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How We Survived Communism And Even Laughed

Original edition:

W.W. Norton, New York, 1992

This essay collection draws back the Iron Curtain for a glimpse at the lives of Eastern European women under Communist regimes. Provocative, often witty, and always intensely personal, How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed cracks open a paradoxical world that through its rejection of capitalism and commoditization ends up fetishizing both. Examining the relationship between material goods and expressions of happiness and individuality in a society where even bananas were a rare luxury, Drakulić homes in on the eradication of female identity, drawing on her own experiences as well as broader cultural observations.

Seldom has such a narrative been so spirited and immediate.
Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Good
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How We Survived Communism is not only the first ever grassroots feminist critique of communism, it’s one of our first glimpses into real peoples‘ lives in prerevolutionary Eastern Europe. My world is twice as large as it was before I read this book. (Slavenka Drakulić) is brave, funny, wise and wonderfully gifted writer.
Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
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Perhaps the greatest appeal of How We Survived Communism lies in Ms. Drakulić’s skill at blending provocative analysis with the texture of everyday life: a young girl’s awe before a luxurious foreign dočč; an Eastern European’s envious amazement at the workings of the American phone system and paingul bewilderment at the vast poverty in New York…Thoughtful, beautifully written.
New York Times Book review
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Editions

2019

ЯК МИ ПЕРЕЖИЛИ КОМУНІЗМ І НАВІТЬ СМІЯЛИСЯ

Yakaboo Publishing, Kiev

2019
2014

COMMONISM RAFT, MA MANDIM VA HATA KHANDIDIM

Gomanpublishing

2014
2013

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

V. B. Z., Zagreb

2013
2008

COMO SOBREVIVEMOS AO COMUNISMO SEM PERDER O SENTIDO DE HUMOR

Pedra de Lua

2008
1997

COME SIAMO SOPRAVVISSUTE AL COMUNISMO RIUSCENDO PERSINO A RIDERE

Est, Milano

1997
1995

HVORDAN VI OVERLEVDE KOMMUNISMEN – OG KUNNE LE AV DEN

Pax, Oslo

1995
1995

HUR VI LYCKADES OVERLEVA KOMMUNISMEN MED ETT LEENDE PA LAPPARNA

Ordfronts, Stockholm

1995
1994

COME SIAMO SOPRAVISSUTE AL COMUNISMO RIUSCENDO PERSINO A RIDERE

il Saggiatore, Milano

1994
1994

HUR VI LYCKADES OVERLEVA KOMMUNISMEN MED ETT LEENDE PÅ LÄPPARNA

Ordfronts, Stockholm

1994
1993

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

Harper Perennial, New York

1993
1993

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

Vintage, London

1993
1992

HOE WIJ HET COMMUNISME OVERLEEFDEN EN BLEVEN LACHEN

de Prom, Baarn

1992
1992

LES RESTES DU COMMUNISME SONT DANS LA CASSEROLE

Jacques Bertoin, Paris

1992
1992

KAKO SMO PREZIVELI KOMUNIZEM IN SE CELO SMEJALI

Rotis, Maribor

1992
1992

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

W.W. Norton, New York

1992
1992

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

Hutchinson, London

1992
1/1/2019

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Essays & Reviews About Book

WIE WIR DEN KOMMUNISMUS ÜBERSTANDEN – UND DENNOCH LACHTEN

Rowohlt Verlag Berlin, 1991
  • (1991). Hologrami komunizma. SVIJET, November 22nd, p. 60
  • Mayer, Susanne (1991). Trotzdem gelacht. Review, DIE ZEIT No. 38, Sept 12, p. 111
  • Liebermann, Doris (1991). Slavenka Drakulić: Wie wir den Kommunismus überstanden - und dennoch lachten. Review, SWF BADEN-BADEN
  • Mittag, Gabriele: Mikrokosmos Alltag. Review, Feb 28

