#VelshiBannedBookClub: 'Grey Bees' by Andrey Kurkov

What is “home” when a foreign enemy has destroyed your neighborhood, your garden, and your feeling of safety? Andrey Kurkov explores this concept and more in his satirical novel “Grey Bees”. Says Kurkov, “The concept of home for Ukrainians is very important – it’s more than a castle.” Andrey and his life is a story in an of itself – he is one of Ukraine's most prolific and most well-regarded writers, publishing some 13 novels and 5 children's books, and writing more than 20 scripts for feature films and documentaries. Born in Russia in 1961, but raised in Ukraine, he writes his books in the Russian language but readily and often clarifies -- “I write in Russian. I am not a Russian writer. All writing in Ukraine belongs to Ukraine.” As Russian troops crossed the border this time last year, he received a warning from a friend that he, along with other Ukrainian writers and artists, was on a list of so-called “pro-Ukrainian activists” – essentially a black-list with potentially life-threatening consequences. Of course, his work is banned in Russia. Since then, he has dedicated himself to contextualizing the war for the entire world through articles, radio, lectures, television appearances, and of course, his books. » Subscribe to MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc Follow MSNBC Show Blogs MaddowBlog: https://www.msnbc.com/maddowblog ReidOut Blog: https://www.msnbc.com/reidoutblog MSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House, The ReidOut, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and Alex Wagner who brings her breadth of reporting experience to MSNBC primetime. Watch “Alex Wagner Tonight” Tuesday through Friday at 9pm Eastern. Connect with MSNBC Online Visit msnbc.com: http://on.msnbc.com/Readmsnbc Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily Newsletter: MSNBC.com/NewslettersYouTube Find MSNBC on Facebook: http://on.msnbc.com/Likemsnbc Follow MSNBC on Twitter: http://on.msnbc.com/Followmsnbc Follow MSNBC on Instagram: http://on.msnbc.com/Instamsnbc #BannedBooks #Velshi #MSNBC