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Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana
Desperate to escape South Texas, Stephanie Elizondo Griest dreamed of becoming a foreign correspondent. So she headed to Russia looking for some excitement—commencing what would become a four-year, twelve-nation Communist bloc tour that shattered her preconceived notions of the “Evil Empire.”
In Around the Bloc, Griest relates her experiences as a volunteer at a children’s shelter in Moscow, a propaganda polisher at the office of the Chinese Communist Party’s English-language mouthpiece in Beijing, and a belly dancer among the rumba queens of Havana. She falls in love with an ex-soldier who narrowly avoided radiation cleanup duties at Chernobyl, hangs out with Cuban hip-hop artists, and comes to difficult realizations about the meaning of democracy.
is the absorbing story of a young journalist driven by a desire to witness the effects of Communism. Along the way, she learns the Russian mathematical equation for buying dinner-party vodka (one bottle per guest, plus an extra), stumbles upon Beijing’s underground gay scene, marches with 100,000 mothers demanding Elián González’s return to Cuba, and gains a new appreciation for the Mexican culture she left behind.
In Around the Bloc, Griest relates her experiences as a volunteer at a children’s shelter in Moscow, a propaganda polisher at the office of the Chinese Communist Party’s English-language mouthpiece in Beijing, and a belly dancer among the rumba queens of Havana. She falls in love with an ex-soldier who narrowly avoided radiation cleanup duties at Chernobyl, hangs out with Cuban hip-hop artists, and comes to difficult realizations about the meaning of democracy.
is the absorbing story of a young journalist driven by a desire to witness the effects of Communism. Along the way, she learns the Russian mathematical equation for buying dinner-party vodka (one bottle per guest, plus an extra), stumbles upon Beijing’s underground gay scene, marches with 100,000 mothers demanding Elián González’s return to Cuba, and gains a new appreciation for the Mexican culture she left behind.
363 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2004
6 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Elizondo Griest
13 books65 followersStephanie Elizondo Griest is a globetrotting author from the Texas-Mexico borderlands. Her six books include: Around the Bloc, Mexican Enough, All the Agents and Saints, and Art Above Everything. Widely anthologized, she has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, The Believer, BBC, and Oxford American. Her work has won a Margolis Award for Social Justice Reporting. Currently Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she has performed as both a Moth storyteller and as a literary ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
December 4, 2016
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.
"Around the Bloc" was written when Griest was in her early twenties, and it's clear that her authorial voice was still incubating. The narration often comes across as immature and overly dramatized. Take this passage for example:
Does this tale of paralyzing culture shock relate to:
(a.) Watching as a demonstrator is forcibly detained by police,
(b.) Witnessing a man shove and publicly berate his wife, or
(c.) Checking out library books
Yes, folks...Library books.
Griest's inclusion of historical notes is welcome and her voice is occasionally uniquely illuminating, but her insight is too underdeveloped to invest much time in her narrative.
"Around the Bloc" was written when Griest was in her early twenties, and it's clear that her authorial voice was still incubating. The narration often 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 thought she was laughing, then crying. But when we made eye contact, I saw it was neither. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I steered her out the door to the courtyard, where she shuffled through the mounds of snow until she could finally feel the cold. Then she sat on a bench, lit a cigarette, and inhaled deeply as the bolt of culture shock fizzled away.
Does this tale of paralyzing culture shock relate to:
(a.) Watching as a demonstrator is forcibly detained by police,
(b.) Witnessing a man shove and publicly berate his wife, or
(c.) Checking out library books
Yes, folks...Library books.
Griest's inclusion of historical notes is welcome and her voice is occasionally uniquely illuminating, but her insight is too underdeveloped to invest much time in her narrative.
August 1, 2010
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 people pretty much don't. I mean, really, how hard is it to understand that peoples of different countries have different values and not everybody thinks that America is the most awesome place in the world?
However, Griest did seem relatively self-aware of her own "ugly American" tendencies, which made up for it to some extent. And, otherwise, her writing was very accessible, fun, and interesting. I found her chapter on Russia particularly informative and insightful. I zipped through this book very fast.
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 people pretty much don't. I mean, really, how hard is it to understand that peoples of different countries have different values and not everybody thinks that America is the most awesome place in the world?
However, Griest did seem relatively self-aware of her own "ugly American" tendencies, which made up for it to some extent. And, otherwise, her writing was very accessible, fun, and interesting. I found her chapter on Russia particularly informative and insightful. I zipped through this book very fast.
March 29, 2025
One of the most unique travel memoirs I have read. Thoughtful and thought-provoking adventures in Russia, Beijing, and Cuba.
March 2, 2008
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 bit more editing would have resulted in a more enticing travel memoir.
March 20, 2018
An interesting mix of travel essay, sociological musings, and memoir. Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, Griest travels to three Communist nations: living for a year in Moscow, a year (ish?) in Beijing, and a few weeks in Havana. I enjoyed her descriptions of local life, culture shock experiences, and often, but not always, her introspection on socialism, culture, and tourism. However, something about the writing just did not sit right with me. I can't quite put my finger on it, since each aspect of the writing - tone, style, voice, balance of present-tense adventure and description and historical background - seemed enjoyable and good separately, but altogether it wasn't the superbly written, thoughtful page-turner other reviews had me expecting.
July 6, 2013
Stephanie Griest managed to spend a year abroad for school, obtain grants and jobs, and travel to several countries in the communist bloc. In this book, she writes about her year in Moscow, Beijing, and a few weeks in Havana. She was inspired to these things when she heard a talk by a journalist describing what she perceived as a pretty exciting life. She asked him what she had to do to get a job like his. He said to study journalism and learn Russian, so that is what she did.
I found this to be a wonderful and fun travelogue describing a young woman's experiences in communist or post-communist countries in the 90s. It certainly gives a good idea of what life was like and how it was lived during these times. However, for me the most enjoyable part was watching the author's cognitive growth as she compared her own culture to other cultures. Some of the things she had to wrestle with to understand were small, e.g. her difficulty finding a volunteer position. She wanted to more deeply experience the life around her and thought becoming involved in a local organization would be helpful and keep her away from the temptation of the easy way of hanging around with ex-pats. There is difficulty in getting people to understand what she would like to do because they don't get the concept of volunteering. Finally, they say, "Ohhhh! That's communism! We don't have to do that anymore!" However, she finally finds an orphanage that is willing to take her on. She is not happy with the way the children are treated and learns a lot about preparing children to live in a society unlike her own.
Another thing she experiences is coming across a dead man in a grocery, just lying in the aisle, his purchases around him, no one paying any attention. Than another customer appears and begins taking his purchases of food for herself. Griest does not know what to do and finally flees. This causes her great remorse. It reminded me of when I was in Panama, in the countryside outside of Colon, being shown around with a group of GI's with a Panamanian citizen and friend serving as a a guide and driver. We came upon a body in a ditch and didn't know if he was alive or not. We wanted to investigate, but our Panamanian friend/driver said we needed to get the hell out of there before we were involved in a nightmare. As Griest wrestles with this horror, she, as usual, makes comparisons to her own culture. It is so easy to be horrified by "the other". Her thoughts reminded me of times in the U.S. when witnesses have failed to come to the aid of rape victims, murder victims, assault victims. Is that worse than ignoring someone who is already dead?
Griest continued to make comparisons on a trip to the countryside with a local friend. She was struck by the generous hospitality, to the point of having difficulty eating all of the food that she was expected to eat or hosts would be insulted. She also noted "As we drove deep into the countryside we seemed to transcend a year a mile." Gone were the more modern accouterments of city life, such as bathrooms. She also noticed the effort people put into making their homes beautiful, with hanging rugs, art, etc. She noticed that each home she entered was decorated in a very similar manner, and realized she was looking at people using what was made available to them such as certain types of rugs. She thought about the fact that in the U.S. it was similar in that we decorate in similar manners also, but that in Russia it was about supply, whereas in the U.S. we demand our decor. Not sure I agree with that - I get her point, but I get pretty cranky about the things offered in our stores here in the U.S. also. If you aren't wanting the current styles, good luck finding anything different. Perhaps this is one reason vintage items are so popular here now.
Griest is also a little obsessed with revolutions, wanting people to continue to be politically active and push for more. She wonders why she keeps seeing old Russian vets laying flowers on Lenin and Stalin's graves and doesn't understand why they still honor them. She wonders if it is for the same reason her own country reveres Christopher Columbus, a man who obliterated entire populations of indigenous people so that his own kind could steal their land and riches? Do human beings inherently need to make heroes out of their nations and founders?
In Beijing when she wonders what happened after Tiananmen Square, what happened to that spirit and again, why aren't people still fighting for more? She learned from her friends that they are focused on the economy and living a better life, which they are doing. They tell her that her systems is corrupt as well and it isn't the system so much as human nature - there will be corruption no matter which system so they don't care which system, they just want to live as best they can.
Griest manages to make many deep friendships with locals who help her to understand what she is seeing, and to see the commonalities in our human nature and needs across cultures as well as the differences. She struggles mightily with all of these issues and comes to appreciate both these cultures as well as her own. She develops the ability to hold and accept multiple perspectives and appreciate them rather than judge, which is a wonderful thing to watch! She agrees with one who said that if you live in Moscow a week, you will write a book. If you live there a month, you may write an article, but if you live there for a year, you won't write anything.
Five stars
I found this to be a wonderful and fun travelogue describing a young woman's experiences in communist or post-communist countries in the 90s. It certainly gives a good idea of what life was like and how it was lived during these times. However, for me the most enjoyable part was watching the author's cognitive growth as she compared her own culture to other cultures. Some of the things she had to wrestle with to understand were small, e.g. her difficulty finding a volunteer position. She wanted to more deeply experience the life around her and thought becoming involved in a local organization would be helpful and keep her away from the temptation of the easy way of hanging around with ex-pats. There is difficulty in getting people to understand what she would like to do because they don't get the concept of volunteering. Finally, they say, "Ohhhh! That's communism! We don't have to do that anymore!" However, she finally finds an orphanage that is willing to take her on. She is not happy with the way the children are treated and learns a lot about preparing children to live in a society unlike her own.
Another thing she experiences is coming across a dead man in a grocery, just lying in the aisle, his purchases around him, no one paying any attention. Than another customer appears and begins taking his purchases of food for herself. Griest does not know what to do and finally flees. This causes her great remorse. It reminded me of when I was in Panama, in the countryside outside of Colon, being shown around with a group of GI's with a Panamanian citizen and friend serving as a a guide and driver. We came upon a body in a ditch and didn't know if he was alive or not. We wanted to investigate, but our Panamanian friend/driver said we needed to get the hell out of there before we were involved in a nightmare. As Griest wrestles with this horror, she, as usual, makes comparisons to her own culture. It is so easy to be horrified by "the other". Her thoughts reminded me of times in the U.S. when witnesses have failed to come to the aid of rape victims, murder victims, assault victims. Is that worse than ignoring someone who is already dead?
Griest continued to make comparisons on a trip to the countryside with a local friend. She was struck by the generous hospitality, to the point of having difficulty eating all of the food that she was expected to eat or hosts would be insulted. She also noted "As we drove deep into the countryside we seemed to transcend a year a mile." Gone were the more modern accouterments of city life, such as bathrooms. She also noticed the effort people put into making their homes beautiful, with hanging rugs, art, etc. She noticed that each home she entered was decorated in a very similar manner, and realized she was looking at people using what was made available to them such as certain types of rugs. She thought about the fact that in the U.S. it was similar in that we decorate in similar manners also, but that in Russia it was about supply, whereas in the U.S. we demand our decor. Not sure I agree with that - I get her point, but I get pretty cranky about the things offered in our stores here in the U.S. also. If you aren't wanting the current styles, good luck finding anything different. Perhaps this is one reason vintage items are so popular here now.
Griest is also a little obsessed with revolutions, wanting people to continue to be politically active and push for more. She wonders why she keeps seeing old Russian vets laying flowers on Lenin and Stalin's graves and doesn't understand why they still honor them. She wonders if it is for the same reason her own country reveres Christopher Columbus, a man who obliterated entire populations of indigenous people so that his own kind could steal their land and riches? Do human beings inherently need to make heroes out of their nations and founders?
In Beijing when she wonders what happened after Tiananmen Square, what happened to that spirit and again, why aren't people still fighting for more? She learned from her friends that they are focused on the economy and living a better life, which they are doing. They tell her that her systems is corrupt as well and it isn't the system so much as human nature - there will be corruption no matter which system so they don't care which system, they just want to live as best they can.
Griest manages to make many deep friendships with locals who help her to understand what she is seeing, and to see the commonalities in our human nature and needs across cultures as well as the differences. She struggles mightily with all of these issues and comes to appreciate both these cultures as well as her own. She develops the ability to hold and accept multiple perspectives and appreciate them rather than judge, which is a wonderful thing to watch! She agrees with one who said that if you live in Moscow a week, you will write a book. If you live there a month, you may write an article, but if you live there for a year, you won't write anything.
Five stars
March 13, 2018
I highly highly highly recommend this book. It was a great combo of travel memoir and social/political commentary on what was happening in Russia, Cuba, and China at the time. I really enjoyed reading it and I still go back to re-read passages.
April 17, 2021
A good look into communist and/or socialist government(s) and how the citizens view or compare their way of life in opposition to capitalism.
January 30, 2018
Stephanie Griest managed to spend a year abroad for school, obtain grants and jobs, and travel to several countries in the communist bloc. In this book, she writes about her year in Moscow, Beijing, and a few weeks in Havana. She was inspired to these things when she heard a talk by a journalist describing what she perceived as a pretty exciting life. She asked him what she had to do to get a job like his. He said to study journalism and learn Russian, so that is what she did.
I found this to be a wonderful and fun travelogue describing a young woman's experiences in communist or post-communist countries in the 90s. It certainly gives a good idea of what life was like and how it was lived during these times. However, for me the most enjoyable part was watching the author's cognitive growth as she compared her own culture to other cultures. Some of the things she had to wrestle with to understand were small, e.g. her difficulty finding a volunteer position. She wanted to more deeply experience the life around her and thought becoming involved in a local organization would be helpful and keep her away from the temptation of the easy way of hanging around with ex-pats. There is difficulty in getting people to understand what she would like to do because they don't get the concept of volunteering. Finally, they say, "Ohhhh! That's communism! We don't have to do that anymore!" However, she finally finds an orphanage that is willing to take her on. She is not happy with the way the children are treated and learns a lot about preparing children to live in a society unlike her own.
The whole novel is centered around this culture shock, which is developed in a variety of different ways in order to help her become who she is today. In this way, the author highlights the difficulties, as well as the inherent benefits of experiencing cultures that are completely opposite to your own.
I found this to be a wonderful and fun travelogue describing a young woman's experiences in communist or post-communist countries in the 90s. It certainly gives a good idea of what life was like and how it was lived during these times. However, for me the most enjoyable part was watching the author's cognitive growth as she compared her own culture to other cultures. Some of the things she had to wrestle with to understand were small, e.g. her difficulty finding a volunteer position. She wanted to more deeply experience the life around her and thought becoming involved in a local organization would be helpful and keep her away from the temptation of the easy way of hanging around with ex-pats. There is difficulty in getting people to understand what she would like to do because they don't get the concept of volunteering. Finally, they say, "Ohhhh! That's communism! We don't have to do that anymore!" However, she finally finds an orphanage that is willing to take her on. She is not happy with the way the children are treated and learns a lot about preparing children to live in a society unlike her own.
