Dasha

“Dasha,” by Violet J Weiner, is a coming of age story about Elena Juliet Yarchick--also called Leni; also called Lenska and sometimes Luni (for lunatic) by her tough-as-nails, Russian immigrant mother Dasha. Leni’s journeys (to find a father she never knew, to find herself as an artist -- to find her own, loving, self worth) take place during the great Depression and World War 2, primarily in Brooklyn, NY (my period, my home town). Leni’s narrative voice is a combination of perception, sensitivity, compassion and often wry humor. “I was the easiest delivery, for I plopped out on the floor in the emergency room at the hospital, hanging from the umbilical cord. Dasha thought she had to pass gas. It turned out to be me.” (page 2). And on page 180, this crying riff: “Laura cried because she thought she was pregnant, and Joey cried because he had failed his third driver’s test. Sal cried because he had survived the war.” The many characters are drawn and come to life in quick strokes. Dasha, through her Russian-born strength and quirkiness and tough love, by example, pressures Leni, and all her children, to navigate through difficult times.Time and place are vivid because they are rendered -- without sentimentality -- through the eyes and actions of poor folk, simply struggling (without self pity) to survive. Leni’s gifts as a sketch artist and painter are totally believable, because Ms. Weiner dramatizes (not simply narrates) those gifts. The novel is filled with Dasha’s food and food smells that often bring everyone together -- even when things seem to be falling apart. There are two characters who deserve a spin-off novel of their own: the man/woman, Helga/David and Leni’s giantess sister Anuela. That Leni’s story plays out against the backdrop of the Depression and the War, enriches the experience. Buy this book. Even if your don’t come from Brooklyn.

This book should be read by every teenager, young, middle age and older generation for it teaches about the soul existence of why we are here. It covers a journey of a young and talented girl through a life learning circle. It has the understanding of what makes people different and points out how to perceive them. Family is also explained in a humorous but yet serious and real faction.It is a must read for all young adults and especially for teens who are trying to find themselves in an uncertain world.My grown children have read and loved it and hated when it was over, for they wanted more. They are now reading it to their ten and twelve year old children. It is a great tool for parents and grandparents to use in understanding their own children and grandchildren.I highly recommend this book because it tells the family struggle, psychological, economic, and it is also a great history lesson about World War Two and the Great Depression.

The book captivated me from beginning to end. It was full of heart felt emotion, each character came to life quickly, engaging me deeper into the story. Leni, the youngest daughter who narrates the book walks us through her life making you feel like a fly on the wall in her mother Dasha's apartment.Dasha is a great read, I highly recommend it. The author does a fantastic job getting the main points across without added fluff, making the story real, raw and full of truth during very difficult war times. A must read by both young and old.