and practice a religion or even emigrate to another country finding themselves jailed, imprisoned, beaten, or sent to internal exile or worse.
Lisa wants to learn more about Russia and to speak the language more fluently. With the help of Inna Kitrosskaya Meiman she hoped to succeed. But, payment would be unusual and not in a monetary fashion as many Russians wanted American items as simple as Nescafe coffee or even special chocolates or teas which they could not even think about getting on their own. Added in they are limited to what the government allows them to watch, read in papers or even what books are allowed in their homes. Imagine what happens when the soldiers or police come into your home and take everything that matters to you because they can! Swimming in the Daylight hopes to raise awareness for not only those living the nightmare back in the 1980’s but for those living it today. The friendship that formed, the bond that Lisa and Inna had would never be broken even in death. Russian officials did not hear the words of those that cried for help. They did not care about the welfare of their people. Living in Russia before the end of the Soviet Union came to pass, Lisa Paul takes readers back in time to allow them a first hand account of Inna’s story. A woman that taught English for so many years, penned and authored many titles and was internationally known and denied more than just the right to emigrate to another country. Inna had a tumor in the back of her neck and it needed further treatment that could not be provided by the doctors in Russia. With many other countries offering services, help and transportation to their medical facilities, all that stood in her way was a simple Visa. Asking for the Visa to emigrate to another country caused her to be labeled a Refusenik and caste aside as if she no longer existed. Medical treatment that would save her life was denied each step of the way and every time she asked for her freedom she was denied.
Lisa talks about her roots and being raised in a country founded on the value of importance of the individual, self-reliance and freedom of expression all denied to those living in the Soviet Union. As you hear the officials, read the many letters, feel the frustration, anger and meet those that were part of her other Russian life you will come to know Daphne, Andrei, Volodya, Natasha and Uvol and the true meaning of friendship, trust, distrust, fear and what happens when you have to watch your words because you never know who might be listening in. But, Lisa had many hard decisions to make and some required that she access the help and advice of others. Gary a young nineteen year old worked in the black market and fear that he might be conscripted. Rather than land within the jail or prisons he managed to wind up in a mental hospital careful to adhere to their rules, say what they wanted to hear and hopefully escape the worst. Many who went against the government’s ideologies or dared to speak out were sent to these hospitals, jailed, and placed in internal exile or worse. But, an incident as simple as borrowing a book would bring to light just how confined, defined and paranoid the Russian’s made their citizens. Lisa’s friend Galya’s mother borrowed a book to read and then left it somewhere and prayed that someone would be able to replace it before someone realized it was missing. Working at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences, she was responsible for reviewing written “material by authors in the West.: in plain terms: Censorship. Bringing home a George Orwell book created a frenzy because she was excited to read it but forgetting it and leaving it unattended would cause her to be fired, lose her home and more if not replaced. With a government that prided itself on controlling the thoughts, words and actions of those living in the Soviet Union, imagine what would happen if they learned about the missing book. Soviet Laws many stated were made for the government to control or ruin our lives. Getting to know Inna during their lessons she reflects on what Lisa needed to understand. What would she do if she could not walk freely or read what she wanted and live wherever she chose? How do you live in a vacuum and how do you live devoid of being allowed to think?
The hardest thing to come by was the most coveted and that was a Visa either to enter Russia or to leave as Lisa’s mother finally was granted one to come and visit and meet her friends. The Soviet Government’s assurance that she received the visa Lisa stated was an important lesson about Soviet bureaucracy and much more.
Wives denied visits when family members were arrested and some never saw them ever again as the author relates the story of one woman named Larisa and her husband Anatoly. Aptly put: The world is an organ, and the Soviet Union is the cancer within that organ. Perfectly said!
