Bears in the Streets

No cover — Lisa Dickey: Bears in the Streets (2017, St. Martin's Press)

English language

Published Aug. 25, 2017 by St. Martin's Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-09230-4

(1 review)

"Lisa Dickey traveled across the whole of Russia three times--in 1995, 2005 and 2015--making friends in eleven different cities, then coming back again and again to see how their lives had changed. Like the acclaimed British documentary series Seven Up!, she traces the ups and downs of ordinary people's lives, in the process painting a deeply nuanced portrait of modern Russia. From the caretakers of a lighthouse in Vladivostok, to the Jewish community of Birobidzhan, to a farmer in Buryatia, to a group of gay friends in Novosibirsk, to a wealthy 'New Russian' family in Chelyabinsk, to a rap star in Moscow, Dickey profiles a wide cross-section of people in one of the most fascinating, dynamic and important countries on Earth. Along the way, she explores dramatic changes in everything from technology to social norms, drinks copious amounts of vodka, and learns firsthand how the Russians really feel about Vladimir …

"Lisa Dickey traveled across the whole of Russia three times--in 1995, 2005 and 2015--making friends in eleven different cities, then coming back again and again to see how their lives had changed. Like the acclaimed British documentary series Seven Up!, she traces the ups and downs of ordinary people's lives, in the process painting a deeply nuanced portrait of modern Russia. From the caretakers of a lighthouse in Vladivostok, to the Jewish community of Birobidzhan, to a farmer in Buryatia, to a group of gay friends in Novosibirsk, to a wealthy 'New Russian' family in Chelyabinsk, to a rap star in Moscow, Dickey profiles a wide cross-section of people in one of the most fascinating, dynamic and important countries on Earth. Along the way, she explores dramatic changes in everything from technology to social norms, drinks copious amounts of vodka, and learns firsthand how the Russians really feel about Vladimir Putin. Including powerful photographs of people and places over time, and filled with wacky travel stories, unexpected twists, and keen insights, Bears in the Streets offers an unprecedented on-the-ground view of Russia today"--

2 editions

The Gnome King reviewed Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey

Review of 'Bears in the Streets' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Ever since reading Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux I realised what was missing from a good travel book was the return trip, going back to see what had changed. So when I saw this book and that it featured three trips in Russia I grabbed a copy and moved it right to the top of my reading list.

This book's main focus is not the travelling, it is about the people Lisa meets and how they have changed over 20 years. Either Russia is full of amazing people or Lisa was lucky with who she met. Lisa's writing is superb, she very quickly draws you in so that you seem to have known the people for years, I found myself eagerly looking forward to her next visit to see how their lives had changed and what highs and lows they had been through. It wasn't …

Ever since reading Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux I realised what was missing from a good travel book was the return trip, going back to see what had changed. So when I saw this book and that it featured three trips in Russia I grabbed a copy and moved it right to the top of my reading list.

This book's main focus is not the travelling, it is about the people Lisa meets and how they have changed over 20 years. Either Russia is full of amazing people or Lisa was lucky with who she met. Lisa's writing is superb, she very quickly draws you in so that you seem to have known the people for years, I found myself eagerly looking forward to her next visit to see how their lives had changed and what highs and lows they had been through. It wasn't just the people, the places Lisa visited had changed in a big way over the years, some were remote and with each visit the places got bigger.

Even though Lisa had been to Russia a few times before she still travelled in 2015 full of the fears that were spread by the media in the west, she feared for her safety in a country full of anti-Americanism....and streets full of wild bears :-)

There are plenty of photos throughout the book, which was nice touch, not only did you get to read about how the people had changed you also got the see the changes. One of the coolest things in the book was to do with the first trip in 1995, the Internet was just kicking off and Lisa created a web travel blog and her partner on the trip carried a huge prototype digital camera and they spent hours uploading photos, pure genius.

I loved this book and I really really really hope in 2025 Lisa goes back to Russia for a 4th time and we get another book out of this.

Subjects

Russia (federation), description and travel
Social change
Russia (federation), social conditions
Russia (federation), history