Margarita Gokun Silver spent her entire childhood in the USSR. As Soviet Jews, they were at extremely high risk for a wealth of trouble in their homeland. Margarita, like many other youth in the USSR, had a dream. She wanted more than just a pair of Levis and after years of trying to convince her family to make the move, they enacted their plan and left the USSR. This would lead to time in other countries before coming to the United States, and then adjusting hardcore to American norms.
Margarita Gokun Silver’s book, I Named my Dog Pushkin is both hysterically funny and thought-provoking. She talks about changing her name, shrugging off her parents desire for her to become a doctor, learning how to date in the US, and parenting her own daughter. For many Jewish people, the 1980’s were a time of major exodus from the USSR. This book is thoughtful and enjoyable, and perfect for anyone fascinated with the USSR and the decade leading up to its end. For those who prefer audiobooks, Laurel Lefkow does an incredible job, with perfect pacing and just the right amount of sarcasm.
I Named My Dog Pushkin is now available from Thread Books.
