If You Loved Angela's Ashes, You Will Love A Mountain of Crumbs

Dreary rain fell all day as I worked on a piece about St Petersburg, Russia today, fitting as I remember cold rain on my walk home from the Grand Hotel to the wonderful Corinthia in St Petersburg a few months ago. I loved that city and my room there. As things often do in travel writing things gel. I also happened upon a book that I love in my hands, all about growing up in Leningrad, now St Petersburg. I admit that any book that has a blurb by the now deceased Frank McCourt is an automatic must for me. Any fan of Angela’s Ashes will also really love, A Mountain of Crumbs, by Elena Gorokhova. It has the same feel for place and situation; it opened a St Petersburg that Frank did for Limerick and Ireland during a time that has past.