My favorite book I’ve read this past year is Stalin’s Children: Three Generations of Love, War, and Survival. Written by Moscow Newsweek Bureau Chief Owen Matthews, it’s a deeply personal story of his families roots and struggles within Russia that spans three generations. The book opens with the successful lives of his grandparents. Unfortunately, the tide turns swiftly and his great grandfather is arrested and charged with anti-state behavior. He is sent to prison, never to be seen again. His grandmother was arrested shortly thereafter and serves ten years hard labor for being married to an enemy of the state. Their two children are sent to various state orphanages and raised there under the heavy influence of Joseph Stalin.

Admiration for Stalin

Although Stalin was the reason for their family being torn apart, neither girl views this as the case and in fact they deeply admire Stalin. One of the girls, Mila, grows up to become an academic and falls in love with a British National taking part in a foreign exchange program in Russia, the first of it’s kind. The British National, Mervyn Matthews (Owen’s father) is recruited by the KGB, but upon rebuffing them is deported from the country. His love affair with Mila survives despite the distance and through letters, phone calls, and two clandestine face to face meetings they manage to keep their love alive.

Mervyn petitions the British and Russian government for five long years to receive a visa to go marry his love Mila. Their love stands the test of time and Mervyn is eventually granted a ten-day visa to visit Russia once again and marry Mila. Mervyn’s son Owen does a fantastic job of telling the story of his family through three generations. He also details his experiences in Russia during the crazy nineties when Russia saw an explosion of capitalism. Today he resides there part-time with his Russian wife and children, still telling the stories of his Russian bloodline.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

The Giver, by Lois Lowry is one of my favorite books of all time. I love it so much, in fact, that I wrote my college application essay about it.

The main point of that essay was that Lois Lowry changed my life by writing that book. It made me realize that I wanted to be an author someday, because I wanted to evoke the same kind of emotion in people that Lowry evoked in me.

About The Giver

The book follows the life of Jonas, a boy that lives in a world devoid of extremes. There is no great sadness, no great joy, just a lukewarm, stagnant spectrum of emotions and experiences meant to protect the citizens of the community.

But when Jonas goes through the ceremony of 12, where he learns what his profession in the community will be, he discovers that he has been chosen as the new Receiver of Memory, an extremely respected position in the community. Because, as Jonas soon discovers, the Receiver of Memory takes on all the memories of the past, all of the emotions and experiences, both joyful and horrifying, that are so alien to their way of living.

The old Receiver, who asks Jonas to call him The Giver, transfers his knowledge to the youth, and as he does so Jonas’ life is irrevocably changed. Things will never be the same for him. The question is, can things ever be the same for everyone else in his community?

A Young Adult Book with Hefty Social Themes

For a book marketed to young adults, The Giver tackles some pretty hefty philosophical themes. I think that’s good though. It’s almost a perfect transition book for kids reading nonsensical books with simplistic messages to more mature and challenging works. And adults will enjoy it because it’s an engaging yet easy read that they can probably get through in a day or two.

If you see The Giver somewhere, don’t miss your opportunity to grab it. You’ll be sorry if you miss the opportunity.

P.S. I Love You

When you read this book it leaves you with the thought of what’s really important. P.S. I Love You is about a woman named Holly who lives in Dublin. When unfortunate events happen, Holly has to survive one of the hardest things in life: losing someone. In her case it was her much loved husband, her high school sweetheart, her steady rock in life, Gerry. Gerry had always been the one to support her, and make her feel couragous in a cruel world. Now that he’s gone, Holly has to dig deep and find the strength to move on.

In an unsuspected turn of events, Gerry is able to help her on her way, and is there for her when she needs him most. Each step takes you on a different adventure and introduces you to her hilarious friends and quirky family. It takes unsuspected turns and events that will keep you reading waiting to find out what happens next in her extraordinary life. Through her trials she finds her strength, and a new way through life.

Holly even has the strength to help others on her way. All the way through you will cry, laugh, and smile at all the idiosyncrasies of Hollies, and you will never cease to be amazed what kind of situations her and her friends can get into. Holly finds herself surrounded by the people that love her, and who her real friends in life are. Through the entire story, Holly finds new perspectives on things she had never seen before, and finds new ways to move on.

P.S. I Love You is for anyone who knows love, and what life can through at you. Holly relates from the young in love to the elderly who know what life can throw at you. It takes you on a powerful journey of life, love, and recovery. I would rate this as an ultime favorite for the best drama books.