Lisa’s goal was to find a way to help Inna and every day of her life spent in Moscow and the months after retuning home, were dedicated to her studies, graduating college and keeping her promise to her friend, mentor and herself to find a way to give Inna her freedom and the right to recover. Media hype, an interview with a reputable reporter before leaving Moscow, and lots of prayer paved the way she hoped for Inna. Promises made to help others left behind but each refusal, red tape and these denials would weaken her physically but never dampen her spirits. Medical treatments so many were denied at the hands of those so cruel and unfeeling. Nothing would turn her sunlight into a stormy night. How far would you go to help a friend stay alive? How far would you go to make sure the world knew what you planned and you were doing it for a cause to save someone’s life? Naum was a member and participated in the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group fighting for human rights in the U.S.S.R. For that reason he was punished and denied his visa each time he requested it. Would he be allowed to attend her funeral if she died? As her husband he had no rights according to the government.
Would you go on a 25- day hunger strike to make a point? Press conference, media hype, an interview with Inna before she left for America with an America reporter, senators, major networks and more wanting to communicate the message but in the end would it help? American politicians rally to the cause and so many revered Lisa for what she was about to do. With the support of her parents and her family she realized that she had a long and hard road ahead of her and going on a hunger strike required that she do it in increments. What would happen to the tapes and would they find their way to the United States and be aired?
Within the center of this book the author includes photos of herself, her mother, Inna, Naum and many of the people that she met. An important article titled: Opinion sums up what Lisa was about to do, her reason for the Hunger Strike and the timeline of events that prevented Inna from coming to America. For 12 years they tried and in vain to come here. U.S. senators, media, the voices of powerful Americans, first lady Nancy Reagan, Gary Hart, and many others were approached as the impossible never seemed to ever happen until it finally did!
Speaking engagements during and after her hunger strike, meetings, television interviews and making the world aware of Inna’s plight still did not soften the hearts of those that would allow her to be free. Soviet Jews were mistreated and cancer patients were denied medical help but when Inna finally receives the green light she promises to help those left behind. Chapter 23 was the turning point and as you read this chapter and feel the heavy curtain rise and maybe the iron will fall down and allow Inna to come here and live, it lifts just so far but not far enough. Read the many letters between Inna and Lisa and many others. Hear the voices of support and finally watch the plane land as Lisa greets her friend. Can you swim in the darkness and lift its black veil and bring out the sunlight? Can you find the courage to fight for yourself because you just want to live? Can you forgive those that denied you so much and yet embrace so little? Inna Meiman fought for human dignity and human rights not just for her but for others too. Read her story, hear her voice and shed her tears. There are no winners or losers just fighters filled with determination, courage and the will to survive. This is one story that everyone should read because it is still happening as we speak today.
Told from the heart and in Lisa’s own words: Swimming in the Daylight lifts the dark clouds from sky during the darkest days.
Fran Lewis: reviewer
December 14, 2022
Paul has only written one book and is not an author by trade; this is noticeable in her writing style. However, for readers who hold little interest in and limited knowledge about the Soviet Union, Paul’s writing makes the topic approachable and easy to absorb. Although the writing itself is nothing special, Lisa Paul’s story is inspiring.
Paul’s unique situation provides an interesting insight into the situation in Moscow during that time, from the perspective of someone who was outside of the true restrictions of the soviet regime. Throughout the entire novel, the reader is certain that some kind of happy ending will conclude the tale - an atmosphere that is understandably not present in a lot of books written about that time. Paul’s determination and hope is carried on those pages with as much fervour, as I imagine she must carry in her heart. Paul’s perspective is unique and provides for a simple, yet interesting read.
Paul’s unique situation provides an interesting insight into the situation in Moscow during that time, from the perspective of someone who was outside of the true restrictions of the soviet regime. Throughout the entire novel, the reader is certain that some kind of happy ending will conclude the tale - an atmosphere that is understandably not present in a lot of books written about that time. Paul’s determination and hope is carried on those pages with as much fervour, as I imagine she must carry in her heart. Paul’s perspective is unique and provides for a simple, yet interesting read.
