Maria Tumarkin
A Russian-Jewish immigrant, Tumarkin and her family move to Australia in 1989. Twenty years later, Tumarkin returns to share the country of her childhood with her daughter Billie.
On the surface Otherland is the chronicle of this six week journey. At the core of it however lies a tale of interconnecting mother-daughter stories welded together through shared histories and experiences. Visiting the places and people of her youth, Tumarkin hopes to bring a closer understanding of her roots to her daughter.
During her travels, Tumarkin’s makes perceptive and honest observations about the new Russia, which in her absence has morphed into a country that is foreign and unfamiliar to her. Extracts from Billie’s diary peppered throughout the book add fresh, sharp insights that are surprisingly clear and immediate for someone so young.
In Australia, our memoirs are often reflections of our multicultural identities. Otherland mirrors this unique characteristic with prose that is engrossing and unadulterated. No words are wasted. A touching tribute to migrants, it depicts the cost of leaving the lands that house our history, to countries where we etch new identities in the soil. 3.5 stars
On the surface Otherland is the chronicle of this six week journey. At the core of it however lies a tale of interconnecting mother-daughter stories welded together through shared histories and experiences. Visiting the places and people of her youth, Tumarkin hopes to bring a closer understanding of her roots to her daughter.
During her travels, Tumarkin’s makes perceptive and honest observations about the new Russia, which in her absence has morphed into a country that is foreign and unfamiliar to her. Extracts from Billie’s diary peppered throughout the book add fresh, sharp insights that are surprisingly clear and immediate for someone so young.
In Australia, our memoirs are often reflections of our multicultural identities. Otherland mirrors this unique characteristic with prose that is engrossing and unadulterated. No words are wasted. A touching tribute to migrants, it depicts the cost of leaving the lands that house our history, to countries where we etch new identities in the soil. 3.5 stars
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