Russian Experiences: Life in the Former USSR and Post-Soviet Russia
    by The Raven and Marie Claire                  Reviewed by Denise M. Clark
 

 Do you know the difference between Communism and National Socialism? Do you have any idea what it was
 like to live in Post World War II Russia? How about the Cold War period? Do you know what happened
 during the turbulent period of upheaval during the late 1980's to the early 1990's, a period that witnessed
 the death throes of the former entity known as the USSR?

 Unless one went through it, experienced it, and lived it, one can't ever really know. But a man known as
 'The Raven' lived through it, and with the help of co-writer Marie Claire, he tells us his story. The Raven
 was born into a period of poor economy, poor training and few supplies. No luxuries of supermarkets,
 shopping malls, and fashion stores and private transportation. Due to lack of proper medical care,
 The Raven suffered a hearing loss accompanied by a speech impediment, thereby forced from then on
 to deal with prejudice because of his handicap. The Raven grew up in Baku City, the capital of Azerbaijan,
 his life was by no means easy. Because of the conflicts between native Armenians and Azerbaijan natives, he
 and his brother were not allowed to go to school for long stretches of time. Ultimately, The Raven and his
 family left Baku, where they had lived all their lives, and moved to a region around Moscow where The Raven
 continued his education. Yet even there The Raven had to struggle to gain that education, one that finally
 enabled him to rise above the poverty and narrow-mindedness of many of Russia's inhabitants.

 Russian Experiences is a wonderful book that tells the story of one man's rise above the restrictive conditions
 surrounding him. The story is not only well written, but also a very personal saga of the history and transition
 of one of the mightiest nations in the world and the consequences of its complicated political history. Through the
 eyes of The Raven and Marie Claire, a reader of this tale begins to understand there is much behind the façade of
 Russia, one rarely seen or talked about on such a personal level. This book is a primer for one to gain a better
 understanding of what Russia was and is all about, a book told through the eyes of one man who fought against
 prejudice and poor living conditions to gain an identity he could be proud of. Russian Experiences is an excellent
 format for anyone to utilize, from either a social or personal perspective, in order to experience and learn about
 Russia's history, culture, and the indomitable spirit of many of its people.

This reviewer gives it an A in its writing style and in its presentation of both history and humanity.

 I grant Bartcop.com permission to publish this material at no charge, as long as proper credit is given.

 Sincerely yours,

 Denise M. Clark, book reviewer