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meggomyeggo1210's review
4.0
This memoir was really interesting. I learned a lot about Russia and Pussy Riot . Despite the dire conditions of the prisons Alyokhina lived in, she continued protesting and was able to publicize the human rights violations and win a court case against the prison guards. I'm really glad I picked this book up. It was a bit difficult for me to follow at times because the writing was disjointed at times, and I had to look up a lot since I don't know much about Russia. Overall, a pretty quick, engaging memoir by a very impressive woman.
cjothom's review
5.0
'Riot Days' is a terrifying account of Maria Alyokhina's, a member of the activist band Pussy Riot, arrest, prosecution, and time spent in jail for doing something as simple as standing up for what she believed in. Alyokhina fought for what was right both outside of prison and inside. When we think of freedom and democracy, we believe that they could never be taken away from us. We've all heard people say "that just doesn't happen here". Sadly, it can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. To create change, we must stand up for what is right and demand that our voices be heard. 'Riot Days' was a beautiful, awful reminder that these things can, in fact, happen here. I'll leave you with an inspiring quote from Alyokhina herself, "Freedom does not exist unless you fight for it every day. This is the story about how I made a choice. We are all Pussy Riot. And actions break fear. 'To Back Down an Inch is to Give Up a Mile'."
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books (UK) for giving me the opportunity to read this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books (UK) for giving me the opportunity to read this.
henryv's review
5.0
The book describes the performance, arrest, and prison term, of Maria Alyokhina, in deft, immediate, and succinct ‘beat’ style lingo, illustrated with her drawings. The text is refreshing on the open page, well spaced out. As one of the key members of #pussyriot , @nadyariot her bravery shines out for her courageous activism which continues to this day. On 21 February 2012 the band performed their anti-Putin, anti-patriarchy Punk Prayer, called "Holy Shit", on the altar at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Critical of the relationship between the orthodox Church and Putin, with lines including “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, chase Putin out”, or “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Be a feminist! Be a feminist!” the band managed to escape after the performance, but the video went viral, leading to their arrest and imprisonment. Testament to her punk character and iron resolve, the book describes the terrible prison conditions, and how, even in confinement, Maria Alyokhina was ceaseless in her activities, protesting on behalf of her fellow inmates for successful penal reforms.
I'd also recommend her fellow Pussy Rioteer #nadezhdatolokonnikova prison letters to #slavojzizek , available on @Guardian website.
I'd also recommend her fellow Pussy Rioteer #nadezhdatolokonnikova prison letters to #slavojzizek , available on @Guardian website.
erikoreads's review against another edition
5.0
Super interesting read, enjoyed the quoted extracts and illustrations interspersed through her activist account.
vera_k's review against another edition
4.0
After having visited the exhibition in Louisiana and seeing the "Riot Days" show I already knew a lot of what was in this book, but that only made me want to read it more. It is an incredibly important book, as it gives an insight into how the Russian prison system actually is from someone who lived through it. I would absolutely tell everyone who has a slight interest in human rights to read this and feel empowered to do something themselves based on the bravery of other women.
tiffany_aching99's review against another edition
5.0
I only have 25 pages left and I am on 175. I want this all to end for Masha, but not for me. Reading this comes at a funny but influential time. Three weeks before I start university. Two weeks ago Masha was banned from flying out of Russia to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. You know what she did? She drove 600 miles to Lithuania via Belarus so she could catch a flight that way. Lithuania is in the European Union, and Belarus doesn't have too tight security. She was determined not to let her fans down. Determined not to let Putin win. The Russian Revolution is happening, right now. She cannot be contained, will always be free. But now she is afraid about what will happen next when she goes home. After learning all this, I am filled with enamour for Masha. And I know I am ridiculously lucky to have spoken to her after the gig in Leeds, even in a brief few moments.