The whole novel is centered around this culture shock, which is developed in a variety of different ways in order to help her become who she is today. In this way, the author highlights the difficulties, as well as the inherent benefits of experiencing cultures that are completely opposite to your own.
July 26, 2015
What a great book! This one was recommended to me by a friend, and loving any type of travel memoir I had to pick it up - I even found a signed copy! Griest's memoir is a perfect blend of self discovery, interesting travel stories and fascinating people from around the world - basically when I travel, I want to travel like her. Her writing style is also simple and engaging - you feel like you're sitting right beside her throughout her trips, experiencing what she's experiencing and pondering over the issues she brings up in each section. I really liked that the book WASN'T just a travel memoir - you're able to learn more about China, Russia and Cuba and their Communist roots through both the typical political and statistical facts and through the friends Griest makes along the way, who live day to day under the regimes. Instead of point blank stating that the countries and their ideals are 'awful', Griest recognizes and writes vividly about how the countries' systems have made their people the way they are. Instead of judging them or making them seem like helpless victims, she humanizes each person she meets, showing that the regime doesn't completely define a person, even if it has an impact on how they live. At the same time, she recognizes the bad effects Communism has had on each country, stating the human rights and basic freedoms denied. In this way, the book is a nice blend of showing how life truly is in China, Cuba or Russia without othering the citizens, while still showing the problems. The I highly recommend this to anyone interested in traveling abroad or exploring how Communism has really shaped different nations and their peoples. 4.75/5 stars.
March 9, 2020
3.5 stars. This is really interesting. It was published in 2004, about experiences in the late 90s and early 2000s. There’s three sections - Russia, China and Cuba. Cuba is short from a 10 day trip, it’s interesting but lacks the relationships formed in the other two countries. Russia and China didn’t feel like they’d been experienced one after the other as the timeline suggests. The author wrote them in different ways. The Russian experience felt really immature, which isn’t meant in a bad way, she was just out of college and idealist. There was a lot of personal stories and relationships discussed. China was much more focused on working at the paper, less experiences and friendships. It felt like the writing had matured as well as the person. For me, it had a completely different feel to it.
I think this is good reading. It’s interesting how much stays the same even as time passes. The author is a several years older than me but we were born in the same decade. I wonder how it would read to those older and much younger. I would recommend it, it does give a picture into 3 places I’m likely never to travel to, which I appreciate.
I think this is good reading. It’s interesting how much stays the same even as time passes. The author is a several years older than me but we were born in the same decade. I wonder how it would read to those older and much younger. I would recommend it, it does give a picture into 3 places I’m likely never to travel to, which I appreciate.
February 13, 2009
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 many rewrites/drafts, and that she pursued a publisher for so long (I vaguely recall many publishers told her that her book wasn't worth publishing; I could be wrong). I enjoying listening to her read at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle; she's full of fire, vim, and vigor. I admire her strength and independence.
April 9, 2008
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
April 28, 2012
Her books make me want to travel!
April 2, 2022
I picked this book up randomly at a book fair in the next town over a few weeks ago and I felt it was ironic that I picked it up right before the war between Russia and Ukraine. My boss at work was even surprised I was reading such a political book. The reason I read travel memoirs isn't just to sate my wanderlust, it's to also get a chance to learn about other cultures.
I do think the author does a good job of talking about the small things that no one thinks about. Like how facial expressions and even tones of voice are interpreted differently depending on the culture. I also loved that she included some terms from the languages.
The author is a journalist who went to these countries not only to study and work in journalism but to find a story as well. My issue was that to me, it seemed like the author cared more about a story that fits her narrative as an American than actually getting to know these people and their culture. Throughout the entire book, she is constantly disappointed that there weren't people starting or fighting in a revolution. While this book was written in 2004, that still doesn't give the excuse to push your ideals onto other people. Especially, when you don't fully understand their politics and economy. I'm nowhere near an expert myself but the whole book kind of screamed American and privileged.
The author is American with a deep Mexican heritage. She never got the chance to connect with her Mexican heritage and I enjoyed reading her insights about herself. She did make a point to reflect on her actions and her thoughts. One thing that bothered me a lot though is that she lied about her nationality a lot throughout the book just so she could avoid being hated. Which I get. I have traveled abroad and people definitely showed distaste when they found out I was American. I found that fair. They don't have to like me, but I never felt the need to lie just because I wanted to be included.
I would say my favorite section in the book was when she wrote about her experiences in Beijing. I felt like she made more of an effort to get to know the locals and found her experiences really enjoyable to learn about. I felt that her time in Moscow and Havana felt a little superficial at times. Especially, since she spent very little time in Havana.
Overall, this really was an enjoyable read. I do think it's worth the read just for the commentary of how we as Americans tend to act when going to another country. The author definitely did give more of an effort since she actually tried to learn the local languages. The end chapter really did tie the whole book together by talking about what she learned and how it changed her way of thinking. If you're looking for a book that is entirely immersive in other cultures, I would pass. However, definitely give it a read if you're looking for a good thought-provoking discussion book.
Like my review? Check out my other reviews at https://samthebookdevotee.wixsite.com...
I do think the author does a good job of talking about the small things that no one thinks about. Like how facial expressions and even tones of voice are interpreted differently depending on the culture. I also loved that she included some terms from the languages.
The author is a journalist who went to these countries not only to study and work in journalism but to find a story as well. My issue was that to me, it seemed like the author cared more about a story that fits her narrative as an American than actually getting to know these people and their culture. Throughout the entire book, she is constantly disappointed that there weren't people starting or fighting in a revolution. While this book was written in 2004, that still doesn't give the excuse to push your ideals onto other people. Especially, when you don't fully understand their politics and economy. I'm nowhere near an expert myself but the whole book kind of screamed American and privileged.
The author is American with a deep Mexican heritage. She never got the chance to connect with her Mexican heritage and I enjoyed reading her insights about herself. She did make a point to reflect on her actions and her thoughts. One thing that bothered me a lot though is that she lied about her nationality a lot throughout the book just so she could avoid being hated. Which I get. I have traveled abroad and people definitely showed distaste when they found out I was American. I found that fair. They don't have to like me, but I never felt the need to lie just because I wanted to be included.
I would say my favorite section in the book was when she wrote about her experiences in Beijing. I felt like she made more of an effort to get to know the locals and found her experiences really enjoyable to learn about. I felt that her time in Moscow and Havana felt a little superficial at times. Especially, since she spent very little time in Havana.
Overall, this really was an enjoyable read. I do think it's worth the read just for the commentary of how we as Americans tend to act when going to another country. The author definitely did give more of an effort since she actually tried to learn the local languages. The end chapter really did tie the whole book together by talking about what she learned and how it changed her way of thinking. If you're looking for a book that is entirely immersive in other cultures, I would pass. However, definitely give it a read if you're looking for a good thought-provoking discussion book.
Like my review? Check out my other reviews at https://samthebookdevotee.wixsite.com...
February 7, 2017
I'm definitely a sucker for memoirs written by ordinary people, especially ones who do extraordinary things. Griest most certainly ends up doing some very extraordinary things -- like go to Russia just after the fall of Communism, after which she finds work at a Chinese propaganda newspaper in Beijing, and then manages to sneak into Cuba. This last may not seem that extraordinary, what with President Obama reopening relations with that country, and following the death of Fidel Castro, but at the time that Griest visited Cuba, it was still illegal for Americans to travel there.
Her time in Soviet bloc nations teaches her quite a few lessons, but unfortunately, the one she doesn't seem to learn is that America isn't necessarily seen as the greatest country in the world, and not every person wants their country to be more like America. She seems to believe that everyone should desire democracy, even when told by her Russian or her Chinese friends that rebuilding the economy is more important than the Western notion of freedom right then. And it makes sense when you think about it. Besides, just because democracy works for America doesn't mean it's the only correct answer for all countries. I'm also glad to see that her time in foreign nations brought her closer to her Mexican heritage; as someone without much of a heritage of her own, it saddened me a bit that Griest seemed to distance herself as much as possible from her mother's native culture.