February 8, 2015
When Wisconsin college student, Lisa Paul embarked on a journey to the Soviet Union to take a position working as nanny with an American diplomatic family, she had no idea the impact that trip would have. Wanting to immerse herself in Russian language and culture as part of earning her degree, Lisa spent two years in Moscow and experienced firsthand the oppressive government as well as gaining insight into how the general populace coped. Lisa developed a close circle of Russian friends including language tutor Inna Kitrosskaya Meiman who had been struggling to obtain a visa in order to receive a better level of treatment for her cancer. Despite maiming surgeries that did little to stop the cancer, Inna was repeatedly denied a travel visa even when offered free treatment in European clinics, thus she became a Refusenik. Because Inna’s husband dared take what was viewed as a controversial stand, Soviet bureaucracy chose to punish him by forcing his wife to suffer a slow, painful death while denying the existence of Refuseniks, claiming instead that no one wished to leave the country.
Inna’s indomitable spirit and grace in the face of such hardship had a profound effect on Lisa who made it her mission to get Inna the treatment she so desperately needed as well as champion the cause of other Refuseniks. Once home, Lisa pursued every media avenue she could think of in order to bring Inna’s plight into the public eye and when that didn’t gain the desired results, she undertook a month long hunger strike. Eventually, Inna was granted a visa to the United States although her husband was forced to remain behind. Unfortunately, by then the cancer was too far advanced to be effectively treated and Inna died while still in the U.S. Inna’s death hit Lisa extremely hard but before too long, she continued tirelessly working for humanitarian causes and giving a voice to those silenced by oppressive regimes.
Set in the 1980’s, this warm, truly heartfelt story shows how one person can indeed change at least a small part of the world and reminds readers of the conditions endured by the Russian people. The deep bond of friendship between Lisa and Inna shines throughout while the fate of some of her other Russian friends is cause for tears, especially when something as simple as an unposted letter has tragic consequences. Lisa reminds readers that stifling governmental policies and strict control over every facet of citizens’ lives is not limited to the Soviet Union and that each of us can choose to make a difference. While not a fast moving read, this nonfiction account will hold your interest while providing a rare inside look at pre-glasnost Russia.
Inna’s indomitable spirit and grace in the face of such hardship had a profound effect on Lisa who made it her mission to get Inna the treatment she so desperately needed as well as champion the cause of other Refuseniks. Once home, Lisa pursued every media avenue she could think of in order to bring Inna’s plight into the public eye and when that didn’t gain the desired results, she undertook a month long hunger strike. Eventually, Inna was granted a visa to the United States although her husband was forced to remain behind. Unfortunately, by then the cancer was too far advanced to be effectively treated and Inna died while still in the U.S. Inna’s death hit Lisa extremely hard but before too long, she continued tirelessly working for humanitarian causes and giving a voice to those silenced by oppressive regimes.
Set in the 1980’s, this warm, truly heartfelt story shows how one person can indeed change at least a small part of the world and reminds readers of the conditions endured by the Russian people. The deep bond of friendship between Lisa and Inna shines throughout while the fate of some of her other Russian friends is cause for tears, especially when something as simple as an unposted letter has tragic consequences. Lisa reminds readers that stifling governmental policies and strict control over every facet of citizens’ lives is not limited to the Soviet Union and that each of us can choose to make a difference. While not a fast moving read, this nonfiction account will hold your interest while providing a rare inside look at pre-glasnost Russia.
May 2, 2011
My reaction to this book might be unfairly biased because I met and interviewed the author, wrote an article about the book, and attended a signing before reading the book. Having been so impressed in advance, I expected to be even more impressed when I started reading, and I'm afraid I wasn't. I was distracted by other reading assignments and I put this book aside for a while and finished something else I had started first before I finally finished this one. I had to go back and reread sections to remind myself who all the various characters were and how they related to each other. I guess memoir just isn't my favorite genre. The story is much better than the writing. Since the author's not really a literary writer (but an attorney), I knew how it would end before I began, and I read it in spurts, it was harder for me to get as excited as I usually get about books, but it got better toward the end, and I'm glad I read it.
