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The Russian Word for Snow: A True Story of Adoption
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Product Description
Four months later, the Newmans traveled to Moscow to get their son. Russia was facing its first democratic election, and the front-runner was an anti-American Communist who they feared would block adoptions.
For nearly a month, the Newmans spent every day at the orphanage with the child they'd named Alex, waiting for his adoption to be approved. As Russia struggled with internal conflict, the metro line they used was bombed, and another night, the man who was to sign their papers was injured in a car-bombing.
Finally, when the Newmans had begun to consider kidnapping, their adoption coordinator, through the fog of a hangover, made the call: Alex was theirs.
Written with a keen sense of humor, The Russian Word for Snow is a clear-eyed look at the experience of making a family through adoption.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #564918 in Books
- Published on: 2002-02-12
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 240 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Newman, following her mother's death from breast cancer, experienced a change of heart about her long-held determination to remain childless. She and her husband, both in their 40s, embarked on fertilization treatments until they discovered an agency that arranges the adoption of foreign children. Once they saw videotape of a dark-eyed little Russian boy, they were determined that he was their son and began a six-month process of international adoption. The couple traveled to Russia just before the nation's first democratic election and witnessed the uncertainties of life there, and the ebb and flow of anti-American sentiment. Fearful that political turmoil could derail their adoption, Newman and her husband desperately sought to achieve a balance between pressuring and cajoling their intermediaries. In this first-person account, Newman conveys the emotional roller coaster of dealing with the ponderous adoption bureaucracy--bribes expected and gifts required--before securing the release of their son, Alex, whose original name was the Russian word for snow. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"A nail-biting adoption saga with a happy ending."-People Magazine
"The Russian Word for Snow is about the alchemy of desire, courage, grace; about the buried secrets of a foreign land; about a little boy in a Russian crib who tangles his fingers in his new mother's hair. Their story is compelling. It is poetry. It is true. It held me transfixed as I read." -Beth Kephart, author of the 1998 National Book Award finalist A Slant of Sun
"The couple's fight to bring Alex home after months of dashed hopes and bureaucratic snafus vividly illustrates the perils of foreign adoption."--People Magazine
"Newman's story, told with understated grace, reminds us that parenthood is an internal journey not measurable by blood or footsteps; that life with a child is a daily opportunity for mutual redemption in moments both unique and fleeting." --Kate Moses, Salon.com columnist and co-editor of Mothers Who Think
"On one level, this is one woman's story of going to Russia to adopt a little boy and experiencing the wrenching, exuberant passions of falling love with a child. On another level, it's every mother's story--our doubts and our fears about what kind of mother we will make. The writing is compelling, and straight from the heart." --Adair Lara, San Francisco Chronicle columnist and author of Hold Me Close, Let Me Go
"Beautifully written, intimately portrayed, it's an extraordinary tale of the power of a mother's love." --Karin Evans, author of The Lost Daughters of China
-- Review
Review
"A nail-biting adoption saga with a happy ending."-People Magazine
"The Russian Word for Snow is about the alchemy of desire, courage, grace; about the buried secrets of a foreign land; about a little boy in a Russian crib who tangles his fingers in his new mother's hair. Their story is compelling. It is poetry. It is true. It held me transfixed as I read." -Beth Kephart, author of the 1998 National Book Award finalist A Slant of Sun
"The couple's fight to bring Alex home after months of dashed hopes and bureaucratic snafus vividly illustrates the perils of foreign adoption."--People Magazine
"Newman's story, told with understated grace, reminds us that parenthood is an internal journey not measurable by blood or footsteps; that life with a child is a daily opportunity for mutual redemption in moments both unique and fleeting." --Kate Moses, Salon.com columnist and co-editor of Mothers Who Think
"On one level, this is one woman's story of going to Russia to adopt a little boy and experiencing the wrenching, exuberant passions of falling love with a child. On another level, it's every mother's story--our doubts and our fears about what kind of mother we will make. The writing is compelling, and straight from the heart." --Adair Lara, San Francisco Chronicle columnist and author of Hold Me Close, Let Me Go
"Beautifully written, intimately portrayed, it's an extraordinary tale of the power of a mother's love." --Karin Evans, author of The Lost Daughters of China
Customer Reviews
Sentimental Journey
This adoption story was wonderfully written. I read it four years ago in preparation for our adventure to Russia to adopt our son. There were so many similarities between the author's experience and our own. After our adoption was final and we were settled at home, I read The Russian Word for Snow again to relive the Russian adoption experience. I loaned my original copy to someone and it was never returned so I had to replace it so that I can read it again to reminisce about our awesome experience. With all the concerns about international adoption, it is so reassuring to read a lovely story about a positive adoption experience. I highly recommend it to anyone contemplating Russian adoption, anyone already in the process, and even those who have completed their adoption journey because it is reassuring and uplifting.
Good story
If you are adopting from Russia, this is a great "happy end" story to read while in the process.
Great reading while you are waiting for your referral and thirsty for details of what to expect.
Excellent book... the negative reviews are missing the point
I never have written a book review, but wanted to share. I had read all of the negative reviews, so was expecting a horrid book filled with selfishness. Instead, I found an honest story of a woman (and her husband) who was willing to share her story, share her bad moments (don't we all have them??), share her good moments, share her frustrations, share her joy -- basically share everything for better or for worse.
This is not intended to be "How to Adopt from Russia 101". It is a real-life story of a woman who clearly did not do adequate research, but was willing to share the story anyway. Also, many people who wrote negative reviews -- even those who have also adopted from Russia -- are quick to criticize without having walked in her shoes. Everyone's story is different, and hers includes adopting right as the first democratic election in Russia was taking place (1996). Who can really understand what added stress that created for her? Most negative reviewers adopted many years after this.
And as for her occasional "ugly American" outbursts due to frustration, who hasn't done that? I have said on more than one occasion that I hate my husband. Does that really mean I hate my husband? Of course not! But I am human and have been upset, tired, grumpy, frustrated and have blurted that to myself. I applaud Janis for her willingness to share her weak moments. That is part of her very human story.
Ultimately, I took away an impression of a woman who passionately loves her son and is going to give him a great life coupled with respect for his heritage. Bravo!