Even with Griest's stubbornness that America does democracy best, this is a very fascinating travelogue, and Griest does an excellent job showcasing the good in all three nations. It's almost like we're right there with her because her writing is so colorful and vivid. It's definitely a quick and interesting read.
Her time in Soviet bloc nations teaches her quite a few lessons, but unfortunately, the one she doesn't seem to learn is that America isn't necessarily seen as the greatest country in the world, and not every person wants their country to be more like America. She seems to believe that everyone should desire democracy, even when told by her Russian or her Chinese friends that rebuilding the economy is more important than the Western notion of freedom right then. And it makes sense when you think about it. Besides, just because democracy works for America doesn't mean it's the only correct answer for all countries. I'm also glad to see that her time in foreign nations brought her closer to her Mexican heritage; as someone without much of a heritage of her own, it saddened me a bit that Griest seemed to distance herself as much as possible from her mother's native culture.
Even with Griest's stubbornness that America does democracy best, this is a very fascinating travelogue, and Griest does an excellent job showcasing the good in all three nations. It's almost like we're right there with her because her writing is so colorful and vivid. It's definitely a quick and interesting read.
December 14, 2023
“Burn a little incense, sacrifice a chicken or two, smoke a cigar, then shake your maracas and dance.”
This was the most eye-opening book I have read in a long time. Not only from the history lessons and personal testimonies of those who are most different from me, but also because it has made me realize my own ignorance and how little I have experienced in my life. It has also taught me that there is no better way to learn about home than going abroad.
A work of non-fiction that develops in the late 1990s, Around the Bloc details Griest’s travels to Russia right after the fall of the USSR, the People’s Republic of China, and Fidel Castro’s Cuba. It is witty, engaging, and masterfully written. It makes you question your own identities and how little you know about their implications—and your privilege. If you grew up in a developed nation, this book will make you question the ‘truths’ you were raised on and understand how different your priorities are from other human beings’.
Around the Bloc made me realize that you can’t fully understand a place unless you delve into the minds of the locals, and you can’t fully understand humanity without seeking discomfort and deconstruction of biases.
If I soon leave everything behind and travel to a different country far from home, blame Stephanie Elizondo Griest.
July 27, 2019
I’ve had this book with absolutely no expectations except to have exposure to first person narrative around what it was like to live in three different communist countries. I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s way of sharing her experience, and the anecdotes that she included here. The author’s voice is young, and not completely formed; perhaps not as mature and insightful as one might expect. However, she herself recognizes that her youthfulness impacts her story. I knew this going into it, so did not exercise any judgment around this point. Simply enjoyed the read and the cross-cultural experience as she had packaged and proffered it. If you are looking for a fun read about communism and how it plays out in different countries, and are willing to read it without judging the youthfulness of the author, I highly recommend this book to you.
March 16, 2021
I feel like we're often meant to classify books as 'completely forgettable' or 'immediate masterpiece', but a lot of stuff is pleasantly in the middle, including this breezy-but-uncertain travel-log through Russia, China and (briefly) Cuba. While the whole experience ends up being more personal than I expected, focusing just as much on deep family grief and lover-trouble as it does on Stalin or Mao, it is *speckled* with unforgettable *moments*, at least -- I'm still thinking about the notion that the Russians' volunteer muscles or cooperation muscles were sort of exhausted by communism, for example, and the whole thing is shot through with an 'other-than' that refuses to be labeled a 'better-than' or 'worse-than'.