January 21, 2012
Lisa Paul did a wonderful thing. She befriends a woman dying of cancer in Russia, and upon her return to America endures a controlled hunger strike to enable her cause to be acknowledged and enables the woman (Enna) to be given permission to leave Russia for treatment. We get to know Enna and her struggles. But ( in my view) Lisa is reporting what happened, not exploring the lives of those she met, not enabling us to feel a connection with the people she met. She spoke about marrying Volodra to enable him to leave Russia, then the subject is dropped. She speaks of the imprisonment of the Russian youth, but does not show the despair or hopelessness. What about the Joan and Paul Smith (for whom she is a nanny)? She writes nothing about their feelings or concerns with living in Russia. Lisa is a reporter, humanitarian, but not a great novelist.
June 7, 2013
I couldn't put this down. Lisa is my friend and I loved reading her words. I could hear her voice in my head as I read this. This must have truly been a labor of love for her, a way to keep her friend alive in her own heart and now in the hearts of all her readers. I have always considered myself lucky to count Lisa amongst my friends, now more than ever! What an incredible story to have been a part of.
October 8, 2012
Characters: Lisa Paul & Inna, the refusnik
I liked the story.
I am sorry to say that it sometimes was tedious for me to get through it. Maybe it shld have been shorter and sweeter (or shld it have been edited better,) I do not know.
My favorite chapter was when Lisa's mother came to visit her in Moscow. It energized Lisa w/ alot of (good) emotions. I did cry during that visit and felt the energy from Lisa.
I liked the story.
I am sorry to say that it sometimes was tedious for me to get through it. Maybe it shld have been shorter and sweeter (or shld it have been edited better,) I do not know.
My favorite chapter was when Lisa's mother came to visit her in Moscow. It energized Lisa w/ alot of (good) emotions. I did cry during that visit and felt the energy from Lisa.
February 4, 2012
It was a little hard to get into this book but the story is a good one and worth sticking with. The friendship of the two women in the story is amazing, the obstacles that they deal with are beyond normal understanding. It is a powerful story of friendship and the strength of two amazing women. It truly gives you an awareness of the greater world and how much we have here in the US.
March 26, 2013
Compelling read if you are at all interesting in the Soviet Union, human rights, or U.S.-USSR relations during the 1980s. Not a difficult text, so it goes quickly. Some parts seem like the author is trying really hard to make the reader feel her emotions - the story itself is enough without the extra effort, but still very interesting.
March 2, 2014
It was a familiar autobiography to me, having also met significant characters in my year abroad. But then, Lisa stepped up and helped those characters in a courageous way. Bravo, Lisa. The writing was sometimes less than professional, but that is forgivable and secondary to the heart that showed through.
September 26, 2011
I really enjoyed this book and was fascinated to learn about Inna and the Refusniks. What made it even more enjoyable was getting to meet Lisa Paul and talk to her about her book and her life. What a great experience!
May 9, 2012
So...I have never read anything about the refusniks before. Even though my mothers family is from the Ukraine our Jewish history is NEVER spoke of. I feel terrible for the history and the people it effected. My eyes are open more wide now!
March 30, 2011
What a terrific book about hope! A must-read.
Read
May 2, 2011I have a famous friend!!! Kjirsten's picture as well as a personal shout-out in the aknowledgements. Love it!
November 21, 2011
I learned a lot from my fellow Wisconsinite about the history of Russian Jews.
October 20, 2021
Beautiful story of friendship, the dignity of the human spirit, unending devotion to help another while honoring differences in others.
March 31, 2017
Too much emphasis on herself and not enough on the plight of Soviet Jewry. Inna Meiman suffered for being a Jew, but this is almost secondary in this story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews