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howtobebooks's review
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
This is an intriguing diary of political activist and Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina. It is heartfelt and almost despairing at times when Alyokhina describes the squalid conditions that she has to be imprisoned in after protesting in a church in Russia. However, her heroic efforts in jail even allowed her to gain some small victories, which makes her an activist through and through. From hunger strikes to taking prison guards to court, her determination should be lauded.
The copy that I received was unformatted making it a little difficult to follow new threads, but reading it as a journal definitely makes more sense as there are small blocks of personal day to day meanderings and quotes.
This is an intriguing diary of political activist and Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina. It is heartfelt and almost despairing at times when Alyokhina describes the squalid conditions that she has to be imprisoned in after protesting in a church in Russia. However, her heroic efforts in jail even allowed her to gain some small victories, which makes her an activist through and through. From hunger strikes to taking prison guards to court, her determination should be lauded.
The copy that I received was unformatted making it a little difficult to follow new threads, but reading it as a journal definitely makes more sense as there are small blocks of personal day to day meanderings and quotes.
lilreaderbug's review
medium-paced
1.5
Pretty disconnected and difficult to follow. While I don't think she should have been imprisoned, some of her complaints, like not being able to have lesbian sex in prison, are quite unfounded and undermine her credibility.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
spav's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, just...wow.
It is raw. It is beautiful. It is direct. Go read it, really.
It is raw. It is beautiful. It is direct. Go read it, really.
lottie1803's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
merc22's review
3.0
really interesting because i didn’t know much about the history of Pussy Riot and the political power of the resistance. the writing style was just a bit difficult for my brain to follow
rebeccaariss's review
4.0
The format felt a bit stilted, but it was a privilege to read this nonetheless. This woman is tough as nails.
ridgewaygirl's review
4.0
"Rise and shine, ladies!" shouts the warden in a voice that used to be a woman's, and bangs on the iron door with an iron key.
Maria Alyokhina was a member of the punk group Pussy Riot, and one of the women who performed their song Punk Prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Along with a few others, she went into hiding, but was eventually arrested, tried and sent to prison in a part of Russia that was formerly used for the gulag. Riot Days is her account of that time and it's fantastically punk to its core. Alyokhina is fiercely devoted to resisting Putin's dictatorship and she is uncompromising in her unwillingness to comply or keep quiet. Even her time in various prison camps is marked by her determination to protest and to improve conditions for the people around her.
Her memoir is told in the form of short segments. From the beginning, as they plan various performances - performances that were necessarily short and unannounced - she is both scared and determined. And as the state takes action against them, she clearly describes what is happening and the dire conditions she and the other prisoners live in, but she never complains or fails to stand up for those around her. We should all have her clear convictions and sheer perseverance.
Maria Alyokhina was a member of the punk group Pussy Riot, and one of the women who performed their song Punk Prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Along with a few others, she went into hiding, but was eventually arrested, tried and sent to prison in a part of Russia that was formerly used for the gulag. Riot Days is her account of that time and it's fantastically punk to its core. Alyokhina is fiercely devoted to resisting Putin's dictatorship and she is uncompromising in her unwillingness to comply or keep quiet. Even her time in various prison camps is marked by her determination to protest and to improve conditions for the people around her.
Her memoir is told in the form of short segments. From the beginning, as they plan various performances - performances that were necessarily short and unannounced - she is both scared and determined. And as the state takes action against them, she clearly describes what is happening and the dire conditions she and the other prisoners live in, but she never complains or fails to stand up for those around her. We should all have her clear convictions and sheer perseverance.
nickmasters's review against another edition
4.0
All in all, that was a very insightful read.
I had no idea of the oppressive political landscape, the political entanglement with religion, and the ongoing fight for freedom and a revolution that Russians like Maria Alyokhina and Nadya Tolokno engage in.
“A narrow sliver of light in a huge field of injustice and mistreatment”
The story itself is imbedded with engaging poetry excerpts, song lyrics, and quotes.
And although I believe Maria achieved what she set out to achieve, namely documenting her ordeals and ideals whilst portraying her strong desire to make change happen and her unwillingness to waiver from her believes, I would have loved for the story to be a little more emotional. To really understand what was going through Maria’s mind, to better appreciate the sacrifices she continually made and the risks she took with the decisions she stuck to.
“If you dream alone, the dream remains only a dream, but if you dream with others, you create reality”
Great and quick read. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Books for a review copy.
I had no idea of the oppressive political landscape, the political entanglement with religion, and the ongoing fight for freedom and a revolution that Russians like Maria Alyokhina and Nadya Tolokno engage in.
“A narrow sliver of light in a huge field of injustice and mistreatment”
The story itself is imbedded with engaging poetry excerpts, song lyrics, and quotes.
And although I believe Maria achieved what she set out to achieve, namely documenting her ordeals and ideals whilst portraying her strong desire to make change happen and her unwillingness to waiver from her believes, I would have loved for the story to be a little more emotional. To really understand what was going through Maria’s mind, to better appreciate the sacrifices she continually made and the risks she took with the decisions she stuck to.
“If you dream alone, the dream remains only a dream, but if you dream with others, you create reality”
Great and quick read. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Books for a review copy.