Desperate to escape South Texas, Stephanie Elizondo Griest dreamed of becoming a foreign correspondent. So she headed to Russia looking for some ex...
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Aug 01, 2010
Jan
rated it: 
A mostly delightful account of the author's time spent living in three Communist countries: Russia (although it was 5 years past Communism when she lived there), China, and Cuba.
The big downside was Griest's tendency to come across very "ugly American" at certain points in the book. I especially found her never-wavering belief that everyone wants to be like America to be grating, particularly by time she got to her third country, after she had been repeatedly told that peop More...
The big downside was Griest's tendency to come across very "ugly American" at certain points in the book. I especially found her never-wavering belief that everyone wants to be like America to be grating, particularly by time she got to her third country, after she had been repeatedly told that peop More...
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Jan 14, 2011
Eric
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I picked it up because I was going on a long weekend trip, and wanted to find some lighter reading. And I find travel books are fun on vacation. It would have been very synchronous if I had actually read the book on the trip. The trip was to Port Aransas, and the author is from Corpus -- I had no idea. Also had no idea that she studied at UT. It was a bit jarring to find pieces of my own world sprinkled throughout the book.
At this point, it's a little dated. And it's interesting to r More...
At this point, it's a little dated. And it's interesting to r More...
Apr 08, 2008
Laura
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Damon turned me on to this book years ago. I've shared it with other friends and so far everyone has loved it. Here's a qoute I like..... "She (the Bloc) has taught me the difference between being alone and being lonely and made me ever selective of my company. In fact, the Bloc, has turned me into such a self-sustained, self-contained unit, I'm expecting to self-pollinate any day now." p.365
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Feb 12, 2009
Tatasoutsidevoice
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This was originally recommended to me by my friend Larisa. I read it about 6 years ago (maybe longer), so i can't write a detailed review at this point. I just remember being absolutely blown away. (I'm not easy to please either, and I've read a lot of boring travel books). Stephanie is an enthusiastic, talented writer. Her vivid descriptions are amazingly entertaining, informative, and very funny. I had no idea that it took her so long to write this book, that she stuck it out thru so man
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May 23, 2009
Lindsay
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This book struck me a little as if a ten-years-younger Carrie Bradshaw type wrote about communism, socialism, and being an American inostranka/laowei/extranjera instead of sex (although there's a smidgen of that, too, in here...and it seemed to actually get in the way a little). Griest's accounts were very personable...great for me whose foreign travels encompass less than half a day in Reynosa and cultural knowledge of Russia, China, and Cuba--apart from history and geography classes--is prett
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May 20, 2009
Meghan
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While the concept is interesting, the story isn't engaging. This book is one of very, very few that I simply couldn't bring myself to finish.
Though "Around the Bloc" was written when Griest was only a few years younger than I am today, the narration comes across as immature and overly dramatized. Take this passage for example:
Though "Around the Bloc" was written when Griest was only a few years younger than I am today, the narration comes across as immature and overly dramatized. Take this passage for example:
We couldn't move, couldn't speak. Couldn't do a thing but watch...At some point, I turned around to find Kandy quivering. At first I thougMore...
Aug 01, 2008
Al
rated it:
At a lecture by a international CNN journalist, Stephanie asks how to get a job like his. His answer- learn to speak Russian. And she does.
Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a Mexican-American, a high school student when the Soviets lost power, and when the Tiananmen Square Rebellion occurred. What do the people of her generation think about communism? Are they yearning for freedoms we take for granted? Do they hope for democracy? What does her generation of Moscovites feel possible More...
Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a Mexican-American, a high school student when the Soviets lost power, and when the Tiananmen Square Rebellion occurred. What do the people of her generation think about communism? Are they yearning for freedoms we take for granted? Do they hope for democracy? What does her generation of Moscovites feel possible More...
Aug 01, 2008
Al
rated it:
At a lecture by a international CNN journalist, Stephanie asks how to get a job like his. His answer- learn to speak Russian. And she does.
Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a Mexican-American, a high school student when the Soviets lost power, and when the Tiananmen Square Rebellion occurred. What do the people of her generation think about communism? Are they yearning for freedoms we take for granted? Do they hope for democracy? What does her generation of Moscovites feel possible More...
Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a Mexican-American, a high school student when the Soviets lost power, and when the Tiananmen Square Rebellion occurred. What do the people of her generation think about communism? Are they yearning for freedoms we take for granted? Do they hope for democracy? What does her generation of Moscovites feel possible More...
Jun 13, 2008
Iumi
rated it:
First a comment on the author--she's uncompromisingly honest, amazingly courageous (or foolish?) and a good writer. Her adventures and misadventures behind the iron current, the bamboo curtain, and the coconut current (I made that up, I don't know what they call it in Cuba) are sometimes chilling, sometimes hilarious, and always interesting.
Her central question: was the revolution worth it? did the freeing women from foot binding, for example in China, balance out the great loss More...
Her central question: was the revolution worth it? did the freeing women from foot binding, for example in China, balance out the great loss More...
Dec 15, 2009
Pat
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The book is probably now a little dated since it was written about times spent in Moscow, Beijing and Havana in the 1990s. However, it was an interesting perspective of life in these countries. The Havana piece, however, seemed to have been thrown in. For both the Moscow piece and the Beijing piece, the author actually lived in those cities for about a year, which gave her time to really learn about the local culture. On the other hand, the Havana piece was really about a short visit there.
Jan 13, 2009
Mana
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All my friends in college caught the bug of this fabulous and inspiring book — and were lucky enough to get to meet the author. An absorbing, introspective read for independent, young women who love to travel (although others will enjoy being immersed in her experiences as well!). Her narrative style is conversational and the pace is rapid-fire - you'll be amazed how quickly you blaze through this memoir.
