Archive - March 18, 2011

A Granddaughter’s Rite of Passage: Tales from the McCarthy Era by Julie Gilgoff (Nicaragua 2002–04) Allbook Books 176 pages 2010 Reviewed by Robert E. Hamilton (Ethiopia 1965–67) AN HOMAGE IS DEFINED AS “a show of respect to someone or something.”  In the feudal age, it was a declaration of fealty. Julie Gilgoff has written an homage, or tribute, to her grandfather, Max Gilgoff, and her father, Henry Gilgoff. The title makes reference to Max but the dedication is to Henry, “who continues to bring inspiration to those who loved him.” Research for the book occurred primarily after the death of Henry on July 30, 2006, of amyloidosis, which was just three days after Julie, a free-lance writer, returned from a research trip to Argentina. The family had always been very secretive regarding her grandfather Max’s life and work. This book chronicles her effort to uncover the truth about Max’s teaching . . .

The Family Goryachevix by Murray Davis (Russia 1996–99) Fine Images Printing January 2010 $12.00 154 pages Reviewed by Sharon Dirlam (Russian Far East 1996–98) MURRAY DAVIS AND I began our Peace Corps training together in rural West Virginia because our two groups — his heading for Western Russia and mine heading for the Russian Far East — were unable to get visas. Five weeks into training, Russia finally came through and the two groups went our separate ways. Davis writes that he took a roundabout way to get to his assignment in Western Russia: traveling to China, crossing the border and boarding the Trans-Siberian train. One of his traveling companions was Sergei Goryachev, a friendly fellow from the town of Vladimir who seemed eager to have Davis meet his daughter Tanya. (In an explanatory email, Davis writes that he took some literary license with this part of the story: the . . .

Thanks to the efforts of  Patti Garamendi (Ethiopia 1966–68), Assistant General Manager of the California Exposition & State Fair, RPCV writers living in California have been invited to sell their books at the Author’s Booth at the California State Fair in Sacramento this summer. The Fair, which runs from July 13th to July 31st, has a large Authors area with 6 stations where featured writers can sign and sell their books. This year one station will be dedicated to Peace Corps writers. The area, in the air-conditioned Counties Building, is in a busy location — and “right next to the cinnamon roll stand”! The Fair opens at noon on Monday through Thursday, and 10 am on Friday through Sunday, and has about 1 million visitors each year with 75% passing through this this building. The organizers would like to feature 14 Peace Corps writers — one on each day of the . . .