As I read Riot Days, I fear for Masha's safety. I only wish she would stay in the UK. But something about her never left the Russian prisons. She is strong but vulnerable, filled with compassion for others and the spirit of a protester. No matter what happens, she keeps on fighting for human rights and her humanity only grows deeper. She speaks for those who do not have a voice, who have had it taken away or stay silent, living a life in fear. She knows Russia needs her. She made her choice a long time ago. So she will be back. Her bravery is to be reckoned with. In Berezniki she was 1 in 1000, not including all those women who came to the prison before her and were released or fallen, living lives of deprivation and suffering. Always prisoners. Masha is a synonym of activist in my book. To Back Down an Inch is to Give Up a Mile.
If I could buy 100 copies of a book to distribute to friends, family, libraries... Leave around train stations... On buses... Hide them in the city to be found by strangers... This is book would be it. In future I could be in that position. If the copy of Riot Days in your hand was found by you in the second-class compartment when boarding the train from Manchester to Liverpool, and you are reading this review now... That was probably me. And I boarded at Leeds. I could even be sat opposite you right now. Hi 👋
Don't be tempted to return this book, the gift must move.
Some complain about the format of Riot Days and how it is fragmented. I wonder how you would feel, having only your mother's watch to separate one hour from another. This book is a work of art. It is poetic, funny and heart-wrenching. I will never be able to look at pasta the same way again. This book is like a play or screenplay, so if you aren't fortunate enough to have seen it, as reenacted by balaclava clad Pussy Riot in Russian, live, with music for dramatic effect and film as a visual backdrop, it may not come to life for you. Just as a magnificent work of Shakespeare wouldn't. This book is essentially the English subtitles to a story that everyone needs to know, because "what happened in Russia - to me - could happen to anyone anywhere". Reading this book, I smile, remembering one of the most inspiring nights of my life. Anyone can be Pussy Riot.
No more pages. The book is finished now, but the story keeps going on.
Pussy Riot are still touring the UK as we speak. If you only catch one show this, or any year, may it be a Pussy Riot gig.
If you only read one book this, or any year, may it be Riot Days.
We are Pussy Riot.
As I read Riot Days, I fear for Masha's safety. I only wish she would stay in the UK. But something about her never left the Russian prisons. She is strong but vulnerable, filled with compassion for others and the spirit of a protester. No matter what happens, she keeps on fighting for human rights and her humanity only grows deeper. She speaks for those who do not have a voice, who have had it taken away or stay silent, living a life in fear. She knows Russia needs her. She made her choice a long time ago. So she will be back. Her bravery is to be reckoned with. In Berezniki she was 1 in 1000, not including all those women who came to the prison before her and were released or fallen, living lives of deprivation and suffering. Always prisoners. Masha is a synonym of activist in my book. To Back Down an Inch is to Give Up a Mile.
If I could buy 100 copies of a book to distribute to friends, family, libraries... Leave around train stations... On buses... Hide them in the city to be found by strangers... This is book would be it. In future I could be in that position. If the copy of Riot Days in your hand was found by you in the second-class compartment when boarding the train from Manchester to Liverpool, and you are reading this review now... That was probably me. And I boarded at Leeds. I could even be sat opposite you right now. Hi 👋
Don't be tempted to return this book, the gift must move.
Some complain about the format of Riot Days and how it is fragmented. I wonder how you would feel, having only your mother's watch to separate one hour from another. This book is a work of art. It is poetic, funny and heart-wrenching. I will never be able to look at pasta the same way again. This book is like a play or screenplay, so if you aren't fortunate enough to have seen it, as reenacted by balaclava clad Pussy Riot in Russian, live, with music for dramatic effect and film as a visual backdrop, it may not come to life for you. Just as a magnificent work of Shakespeare wouldn't. This book is essentially the English subtitles to a story that everyone needs to know, because "what happened in Russia - to me - could happen to anyone anywhere". Reading this book, I smile, remembering one of the most inspiring nights of my life. Anyone can be Pussy Riot.
No more pages. The book is finished now, but the story keeps going on.
Pussy Riot are still touring the UK as we speak. If you only catch one show this, or any year, may it be a Pussy Riot gig.
If you only read one book this, or any year, may it be Riot Days.
We are Pussy Riot.