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One Ukrainian summer

£16.99

Summer 1994. Viv has just turned 21 and is on her year abroad, studying the language, history and politics of a world that supposedly no longer exists: the Soviet Union. Instead, she finds herself studying the lead guitarist of a Ukrainian punk rock band. Utterly besotted, Viv follows him to festivals and dive bars around the country, travelling through a blur of wheat fields and valleys of sunflowers. The guitarist sings her love songs and teaches her Ukrainian. But is he serious about her? Or is she just another groupie? At parties, Viv and her new friends argue about whose turn it is to buy cigarettes and the best places to find Levi’s jeans. No-one debates whether to speak Russian or Ukrainian, where the border is, or whether the future is bright. Of course it is: the Soviet Union is finished. Isn’t it? A poignant, often comical account of coming-of-age in the time after the Cold War and before Putin.

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SKU: 9781804184868 Category: Tags: , ,

Description

‘A memoir that captivates and delights. Fabulous’ – Nina StibbeInstead, she finds herself immersed in Bogdan Bogdanovich – the lead guitarist of a Ukrainian punk rock band. As the temperature drops, he promises that if she can get through the freezing Russian winter, he will give her “one Ukrainian summer.” But is he serious about her? Or is she just another groupie?At parties, gigs and dive bars, Viv and her new friends argue over whose turn it is to buy cigarettes, the best places to find Levi’s jeans and whether beer counts as a soft drink. No-one debates the merits of speaking Ukrainian over Russian, the precise location of the border or the undeniable brightness of the future. Of course good times are here to stay. Because the Soviet Union is finished. Isn’t it?A poignant and often comical account of coming-of-age in the time after the Cold War and before Putin, One Ukrainian Summer is a love letter to a unique moment in history.ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO PEN INTERNATIONAL

Additional information

Weight 0.316 kg
Dimensions 22.2 × 14.4 × 2.2 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

240

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

947.7086092 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K