April 6, 2021
It is amazing just how quickly travel literature becomes dated, and slides more toward historical record. This is more a memoir than travel really, covering aspects of her experiences in Moscow and Beijing, and a smidgen in Havana. Maybe a little bit too personal, but overall I enjoyed her stories. No doubt Mom gave her the side-eye and said "did you really need to tell them about that!," but I wonder the same thing about any memoir I read. I wish I could have had some of these experiences when I was young. I have pined to see Cuba for many years.
August 8, 2025
great read! I’m genuinely shocked at its 3 star something review, I think this is a full marks read, no doubt. The author approaches topics of abusive governing bodies and societal dysfunction via communism extremely tastefully and humbly.
My parent, former party member in China, was delighted at the niche references of Beijing in the 90s. “Stesha” is a great author, journalist, and travels in a way that is surely inspiring to young readers everywhere.
Thanks for the recommendation, Malcolm Gladwell!
My parent, former party member in China, was delighted at the niche references of Beijing in the 90s. “Stesha” is a great author, journalist, and travels in a way that is surely inspiring to young readers everywhere.
Thanks for the recommendation, Malcolm Gladwell!
September 7, 2018
It took me a week to finish this fun book. A lot of funs, interesting personal stories and adventures in Moscow, Beijing and Havana. What I like most is the one-year life in BJ in 1997, which brought me back a lot of memories "Miandi, Xiali, Laowai, FLG, etc.". Also the ending story of how the author lied to US immiration officer about her stay in Cuba is so funny. I really like this lady who wrote this book, true life, true experiece, with a lot of humors in her languages.
April 28, 2021
This had to do with her year as a college student in Russia. There were additional (smaller) parts of the book having to do with her spending time in China and in Cuba. but I had given up by the time she left Moscow. The book just leaned a little too much toward YA for me to stay interested. She kept the story very simple, no sense of nuance anywhere. Worse, she writes with constant overstatement.
July 12, 2025
BLUF: Great read, interesting perspective from an admittedly imperfect viewpoint
In spite of what some reviews said, I found this book to be well written and fascinating. While dated (the events took place at the end of the 20th century), it nonetheless demonstrates some of the foundational differences between the three countries the author lived in, as well as the people of those countries and how they perceive the politics of their country.
In spite of what some reviews said, I found this book to be well written and fascinating. While dated (the events took place at the end of the 20th century), it nonetheless demonstrates some of the foundational differences between the three countries the author lived in, as well as the people of those countries and how they perceive the politics of their country.
November 18, 2018
Stephanie lived as a resident in the Soviet Union, China, & Cuba. She illustrates hiw the cultures of these countries, their history, the brand of communism affects the citizens. These experiences also cause her to reflect on her own life & place in the world. I loved it. My 12 year old son loved it, too. He finished it before me. Ot was a great opportunity to discuss the book's themes together.
November 20, 2022
What an interesting book!
I was very excited to find a book on both China and Russia as these countries have always been of interest to me, and Cuba was just an added bonus. Although very young, Griest's voice is a joy to read. She's fun, she's interesting, and she's expressive. Her friends are great to hear about, and her world is vivid.
I was very excited to find a book on both China and Russia as these countries have always been of interest to me, and Cuba was just an added bonus. Although very young, Griest's voice is a joy to read. She's fun, she's interesting, and she's expressive. Her friends are great to hear about, and her world is vivid.
November 5, 2025
Maybe it's because I have been to these countries, or because traveller/backpack stories always seem to have that same boring pace or because there was just nothing to learn here that you havn't already from the news or documentaries. But I think this is the perfect example of, 'only boring girls keep diaries.'
March 10, 2018
This book was great--in the 1990's, the author traveled to many former Eastern Bloc countries right after the end of the Cold War (her stay in Russia is the focus), and then to China and finally Cuba. This is the story of those visits.
November 19, 2023
i’ll always enjoy stories about expat-hood, so i can’t complain too much. the first section, Moscow, is filled with loads of interesting details while staying fresh and fun. The last two sections lose that quality and her writing voice becomes less defined.
July 15, 2018
A nice mix of travel memoir and politics. Very informative.
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