Finding Katya By Katie R. Aune Book Tour! {Ends 1/7/24}

 Review By LAWonder10:

Katie Aune’s Grandmother was special to her. Her grandmother shared the same wanderlust desire to travel. For Katie, her dream was to travel the countries and cities that used to be a part of the former Soviet Union. On her 35th Birthday, she fulfilled that dream by working with an organization and teach English in Russia. She took leave from her work for over a year.

Katie experienced a difficult childhood and still had many insecurities, even though she had gone to college, earned a law degree, and was very successful. It was remarkable that she committed to this venture, not knowing what challenges she would be forced to encounter. She states in her story that she felt it would have been wiser to take this adventure immediately after Graduate School. However, I feel in her case, it would have been too difficult a feat since she lacked the experience and confidence she obtained through the success and experience she enjoyed for a few years within her career.

This book is about her experiences and her travel to the various countries and cities of the Former Soviet Union. Her experience with the various individuals she encountered was interesting and sometimes emotional, but the most interesting parts to me were the rigid country restrictions and processing I never realized still existed. I also learned of countries I never knew existed and cities I never heard of. There was even a “ship cemetery” I never was aware existed. 

This was a well-written documentary/memoir. It was interesting and not boring. There was one “F” bomb I wish was left out of the otherwise clean story. The added illustrated maps were a nice touch.

I offer a Five-Stars literary rating.

This book was gifted to me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.