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

Hutchinson, London, 1992
  • Chiles, Adrian (2019). My mum is a zero-waste icon – she made us drink squash from old yoghurt pots. Article, THE GUARDIAN, May 16. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/16/my-mum-zero-waste-icon-drink-squash-old- yoghurt-pots-adrian-chiles?fbclid=IwAR23JvJoq5LNNCVxMAETlUB6CJJKxuyQRQxx7LGcLNCKV6- kU_JKrFJufx0
  • Prince, Chris (2015). „Endut! Hoch Hech!“: Confronting Stereotypes About Everyday Life in Communist Eastern Europe – by Chris Prince. Blog The view East, July 27th. Available at: https://thevieweast.wordpress.com/category/history/
  • Novakovich, Josip (1994). Review: How we survived communism and even laughed. PRAIRIE SCHOONER, Vol. 68, No. 1 (Spring), pp. 157-162
  • Politica Exterior, Vol. 7, Issues 33-34 (1993), Prensa Espanola, (p. 234 cites How we survived communism)
  • Borden, Anthony (1993). An everyday story from the front line. Review, YORKSHIRE POST, February 25, p. 13
  • (1992). Feminist books. Review, EVERYWOMAN, June, p. 12
  • Deveraux, Elizabeth (1992). Slavenka Drakulić: The feminist from Zagreb. Review, ELLE, May, p. 114
  • Jones, Nicolette (1992). Here we go. Review, THE BOOKSELLER, May 1
  • Turner, Jenny (1992). Self-Disclosing Days. Review, LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS, April 23, p. 17
  • Boyle, Jon (1992). Red hot on charm but outpaced by changes. Review, THE BIRMINGHAM POST, April 18
  • Briggs, Steve (1992). In stitches behind the Iron Curtain. Review, SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY, February 2
  • Tomin, Zdena (1992). Smiles and struggles. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY REVIEW, February 15
  • Hughes, Lindsey (1992). Out of grandmother's store cupboard. Review, THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, January 31
  • (1992). Witnesses that no-one wants. Review, UK PRESS GAZETTE, January 27
  • Brandon, Linda (1992). Dreams of democracy. Review, THE SUNDAY TIMES, January 26
  • Benn, Melissa (1992). Blood and lipstick. Interview, THE GUARDIAN, January 23, p. 17
  • Lee, Pat (1992). Surviving the fall. Review, YORKSHIRE POST, January 20
  • Laird, Sally (1992). Fear and bits of string. Review, OBSERVER, January 19
  • Jones, Nicolette (1990). The deals of the year. Review, THE BOOKSELLER, Dec 21 & 28, p. 1844 Benn, Melissa (1992). Vogue desire. Review, NEW STATESMAN & SOCIETY, January 24, p. 39
  • Carmichael, Cathie Slavenka Drakulic: How we survived communism and even laughed. Review
  • , E. .... and Slavenka's slutions. Review, DAILY TELEGRAPH, January 24
  • Dalley, Jan The history of socialism in soft pink rolls.

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

W. W. Norton, New York, 1992
  • (2013). Si ia hodem komunizmit, madje duke qeshur (excerpt from How we survived communism). MILOSAO, January 1st
  • Shukin, Sophie (2012). How We Survived Communism And Even Laughed: Women and Communism. Essay, ESSAI, Vol. 10, Article 31, January 4th. Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/essai/vol10/iss1/31
  • Feminist Review, issue 45 (2005): Thinking Through Ethnicities (cites How we survived communism)
  • (1995). The best of the East. Review, NEWSWEEK, April 3, p. 44-45
  • Katzmann, Pat (1992). Short takes: How we survived communism and even laughed. Review, EXPRESS BOOKS, August, p. 12
  • Bojić, Jasmina (1992). Krah komunističkog mejkapa. Interview, BORBA, September 21, p. 20
  • (1992). Noted with pleasure. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 9, p. 35
  • Young, Cathy (1992). Her life through their eyes. Review, THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 19
  • Thompson, Ewa (1992). Daily life under communism: 2 seasoned journalists focus on little things. Review, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, March 29
  • Okenfuss, Max J. (1992). A woman's view of life under communism. Review, March 22
  • Hitchens, Christopher (1992). Tracts and toilet paper: the seting red sun. Review, NEWSDAY, November 3
  • Stec, Loretta (1992). Review: How we survived communism and even laughed. NWSA JOURNAL, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Autumn), pp. 398-400
  • Munk, Erika (1992). Review: How we survived communism and even laughed. THE WOMEN'S REVIEW OF BOOKS, Vol. 9, No. 8 (May), pp. 1+3-4
  • Despard, Lucy (1992). Review: How we survived communism and even laughed. FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Vol. 71, No. 2 (Spring), p. 208
  • Irvin, Zachary T. (1992). Drakulić, Slavenka: How we survived communism and even laughed. LIBRARY JOURNAL, March 15th, p. 104
  • (1992). Destination where?. Review, THE ECONOMIST, January 11, p. 83

KAKO SMO PREŽIVELI KOMUNIZEM IN SE CELO SMEJALI

Rotis, Maribor, 1992
  • , I. (1993). Literarna soareja s Slavenko Drakulić. Review, DELO, February 16
  • Košir, Manca (1992). O komunizmu s pogledom od spodaj. Review, NAŠI RAZGLEDI, September 25, p. 611
  • Kave ne moreš piti sam. Review, LJUBLJANA, July 2
  • , M. Sistem iz ženske perspektive. Review, DELO

LES RESTES DU COMMUNISME

Jacques Bertoin, 1992
  • Gauron, André (1992). Est: le choc liberal. Review, LE LETTRE INTERNATIONALE, Winter, p. 6-11
  • Petit, Philippe (1992). Le communisme, arriere-cuisines. Review, LA CROIX, November 2
  • Petit, Philippe (1992). Le communisme n'était qu'un tigre de papier... hygiénique!. Interview, L'EVENMENT DE JEUDI, October 29, p. 124
  • Erhel, Jean-Yves (1992). Pourvu qu'on s'entre-tue sans bruit. Interview, OUEST FRANCE, October 25
  • Fortias, Alain: Voyage dans les cuisines de l'Europe de l'Est. Review

HOE WIJ HET COMMUNISME OVERLEEFDEN EN BLEVEN LACHEN

Baarn, de Prom, 1992
  • Bentz van den Ber, Adinda (1992). De grimlach van Slavenka D. Review, MAANBLAD VAN DE NED. VROUWENBEWEGING, July/August, p. 16
  • de Greyter, Caroline (1992). Een bundel plastic zakken. Review, ELSEVIER, May 9, p. 128
  • de Haes, Leo (1992). Slavenka Drakulic: de derde wereld in Europa. Review, DE NIEUWE MAAND, May, p. 32-35
  • Tinnemans, Will (1992). Zwarte sneeuw. Review, INTERMEDIAIR No. 18, May 1, p. 57
  • de Moor, Piet (1992). Toiletpapier als symbool van communistische ideologie. Review, DE VOLKSRANT, February 1

HOW WE SURVIVED COMMUNISM AND EVEN LAUGHED

Harper Perennial, New York, 1992
  • Moser, Michaela (1996). When East Meets West. THE ECOLOGIST (Vol. 26), May/June, p. 119-120
  • Bogener, Tonia R. (1995). Reviewed work: How we survived communism and even laughed. SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH, Vol. 35, No. 1 (May), 121-125. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27522834
  • Borden, Anthony (1993). An everyday story from the front line. Review, YORKSHIRE POST, February 29, p. 13
  • Fallon, Brian (1993). Review, THE IRISH TIMES, February 27
  • (1993). Book of no laughter and not forgetting. Review, HAM & HIGH, January 29, p. 28

HUR VI LYCKADES OVERLEVA KOMMINISMEN MED ETT LEENDE PA LAPPARNA

Ordfronts, Stockholm, 1994
  • Lindell, Karin (1995). Leendets och glömskans böcker. Review, PRESSES TIDNING, February, p. 20
  • (1994). Toapapper eller inte, det är frågan. Article, ORDFRONT MAGASIN No. 5, p. 2-7
  • Lundberg, Johan (1994). Det mest triviala blev det största misslyckandet. Review, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, November 11
  • Kellberg, Christina (1994). Budapests New York. Article, DAGENS NYHETER, October 2
  • Svensson, Per (1994). Köttätandets högsta stadium. Review, EXPRESSEN, September 8, p. 4
  • Rosin, Mats (1994). Enastående vardagsrapport om livet i öst. Review, VÄSTERBOTTENS FOLKBLAD, September 8
  • Berggren, Henrik (1994). Tamponger och en tårtbit. Review, DAGENS NYHETER, September 8
  • MAnsson, Karin (1994). Hudnäraskildring av kommunismens haveri. Review, ARBETARBLADET, September 9
  • Martinsson, Roland (1994). Politiken på toaletten. Review, KVÄLLSPOSTEN, September 8
  • Thor, Clas (1994). Medan soppan stod på spisen bröt kommunismen samman. Review, NERIKES ALLEHANDA-NERIKES TIDNINGEN, September 8
  • Alagic, Zoran (1994). En röst att lyssna noga till. Review NORRBOTTENS-KURIREN, September 8
  • Karlsson, Jan (1994). Leendet har stelnat. Review, ÖSTGÖTA CORRESPONDENTEN, September 8
  • Polvall, Tomas (1994). Historien synlig när Drakulic skriver. Review, SUNDSVALLS TIDNING, September 8

COME SIAMO SOPRAVVISSUTE AL COMUNISMO, RIUSCENDO PERSINO A SORRIDERE

Il Saggiatore, Milano, 1994
  • Viviani, Lucianna (1994). Uno sguardo senza trucchi nel beauty - case del socialismo reale. Review, IL MANIFESTO, June 30
  • Grieco, Paolo (1992). Nei loro cassetti non c'erano sogni. Review, L'ECO DI BERGAMO, July 31

KAKO SMO PREŽIVJELI

Feral Tribune, Split, 1997

THEATRE PLAY, KAKO SMO PREŽIVJELE, d. Dino Mustafić (ZKM Theatre, Zagreb. Premiere was on May 8th 2014, 8 PM) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ3oTAVtICg