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silver_lining_in_a_book's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Paradise: If communism is Paradise, why do we need barriers, walls, and laws to keep people from escaping?
Like any of Ruta Sepetys' books, I Must Betray You is a masterpiece of historical fiction and should serve as a reminder to other historical fiction authors of the responsibility they have to accurately and honestly portray the experiences of people who have lived through the true historical events. This specific story was very close to my heart as one side of my family is Romanian and had to live through the oppressive communist regime that suffocated many different nations and communities.
How could we expect others to feel our pain or hear our cries for help when all we could do was whisper?
I was a little disappointed when at the start of this book as the dry writing style and the slow, uneventful nature of the book grated on me. It did not quite feel like the previous books I have read from this author, but I do think this served a purpose. It put me in the mind of Cristian, our protagonist, and the muted, grey atmosphere he was constantly living in. The beginning feels cold, dull and suffocating because that is very much what life under Ceausescu was like.
Good luck comes at a price. Bad luck is free.
The more I read, the more I fell in love with these characters, who felt real and - more notably - absolutely terrified. The nagging sensation that you were being spied on, monitored and manipulated was a constant and Sepetys captured it so well. The entire scope of the story is not visible to the reader - not even having reached the end of the book - and that is so representative of the lack of clarity and closure that many Romanians had to deal with following Romania's fight for independence.
An old woman is fast asleep when she hears a knock at the door.
Who is it? she whispers, terrified.
It is death, the voice answers.
Oh, good. I thought it might be the Securitate.
The interactions in this book were so human, which was what really stood out for me. People were not fighting or dreaming of a better life, they were simply doing the best that they could to survive. It is important to note that this novel is intended for a younger audience than myself, so certain parts of the book did feel a little bit simplified or sugar-coated to allow for these readers to digest the information. I would love to have seen a more in-depth exploration of this period in time, but - for what Sepetys intended - I think this book was successful.
As the saying goes, better to die standing than live kneeling.
I do not think that this book is perfect. I think there are some issues with the characterisation of certain characters, its pacing and how easily certain issues are brushed over. However, I do think that it is very important. The longer I sit with this book, the more I feel that it has had a profound impact on me -- I feel like I am living in 1989 Romania and I can feel the fear and paranoia that many of my family members experienced. I am incredibly grateful to Ruta Sepetys for creating this work of art; it is a time period and a people that do not get as much consideration and attention as they deserve.
You’re wrong. They steal our power by making us believe we don’t have any. They’re controlling us through our own fear.
Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Addiction, Grief, Alcohol, and Police brutality
Minor: Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Xenophobia
greylandreviews's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A really informative and interesting book. I really like when Sepetys only writes from one point of view. When she does multiple, it just becomes jumbly and pacing is kind of thrown off. The narrator for this one was good also.
I never knew this about Romania and I'm really glad I learned about it. Giving a voice to a silent past is what Sepetys is a master at.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Animal cruelty, Blood, Alcohol, Death, Excrement, Body horror, Violence, Medical trauma, Genocide, Gore, War, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Cancer, and Sexual assault
readingwithkaitlyn's review
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Death, Torture, Murder, War, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Violence, Police brutality, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gore
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Excrement
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Classism, and Alcohol
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Genocide, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
Minor: Antisemitism, Deportation, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia
charliethebooklover's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ruta Sepetys never disappoints! This is the third book of hers I have read, and it's just as full of emotion, twists, and good characters. She gives a voice to people that didn't have one, and tells stories for those who can't. While I don't think that any of her books could top Salt to The Sea, one of my all-time favorites, they're still so great to read, yet heart wrenching at the same time. I must betray is a boom where I never knew who I could trust, and every reveal was just as heart-pounding as the previous. Truly the queen of historical fiction. If you're interested, try it out! As always, check the content warnings, because mental health comes first!
Graphic: Death, War, Police brutality, Murder, Gun violence, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Genocide
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Suicide