Apr 08, 2010
Dorothy
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Fascinating account of the author's experiences in Russia, China, and Cuba. In the first two countries, she found jobs and lived the lifestyle of the ordinary worker in those countries. She and a friend went to a Cuba for a chance to see Fidel Castro, at a time when it was not legal for American citizens to go thers. The author grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Sep 07, 2010
Kim
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I really enjoyed Around the Bloc. Stephanie takes us thoughtfully and energetically through her time spent in three communist countries. When she spoke of the heart of these cultures—Russia/Drink, China/Eat, Cuba/Dance—I couldn’t help but think of Elizabeth Gilbert’s, Eat Pray Love. Of course, Stephanie’s book was written first. I enjoyed Around the Bloc much more, because not only do we get to take Stephanie’s personal and emotional journey, but we gain some knowledge about these countries and
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Jul 26, 2011
2009-I enjoyed the first third of the book the most. I'm not sure if it was because she seemed to be most comfortable in Russia, or that it appealed to my own interest in Russia. The last two thirds dragged more for me, especially the Havana part. I felt like she hadn't stayed long enough, but I understand why she couldn't.
Feb 09, 2011
Ocean
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this was a wonderful departure from most travel memoirs. spunky, well-written and unabashedly feminist, ms. griest touches on topics that i actually care about (like how women/queers are treated in the countries she visits). learning about communism has never been so entertaining!
Jan 22, 2009
Deanna
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How a UT College student travelogue to Russia, China & Cuba and deepens her understanding of the cultures, and changes her misconceptions in four years of traveling and living abroad. I was able to visualize visiting each city, and it made me appreciate her experience.
Dec 08, 2008
Tamaya
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I read this book about 4 years ago. From what I remember I enjoyed it. Having never visited Russia or China it was much better than your average travel journals. The writer has a sense of humor in uncomfortable and sometimes scary situations.
Dec 09, 2009
Manda
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I went to school with the author, so it was kind of weird comparing what someone else was doing with their life at the same time.
Neat insight from someone in their early 20s as she lived in Russia, China, and Cuba (very short, maybe 2 weeks).
Neat insight from someone in their early 20s as she lived in Russia, China, and Cuba (very short, maybe 2 weeks).
Nov 08, 2008
Sharon
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Interesting premise, but many of Griest's conclusions seemed awfully shallow. You can definitely tell that she was in her early twenties without much historical grounding when she wrote the book. I was much less captivated by her perrsonal story than those of her friends Nadezhda and Elena in Moscow amd Liu and Yuer in Beijing. The section on Havana was particularly weak--sorry, but spending two weeks in Cuba as a tourist doesn't give you much insight into the lives of cubanos. Still, it was an
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Dec 22, 2011
Danielle
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Fascinating and extremely readable. I give it four instead of five stars because realistically, many of the stories and conversations she relates must be significantly embellished. It's hard to believe she would have had the language skills, political maturity, and memory for these 'reconstructions' to be entirely accurate. My guess is she's projecting a lot of her own research onto her memories and journal entries. Still, it was a page turner, both thought-provoking and educational.
Dec 23, 2010
Great book! Both entertaining and interesting. Highly recommended if you are interested in A) communism, B) travel, and/or C) memoirs.
Aug 25, 2009
Megan
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Great. She goes to Russia, China, and Cuba. All neat places. She has neat things to write about all of them too. There was no way she could have gone wrong with this idea.
Mar 01, 2008
Catherine
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Stephanie Elizondo Griest describes her experiences living in Moscow and Beijing and spending two weeks in Havana when she was in her early twenties. I'm usually able to gobble up books of this genre in a couple of days. I thought the subject matter would be fascinating. Instead I found the author's writing a bit too meandering and frequently felt myself drifting to other thoughts while I was trying to concentrate on the book. There were a few interesting dribs and drabs. Overall, I think a
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Jul 30, 2011
Heather
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Learned stuff about Russia, China, etc I didn't know. Interesting read.
Feb 18, 2010
Melissa
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Very interesting story following a girl around the communist bloc. She tries very hard to convey each country as is and not through the sugary glasses of tourist.
Mar 14, 2009
kenpen
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I enjoyed this book a lot. I like books (either fiction or non-fiction) set in China and Russia, so this was right up my alley. Griest is an honest narrator who shows great maturity.
Oct 08, 2007
Marcellina
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Got to hear this author speak at the Gala dinner at the Texas Book Festival, although the crowd practically ignored her and almost hooted her during her presentation. Granted her voice is very high pitched and girlish, and she went on several minutes too long, but she's a fabulous writer, and extraordinarily gifted. I'd recommend this book to any young person who is dreaming of traveling the world.
mk
mk
Dec 22, 2007
Jenny Schmenny
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omg, I studied in Moscow, and it was nothing like I'd imagined! omg, I edited propaganda in China and had my assumptions challenged! omg, I was in Cuba for a few weeks, and clicked my heels together and realized there was no place like home.
Okay, to be fair, this is a pretty entertaining book, and the author's clearly done her homework and put in her time. She just comes off as so...young.
Okay, to be fair, this is a pretty entertaining book, and the author's clearly done her homework and put in her time. She just comes off as so...young.
May 30, 2008
Nessie
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I learned that I am getting old!!
While I am full of admiration for Stephanie, I was also horrified at some of the foolish risks she took during her travels. However, the book combined wise observation, youthful enthusiasm and just enough historical background to make an excellent read that caused me to think about my cultural biases in a new light.
While I am full of admiration for Stephanie, I was also horrified at some of the foolish risks she took during her travels. However, the book combined wise observation, youthful enthusiasm and just enough historical background to make an excellent read that caused me to think about my cultural biases in a new light.
