In Vitaly by Vitaly Magidov Kirkpatrick, we learn that his mother was a petite woman of 38, who consumed alcohol every day. She was selfish and her only concern was to survive the pain of his birth. Where others see birth as a miracle, it was a gift of freedom to her. Vitaly means full of life or the one with a desire to live. Since birth, Vitaly showed that he wanted to live despite all the odds against him. He grew up in the Peace Hospital Nursery until he was old enough to go to an orphanage on Fastivska Street. He was 12 when he was fostered by Tyotya Valya and Dyadya Grisha. He later learned that Tyotya Valya only fostered him for the money and benefits she received. After being denied money from Tyotya Valya for his exams, Vitaly decided he would never ask her for money again. He realized he had to earn his own money and provide for himself.

Vitaly: The Misadventures of a Ukrainian Orphan has a very strong message about the importance of giving everything to achieve your goal. We see that Vitaly Magidov Kirkpatrick did not let obstacles hinder him in chasing his dreams, but motivated him to find a way to overcome the obstacles. Vitaly believed that one day his life would be free and full of the joy he knew he deserved to have. He wanted to stand out with his knowledge and good grades, so he learned from a very young age that he had to work for everything he wanted. This autobiography was well written and I would recommend Vitaly to readers who like rich stories with strong messages.

Vitaly: The Misadventures of a Ukrainian Orphan by Vitaly Magidov Kirkpatrick and Linda Forrest is the autobiography of author Vitaly Magidov written with care and diligence. An orphan who started his life all alone, Vitaly knew early on that he wasn’t like other people in his life. Living in the orphanage until he was 12, Vitaly learned the basics of life there and in foster care. Hoping to figure out what really matters in life, Vitaly soon learned that it wasn’t the rat race everyone kept pushing on him. It was the hard times of living in the USSR and growing up under very special circumstances that taught Vitaly there was no cookie-cutter life and he had to carve out his own path if he wanted a happy life.

I was surprised by how the story affected me. Instead of using fancy vocabulary and overly-descriptive imagery, authors Vitaly Magidov Kirkpatrick and Linda Forrest used simple language that your average reader could understand. This trick not only helped them in making the story approachable for all readers, but it also made Vitaly’s story more relatable. The narrative read more like having a conversation with an old friend than just reading an autobiography. Although simple, the descriptions were beautiful and took me back into Vitaly’s life when he was hurting or was simply excited about the simple pleasures of life. The photographs were a nice addition and made it much easier for me to imagine the author at any point in his life. The autobiography is divided into three parts, and each of them reflects a certain point in Vitaly’s life. My favorite was Into Adulthood because that was when he had more awareness and fire to live a better life he could be proud of. I loved this book!

Truly inspiring
When I purchased this book, I thought it would be another empathetic life story. Oh boy, how wrong I was! “Vitaly” turned out to be the best book I’ve read in years.
I always believe true stories are far more exciting and interesting than Fiction. Vitaly Magidov has nailed it with his brilliant piece of work “Vitaly – The MisAdventures of a Ukrainian Orphan”. While he details the struggles he went through, he captivates the reader – ignites courage instead of empathy, seeds strong will instead of self-pity. He takes the reader on a transforming journey. I wasn’t the same person when I finished reading, and I could feel the transformation. It’s nothing short of magic.
Vitaly has engaged in simple and plain language, and that makes it easier to understand. The first-person narration he has used makes the experiences and events in the book more intimate to the reader. I felt like he was taking me on a quick trip through his life. Vitaly makes the readers trace steps of his journey, right along with him. The photographs embedded make it even more intimate and interesting while adding sentimental value.
Once I finished reading this book, it left me with a warm and cozy feeling. I felt a moment of tranquility, and It made me think about how I should reshape my outlook and approach in life. I wish I had found this book years before, in my formative years that would save lots of sweat and tears. But I’m so glad I found it now. Highly recommended!