Care for a brief history lesson? That was the question posed to our group during our final day in the capital Astana. In this odd, sparkling city where many of the buildings…
Category: Book/Event Reviews
Posts wirtten as Book/Event Reviews
Love and Art in “Jamila”
Where does the inspiration for great art come from? Not just technically skilled artwork, but art that says something, that impresses upon the viewer the animating energy behind the subject. Love is…
Testimonies about Tea: A tea time conversation about culture and history
A useful translation – Чай, будешь? = Do you want tea? “Чай, будешь?” My host mother asks me in the morning at breakfast. “Чай, будешь?” My host sister asks when I return…
Finding Fulfillment in the Beauty of Jamila
It took some time for me to completely immerse myself in the serene melancholy of Jamila, but ultimately, those approximately 50 pages proved to be incredibly fulfilling. “Jamila,” an enthralling short novel…
Maybe Esther: Exploring the Maybes of Memory and the Past
Who knows exactly what their grandparents did? What about great-grandparents? Great-uncles? Maybe you have some old family stories or memories pasted down until they reached you but were void of many details…
From Samovars to Electric Kettles: How Tea can Change a Nation
Tea is the most polarizing drink around the world. This drink, best served hot, that some consider “dirty water,” is powerful in ways only seen before in Earth’s greatest empires. Tea has…
The Gift to Stalin: The Role of Family
How are families created? It’s easy to be born into a family; to inherit an identity; to inherit wealth; to inherit opportunities. To form a family, however, is harder, but necessary for…
A Coming of Age Despite Forced Adulthood: A Review of Chingiz Aitmatov’s “Jamila”
What love story is complete without the backdrop of war and influence of a growing dictatorship? And what historical narrative can be considered captivating without a little romantic plotline? Instead of spending…
Artishock: Contemporary Theater or Crossing a Line?
***Warning: this post discusses sexual assault, which may be triggering for some readers.*** At what point does art cross the fine line from trailblazing experimentation to troubling uncomfort? This was the question…
From Mouth to Memory: A Review of Anuar Duisenbinov’s “Testimonies About Tea”
In American popular culture the phrase “to spill the tea” has been used to indicate the need to discuss a topic of interest with another person, often this topic can be described…
