Reviews

Good Citizens Need Not Fear: Stories by Maria Reva

musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

In Good Citizens Need Not Fear, the residents of a building in a town in Ukraine find unique ways to weather the end of the USSR. 

I quite liked this book. I found the stories absurd but believable (for the most part) and truly enjoyed seeing the neighbour’s stories weave into one another. I especially enjoyed following Zaya’s story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Medical content

lela's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Great collection of connected stories with  beautiful, emotive writing
Bone Music and Homecoming were my favorites

cleogray's review

dark funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Terminal illness

jaqofmosttrades's review

5.0

Incredible incredible. This is such a classic! Perfect for life right now, when we’re all a little bit like olives in a tin.

tessjx's review

5.0

A fantastic collection of short stories about a cast who live in the same building, it is bizarre as it (appears) genuine. I adored it:

annabella82's review

5.0

I really enjoyed this one. I found it to be well thought out and well-written.

I liked the interconnection of the stories, the USSR setting, and the unique, crazy, intense characters...I wish there was more.

aeeklund's review

4.0

4.5 stars

corinneavital's review

When I was kid, I was rarely allowed to go to sleepovers. "You have your own bed, why would you want to sleep in someone else's?" was the constant refrain. Back in the Soviet Union, where everyone in my family but me was from, sleeping in someone else's home meant you didn't have one yourself. Which is to say, these stories hit. The comically full apartments, the blurred line between absurdity and reality wrought by the specific authoritarian styles of the Soviet state, the specific type of humor created to deal with it—this book was so welcomingly familiar and stylistically spot on.

Super curious to see how those with no connections to the Soviet Union receive it.

barbala's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ellievancuren's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5