Fascinating view into Russia during years the author lived there; with detailed descriptions of her friends, family, & life under Communism . Her time in India was also beautifully written.I have tried to read biographies of Stalin, but had difficulty getting through all the tangled political intrigue when I wanted to know more about his personality and what made him what he was. I gained insight from Svetlana’s analysis of her father.A very personal book full of emotion and rare look into life under Communism and her courage in defecting to United States.