Tale of the White Crow: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Latvia [Paperback]

Iveta Melnika (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

In a journal format, a young Latvian girl chronicles her adventures growing up in Latvia during the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Against a background of social and political turmoil, the narrator survives school and university, an American religious cult, and the Russian disco scene.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Iveta Melnika holds a BA in German Philology from the University of Latvia, and a MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from Minnesota State University-Mankato. She presently lives with her husband and daughter in germany, where she works for Berlitz School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Ellis Press (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944024467
• ISBN-13: 978-0944024461
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,218,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vivid, personal description of life in Latvia, December 20, 2003

By 

Jim Tripp (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tale of the White Crow: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Latvia (Paperback)

On one level, this book tells the story of a young woman coming of age in any culture. There are delightful descriptions of the ups and downs, the fantasies and cynicism, the longings and the resignation - one can see this young woman in every culture.

On another level, however, this book is the story of a very personal triumph. Ms. Melnika describes in vivid detail the difficult reality of those living in Latvia during the past two decades. From the scarcity of goods and services, to the mind-controlling religious cults, to the hedonism that supposedly represents the freedoms of the West, the author encountered them all and portrays her experiences with an honesty of which only the young are capable.

Tale of the White Crow is a journal. Some readers may object to the broken English translation, but I found it strangely appropriate.

I have only two small criticisms: the journal simply ends - I very much wanted to know what became of the author. Also, there are several photos in the book but no descriptions of what they are of. I would like to have seen photos of the people referred to in the book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great look at life in Riga, January 20, 2006

By 

James Hatsis "AHR" (Greensboro, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tale of the White Crow: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Latvia (Paperback)

Latvia, My favorite country. This book explains the customs and culture better than any travel guide or text book. On one level it exposes how different life in latvia is compared to the USA, and yet on another level it reveals that young girls growing up in Latvia face the exact same social and emotional problems as girls in the USA (and, I suspect, everywhere else). I bought this book for my daughter and found that I enjoyed it just as much as she did as we read it together.

The photos capture the essence of the city so well, we enjoyed seeing places we had visited.

A great book and I look forward to other books by this author.



James Hatsis

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3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, May 19, 2008

By 

Eleanore A. Neumann "Reader Ellie" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tale of the White Crow: Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Latvia (Paperback)

I missed my favorite TV show to read this book to it's completion. To those of us who have a vested interest in Latvia, the author gives us a rare glimpse into a native heart. Her account of her involvement with a religious group was especially fascinating as it speaks to all of us who have struggled with doubts about our faith. It is one of those books that make you want to meet the author to talk it all out.