Stranded in Moscow

By Rick Furmanek

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965570355
• ISBN13: 9780965570350
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Square Peg Pr
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Reading

This book is easy reading, but at the same time is interesting, funny, sad, and inspiring. Thoroughly enjoyable. You won't want to put it down until you've finished it.

American family trapped in Moscow's Third World economy.

Stranded In Moscow: I knew the author when he was an undergraduate at Midwest Christian College in Oklahoma City, so it was of no surprise to me when I found out he had authored a book. Rick was a sincere student who seemed directed to make a difference in his choice of careers. & & How many of us haven't thought of going abroad where the economies are emerging and simple to make a million or simply be a missionary? Well, if you have thought of it, you need to read Rick Furmanek's Stranded In Moscow. The book is an easy read and tells the story of his family's turmoils in Moscow after Rick took a job with his brother-in-law's company. As a father of 5, the most important decision I felt I had to make when my children were young, was to find a somewhat permanent home for 10 to 15 years, and spend as much time as I could, giving my children the best start in life that I could. Rick and Robin made a decision to move their young family to Moscow without any prearrangement for housing, transportation, and victuals. How tough would that be? Well, here is why Furmanek's book is a need-read! & & We have had several foreign exchange students from Russia come home with our children. They all seemed so excited, and one student from East Germany was our daughter's best friend for the year that she was here. Her friend, Sondra, had the opportunity to experience candied apples, foot-long hot-dogs, and Braughm's ice cream, while she was with us. She often talked about the flat where she and her family lived. I often wondered what she meant as a flat, and how it would compare to our housing here. Well, ... after reading Stranded In Moscow, I gained a much better understanding of not only what a flat is, but also, why Sondra was always so excited with every new adventure we showered on her. & & Finding reliable transportation, other than the trains, was a pain. Not having myriad choices for food was another headache. Things that we take for granted, quickly were abandoned when the Furmanek's moved to Moscow. And what about living in a foriegn land amongst a people who do not even share your holidays. Now, it is easy for us to sacrifice, but how hard is it to make a move, when you know that your children are simply not going to have the medical opportunities we take for granted. Reading Stranded gives you a first hand look at just what a move like that would entail. & & Finally, one of the bits of information that I gained from the read, was the fact that we should be questioning all the dramatic Christian changes so often by evangelists coming back from Russia. Rick's book allows the reader to deduce that such big numbers may be inflated and, at the minimum, unrealiable. Numbers may indicate interest, only, in hearing American's talk. & & I enjoyed the book. I did wish that the author had put a disclaimer or note in the front of the book, one time, about Trademarks, rather than putting a TM every time a Copywrited or Tademarked name was mention

An American's fascinating view of Russian life.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live in Russia? I have. I imagined people going to the market, standing in lines around the block for hours on end, and when they finally get to the front of the line, the store shelves are barren. Now you can learn about Russian life from an American who has been there. Rick Furmanek, author of Stranded in Moscow, lived in Russia with his family for a year. During this time, they learned to live in this different country and made some friends. In one adventure, they managed to teach some Russian children how to play baseball despite the language barrier. In another example of Russian life, Rick's secretary fell ill, and an ambulance crew came to her home and pumped her stomach. Rick told her she needed a hospital, but she said no, she was fine; this sort of thing happened all the time. Rick's writing style is easy to read and compelling. I know it's been said before, but Stranded in Moscow is a real page-turner. I found the details of Russian living fascinating. People carry cans of gasoline in the trunks of their cars, because they can't get fuel with the regularity we take for granted. A piece of advice: do not rent a flat (apartment) in a building over ten stories tall; they are deathtraps in the event of fire. For Easter, Russians give each other a cake called a kulich. Although most people buy them in stores, one friend went through the time-consuming and expensive process of making one from scratch before presenting it to Rick and family. This cake must be blessed by a priest. The friend was an elderly woman of modest means, and the Furmaneks were touched by this token of friendship. Oh, what about the markets? Actually, getting food in Russia is not that difficult. You can get plenty of potatoes, for example. But if you want the variety of food necessary for a proper, healthy diet, you've got a lot of work to do. Rick's wife Robin hunted down the food, and it was a full-time job. First, she would watch their black-and-white, Russian-made TV to find the exchange rate of dollars to rubles. The value of the ruble fluctuated constantly, and Robin waited for the best time to visit the exchange commissaries. She found interesting things in Russian markets, including excellent bell peppers. A babushka sold the family some of the best chicken it has ever tasted. Rick and family introduced Russian friends to Mexican food. The Russians were surprised to learn that Americans have different things for dinner each night. Along with the insights into Russian life, Stranded in Moscow also has some lessons for the readers. This excerpt from the book is an excellent example: "Living in Russia heightened my senses to my surroundings, both physically and spiritually. The very things the Russians have come to endure and detest as a way of life-the long lines, the scarcity of food, the astronomical inflation rate, the unaffordable real estate, the expensive fuel, and the eking of life-taught me to choose my wars very

Don't read this... Unless you have the time to read it all!

What Rick Furmanek has done with this manuscript is simply majestic. You are there in the Russian flat, you are driving along with Andrei, smelling, hearing, feeling. Rick has a gift for making you an observer through this part of his life and times in Russia, not just a reader of yet another book. This is a wonderful journey into a land hidden in mystery and media cover-up's. This story (I am reluctant to call this just a "book"), not only shows you the human condition most prevalent in daily life, but the dangers of life in this turbulent country as it evolves from the long embedded communist ideals to the beginnings of democracy. Stranded in Moscow is a MUST read. However, beware, you will not want to stop reading once you have started! 10+!

A Compelling Read...

This book jumps right in - Rick Furmanek really knows how to hook a reader and keep them hooked. This book is facinating because it shows you what's beneath the headlines, and gives you a perspective on life in post-communist Russia that only a resident could give. Rick's style and flair for descriptive writing will keep you enthralled for hours, and I am eagerly awaiting his second book.