Crossing Borders and Generations by Kiril Kristoff

Pushing the boundaries of time, belief, and blood, Crossing Borders and Generations: One Man’s Journey to Search for His Ukrainian, Greek, and Bulgarian Roots by Kiril Kristoff is a thought-provoking work of historical fiction drawn from a very real family legacy.

When an icy road leaves George Kakhovskiy and his grandson comatose in the hospital, their internal journey through the past becomes a shared window of connection, understanding, and revelation. Encompassing six generations of the Kakhovskiy family, this novel explores the immigrant experience in America, the challenges of assimilation, the power of faith, and the range of cultural traditions that survived the long trek from Eastern Europe.

The writing is creative and curious, reflecting different historical periods and personalities with ease, though the halting nature of the prose can sometimes be jarring, and some repetitive language choices are hard to ignore. However, the looping nature of the plot is satisfying and relatable, with George journeying back to his Soviet bloc homeland with Alex to unearth the family tree they had explored in their shared dreamscape. Blurring the line of memoir and magical realism, the novel challenges readers to think about everything from ghosts and time travel to bigotry, loyalty, and freedom.

A unique tale that tests the limits of its genre, this inspirational story of resilience and reflection strikes a timely chord in our modern world, where borders and bloodlines still hold such definitive power.