A delightful anthology of thirty short pieces and one extraordinary screenplay—tales of defiance and impudence. You will find yourself doubled over with laughter at her interview with the FBI and caught up in the suspense of her stories of a sensuous but sometimes threatening paradise in Mexico. Endlessly inventive, Mourka’s talent shines in multicolored reflections.
—Laura Shaine Cunningham, author of Sleeping Arrangements and A Place in the Country
Generous, feisty, and pulsing with life, these stories and performance pieces by the irrepressible Margarita “Mourka” Meyendorff leap off the page in “grand jetes of rebellion.” Born in a Displaced Persons camp and raised in Nyack’s expatriate Russian community, Mourka chafed under parental restraints and slammed out the door with potato soup on her shoes. “I admit my exits have a certain theatrical flair,” she writes. So do her entrances, and everything in between. Whether she’s backstage with Rudolf Nureyev, topless at poolside, locked in an all-night carwash, or dodging a Mexican earthquake, Mourka creates an adventure at every turn. Flipping the Bird is a streak of sheer joy.
— Nina Shengold, author of Clearcut and Reservoir Year
“Mourka captivated our audiences in New York City, taking listeners deep inside the experience of her stories. Her wry and insightful style earned her a following I came to think of as our first fan club. Mourka is that rare writer/performer who lights up both the page and the stage.”
—Edward McCann, Founder, Read650.org
FLIPPING THE BIRD is an anthology of 30 short pieces and one screenplay —-stories of defiance and impudence in the face of injustice, both public and private. Margarita Meyendorff, the author, maintains her insouciance, a charm which helps her survive even such dire circumstances as being detained by Serbian officers during war, and as lighthearted as slipping backstage for private time with Rudolph Nureyev. Her tales always surprise and delight, and often move us with their depth of feeling. This collection is steeped in her Russian background and she serves up a zakuska of flavorful memories –all spiced with her spirit.