Bird's Milk

by Jana Bakunina

In Bird s Milk , Jana Bakunina tells the story of her childhood in the Soviet Union from the early days of perestroika to the collapse of the USSR, offering a unique insight into the lives of ordinary Russians. Bird s Milk reveals a period of turbulent political and economic changes but also a heart-warming world of blini and pelmeni, weekends spent at the family dacha and summer camps on the Black Sea. With her background in economics and finance, Jana Bakunina has much to say about the current climate in Russia, but she also tells a personal story, featuring Bulgakov and Tolstoy, her grandmother s cooking and the Russian rock scene. Her childhood was in many ways traditional, but with Gorbachev s reforms and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union, new horizons opened up. Bird's Milk is a tale of growing up, struggling to belong and make sense of what it means to love one s country, whilst being something of an outsider both at home and abroad. " Bird s Milk is a wonderful evocation of an ordinary Russian childhood in a town in the middle of the country and then the personal journey that turned a Russian into a westerner. Jana Bakunina understands both sides of what has been called the new Cold War . This is a memoir that helps illuminate today s world." Simon Kuper "In the last few decades, millions of Russians left their homeland for new lives in the West. Everywhere, they faced the challenge of making sense of their past and adapting to a new way of life. In her absorbing and detailed memoir, Jana Bakunina describes her journey from Soviet era Sverdlovsk, the gifted child of an intellectual family, to Oxford and the world of high finance in London. In the process, she reflects wisely on the eternal problems of identity and values, speaking not just for herself but through her experiences for a whole generation. David Satter

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2017

Reviews

[Linas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely absorbed by this book. I looked forward to every time I picked it to read. This is the remarkable story of the incredible strength of the human spirit and inner drive.

[H.r.h Brooking · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light but in depth read

Jana explains complex history through a personal lens, making complex history a relatable story and bridges the chasm between Russia and the West by reminding us of our common humanity. It is a will work easy to read story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Peter Firth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

It is interesting to hear the struggles of a inquisitive mind within the confines of Russian culture. Very well written.