What do you think?
Rate this book
Whisper My Name to the Grass
The story of one woman's amazing journey from American tourist to presidential advisor in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. This country, mythical land of the Golden Fleece and once known as the "End of the World," became her world for a time. During earthquakes, the fall of the Soviet Union, and a civil war, this American was admitted into the lives of a passionate people as their nation struggled for its freedom.
“I watched the fall of the Soviet Union and its aftermath from this side of the world --the United States-- and the author has helped to fill out my understanding of what went on in Eastern Europe during that time. She has a profound love and appreciation of Georgian culture and people. Reading of her discoveries and work in that country, I feel like I have visited and known the people she describes. The influence she came to have in Georgia, and the things she was able to accomplish, is one for the storybooks, and all true! She gives a closer look at an important leader of the time, Eduard Shevardnadze. Her gift of description, whether observing compelling events or simple ways of life, is immense. It's a wonderful view into an ancient culture and a time that changed the world.”
~ Peggy Woodruff, host at Classical 89 BYU
5 Star READERS FAVOURITE Review
Whisper my Name to the Grass is a work of non-fiction in the autobiography subgenre. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Doris S Platt. This cross-cultural work takes place in the country of Georgia at a time when it was still part of the Soviet Republic under leader Eduard Shevardnadze. The author went from a traveling American to becoming a presidential advisor, and along the way she recounts her deep appreciation for the people of Georgia, their customs, and traditions. There is also an intimate account of what it was like to live through major changes in the country’s political setup, civil
war, and the fight for freedom.
There is a fine balance between writing a work that encompasses political details, history, and conflict and writing about your own personal experience of these events, and author Doris S Platt achieves it beautifully in this very moving memoir about a hugely important period of her life. The narrative quality immediately draws you to a curious and capable woman who has natural empathy and enthusiasm, which makes for infectious reading as we see her wonder and excitement in uncovering and understanding more about Georgia in general. The up-close account of what went on certainly helps to fill in some history gaps for those of us who only got a very brief overview of the nation’s history, and the personal touches in how the events are told make it all the more emotionally resonant. Overall, Whisper my Name to the Grass comes highly recommended for anyone with an interest in culture, world politics, and incredible life stories.
“I watched the fall of the Soviet Union and its aftermath from this side of the world --the United States-- and the author has helped to fill out my understanding of what went on in Eastern Europe during that time. She has a profound love and appreciation of Georgian culture and people. Reading of her discoveries and work in that country, I feel like I have visited and known the people she describes. The influence she came to have in Georgia, and the things she was able to accomplish, is one for the storybooks, and all true! She gives a closer look at an important leader of the time, Eduard Shevardnadze. Her gift of description, whether observing compelling events or simple ways of life, is immense. It's a wonderful view into an ancient culture and a time that changed the world.”
~ Peggy Woodruff, host at Classical 89 BYU
5 Star READERS FAVOURITE Review
Whisper my Name to the Grass is a work of non-fiction in the autobiography subgenre. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Doris S Platt. This cross-cultural work takes place in the country of Georgia at a time when it was still part of the Soviet Republic under leader Eduard Shevardnadze. The author went from a traveling American to becoming a presidential advisor, and along the way she recounts her deep appreciation for the people of Georgia, their customs, and traditions. There is also an intimate account of what it was like to live through major changes in the country’s political setup, civil
war, and the fight for freedom.
There is a fine balance between writing a work that encompasses political details, history, and conflict and writing about your own personal experience of these events, and author Doris S Platt achieves it beautifully in this very moving memoir about a hugely important period of her life. The narrative quality immediately draws you to a curious and capable woman who has natural empathy and enthusiasm, which makes for infectious reading as we see her wonder and excitement in uncovering and understanding more about Georgia in general. The up-close account of what went on certainly helps to fill in some history gaps for those of us who only got a very brief overview of the nation’s history, and the personal touches in how the events are told make it all the more emotionally resonant. Overall, Whisper my Name to the Grass comes highly recommended for anyone with an interest in culture, world politics, and incredible life stories.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
13 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 22, 2022
This book went directly to my "favorites" list.
