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Honoring Those Who Endured
Leap Year Torn Apart is a deeply emotional and poetic exploration of personal and collective memory, set against the backdrop of Stalinist Russia. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing this book was a deeply personal journey for me. It began with the birth of my daughter, who is named after my late mother. She was born in April, just a few days before the anniversary of my mother’s passing. This poignant timing became an emotional catalyst for me to leave my daughter—and future generations—a lasting account of the tragedy that befell our family.
As I delved into the writing process, the story naturally evolved. What began as a deeply personal recounting of loss expanded into a broader reflection, connecting our family’s suffering with the shared pain of thousands of families during the final years of Stalin’s rule.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I have long wanted to preserve the events that shaped my family’s history before we planted our roots in Canada. It was important to highlight my parents’ determination, resilience, and especially my mother’s unwavering commitment to preserving her cultural and ethnic identity, even in the face of immense hardship.
I also hope the book serves a larger purpose. Believing in the power of storytelling—that “the pen is mightier than the sword”—I want future generations to develop a deeper appreciation for our historical struggles. My hope is that, through understanding these struggles, they will gain a stronger sense of themselves and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
How did you decide what to include and leave out in your book?
Childhood memories don’t unfold as a straightforward timeline; they linger as flashpoints—events that imprint themselves deeply on the subconscious, especially when they’re marked by tragedy. These moments stay with us forever.
For example, I could never forget accompanying my grandmother to meet my father when he returned from the Gulag or those monthly trips we made together to collect a meager allowance because she had been designated as my guardian. These memories were already vivid and complete in my mind. My task as a writer was simply to capture them honestly, without embellishment or omission.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers understand that the notion of people like us leaving Russia because we were unpatriotic, greedy, or selfish is entirely false.
It is no exaggeration when I wrote: “…thousands grew up like me, their lives’ pages torn out by evil.” If anything, I should have said tens of thousands. The lives of countless families were shattered and destroyed by Stalin and his enablers.
I firmly believe that those who left Russia once the gates of freedom opened carried with them profound memories of suffering, many just as tragic as my own. I hope my story not only sheds light on these truths but also honors those who endured similar fates.
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The English translation is followed by the rhymed Russian original.
Initially written in Russian and translated into English by the author in collaboration with the late Canadian-American poet Jayne Berland, this tale draws heavily from Soviet media narratives of the time.
These publications maligned Jews who were leaving the Soviet Union in growing numbers, accusing them of unpatriotic motives, material greed, and selfishness.
This propaganda aimed to obscure the harsh realities faced by Jews in Russia: feelings of exclusion, limited opportunities for professional advancement, and restricted access to prestigious educational institutions. Jewish individuals who publicly resisted these injustices faced severe persecution, as did those who chose to emigrate, encountering both humiliation and state opposition to their cultural identities.
This rhymed narrative serves as a powerful counterpoint to Soviet propaganda.
It is a factual account of what befell one Jewish family during Stalin’s final years-a time when his paranoia turned viciously against the country’s Jewish intellectual and medical communities. Stalin’s delusions, abetted by his brutal security apparatus, cast a shadow over all Jews in positions of authority, civilian or military.
To survivors-and more often, to the families of those who perished during Stalin’s purges-the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the USSR would later send official letters, some reading: “The case of [individual’s name] is hereby dismissed based on complete absence of evidence of a crime.”
One such letter arrived for the author’s father as well.
This rhymed tale is intertwined with the emotional arrival of a daughter, named after the author’s late mother, and stands as a lasting tribute to one family’s resilience and legacy.
Leap Year Torn Apart
Leap Year Torn Apart by Alex Khayutin is a deeply emotional and poetic exploration of personal and collective memory, set against the backdrop of Stalinist Russia. This rhymed tale captures the legacy of the author’s mother, a woman whose unwavering faith and tragic passing continue to resonate across generations. Khayutin intertwines his family’s suffering with broader themes of resilience, identity, and displacement, all while reflecting on the enduring impact of history on personal lives.
Khayutin’s writing struck me with its raw honesty and vivid imagery. Take, for instance, his description of the grandmother walking through a bustling train station, clutching a small package with trembling hands but no visible tears. This scene, filled with sensory detail, melting ice cream, the sound of May Day parades, effortlessly evokes both the innocence of childhood and the weight of historical trauma. The juxtaposition of such tender moments with stark depictions of persecution is a testament to Khayutin’s ability to navigate the full spectrum of human experience.
I found the narrative’s structure particularly compelling. The non-linear storytelling, jumping from childhood memories to reflections on Stalinist atrocities, mimics the fractured nature of memory. In one haunting passage, Khayutin recalls his mother’s questioning by the KGB. The relentless repetition underscores the grinding toll of systemic oppression. This choice of form amplifies the emotional impact, making the reader feel as though they are piecing together fragments of a broken past. Some lines, while beautifully written, required re-reading to fully grasp their meaning. This style, while evocative, might challenge readers unaccustomed to lyrical prose. Yet, the effort to unpack these lines feels rewarding, as they carry layers of meaning that deepen upon reflection.
Leap Year Torn Apart is a powerful and intimate portrayal of loss, perseverance, and legacy. Khayutin’s voice is both unique and universal, speaking to anyone who has grappled with their place in history or sought to preserve the memory of loved ones. I’d recommend this book to readers who appreciate poetic storytelling, historical narratives, and heartfelt reflections on family and faith. It’s a story that lingers, much like the memories it seeks to honor.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0DMKZHVJN
LITERARY TITAN 