Review of Camel from Kyzylkum

[Deretha Thompson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Camel from Kyzylkum" by Lara Gelya.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Memoirs are usually not my genre of choice, but when I read the description of this book and the winds of adventure that blew the author through life, I knew I had to read it. Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya is a book that holds details of the author's life written by the author herself. Lara was born in Ukraine to a Jewish family at a time when there was economic instability and crisis. After graduating from boarding school, she went on to the Geological College in Kiev for further education. She met her first husband, Nikolai Gelya, during an internship, got married at 18, and began a family while she and her husband worked in the Kyzylkum Desert.

After a near-death experience in the hospital, she returned to discover that her husband had cheated on her with her best friend, and this prompted her to continue life on her own with her daughter. After the dissolution of the then Soviet Union and in search of a better life, she joined the immigrants to the United States with help from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, HIAS. She left her daughter, who was a student in a medical college, with plans to bring her over if things worked out. Her journey would take her from Moscow to Vienna, Austria, and then to Torvaianica, Italy, where a final interview would stand between her goal and her. What happens next and every other detail is contained in this book.

Camel from Kyzylkum by Lara Gelya met and surpassed my expectations; the memoir was intentionally written to captivate its audience and offer a firsthand emotional experience of the author's description. The authenticity of the author's narrations was the first thing I observed; it was truthful and personal, especially concerning the Kyzylkum Desert and life in a geological camp, the hardships she faced, and the many countries involved in her search for a better life. The entire plot was engaging, and the narrative was even and presented in such a way as to keep the reader invested in knowing what next was coming. This book offered new insight for me about life in the then Soviet Union, something I had heard of but had not observed in writing before. The diction is simple and expressive even in describing complex themes.

My only dislike for this book stems from the pacing of this story; the chapters were unpredictable and sometimes took me back to previous information or new information, and I struggled to find balance at a point. Apart from this, every other aspect of this book resonated with me. My favourite part of this book was the pictures; there were numerous, and I looked forward to seeing them all. They conveyed authenticity and taught me the importance of pictures, especially when reminiscing about the past. The editorial aspect of this book was impressive; I only spotted an error throughout my reading. Due to the overwhelming positives of this book, I'm rating it 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to audiences who enjoy memoirs and a good nonfiction story.

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Camel from Kyzylkum
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[Joe Alex 2]

It’s very fascinating to think this book offers a first-hand glimpse into the Soviet era; something I’ve only heard about in passing. Your mention of the uneven pacing is helpful, but it doesn’t discourage my curiosity to explore this honest and engaging memoir.

[patricia MGBEMENA]

It is sad to see your partner cheating on you with your best friend after a near-death experience, and I wonder what challenges Lara and her child had to face after she had to continue life alone.