This is the true story of a woman who traveled from the U.S. to Russia many, many times - and each time she fell more deeply in love with the people, the traditions, the beauty and the vastness (and even the not-so-beautiful sides) of this country and her people. She eventually became an advisor to the President of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. At the time, Georgia was under the leadership of Eduard Shevardnadze. Through Doris, I learned what happened to this man, whose name I do remember, but knew so very little about.
I learned more history from this book than I ever did in school, and it also made me appreciate things I take for granted, like heat in my home in the cold, dark days of winter, not having to stand in lines hoping there will be a loaf of bread left, and not worrying that I will be removed from my home during the night at gunpoint, never to be seen again. I felt the fear of the people, but even more, I felt their hope, their resilience, and the beauty of their hearts.
I am beyond grateful to Doris Platt for writing this book. I commend her for her efforts in bringing needed items back with her every time she went - be it medical necessities or fire engines. Yes, she managed to get fire engines to a town in need, and act which saved many lives.
This book is a treasure.
This is the true story of a woman who traveled from the U.S. to Russia many, many times - and each time she fell more deeply in love with the people, the traditions, the beauty and the vastness (and even the not-so-beautiful sides) of this country and her people. She eventually became an advisor to the President of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. At the time, Georgia was under the leadership of Eduard Shevardnadze. Through Doris, I learned what happened to this man, whose name I do remember, but knew so very little about.
I learned more history from this book than I ever did in school, and it also made me appreciate things I take for granted, like heat in my home in the cold, dark days of winter, not having to stand in lines hoping there will be a loaf of bread left, and not worrying that I will be removed from my home during the night at gunpoint, never to be seen again. I felt the fear of the people, but even more, I felt their hope, their resilience, and the beauty of their hearts.
I am beyond grateful to Doris Platt for writing this book. I commend her for her efforts in bringing needed items back with her every time she went - be it medical necessities or fire engines. Yes, she managed to get fire engines to a town in need, and act which saved many lives.
This book is a treasure.
July 29, 2023
This is a fascinating insight into a tumultuous time for the country of Georgia. The philanthropic and energetic author goes from a chance meeting to a new friend to multiple visits to bringing gifts in luggage to a level up from that in generosity. The next level included a complete dentist office's needs (which was all stolen) to multiple fire engines from different municipalities. Just the story of the two trips with those vehicles, one by military cargo plane and one by ship, would be enough for a book.
Additionally, the author witnesses over those exceptional years a view from within an SSR of the fall of the Soviet Union, the independence of Georgia and the rise and fall of Eduard Shevardnadze to whom she became an advisor:
Additionally, the author witnesses over those exceptional years a view from within an SSR of the fall of the Soviet Union, the independence of Georgia and the rise and fall of Eduard Shevardnadze to whom she became an advisor:
...
And we would welcome Miss Platt here at any time. I think that the State of Utah may be proud of her and we are proud of the State of Utah. It’s a great privilege to have an opportunity to convey to you and the people of Utah my best wishes.
Yours E. Shevardnadze
Tbilisi
August 8, 2022
This is such an inspiring read. Far from glamorising her, oftentimes, remarkable achievements, Doris is very much like the street sweeper she writes about in her book; a woman who simply picked up her broom and swept the streets clear, even after there’d been an air strike. And why? Because it just had to be done. This is Doris. No embellishments. No self-flattery. She is nothing but her thoughtful, empathetic, courageous self. She is also a wonderful writer. Her descriptions of Georgia are both fascinating as they are beautifully woven into her overall narrative, from her meeting and working with President Shevardnadze to the heroic stoicism of the Georgian people themselves whom she so sensitively portrays and with such compassion. In her own words: ‘It had been a time that touched on laughter, and trembled on tears.’ Georgia, thanks to Doris, has now become a real place with real people for me.
November 21, 2010
Salt Lake City resident Doris Platt was "just" a tourist in the country of Georgia, then still a part of the Soviet Union. She returned again and again, bringing extraordinary amounts of help to the people, and she was there when the Soviet Union broke up and Georgia declared its independence. From a tourist to a special advisor to President Eduard Shevardnadze, this woman's story is improbably true, quite interesting, and inspirational.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews