How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed

How does communism produce personal tragedies for Drakulić and women she knows? In what ways is grief a major theme of her work?

How does Drakulić use food and product shortages to illustrate the effects of communism on family relationships?

Describe how women in Eastern Europe strive to address their interest in fashion, makeup, and other pursuits often coded as feminine. How does Drakulić position this as an act of resistance and defiance, and how does her own daughter participate in this tradition?