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monica_requejo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
smart_girls_love_trashy_books's review against another edition
5.0
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-
I've been interested in the ex-Soviet sphere ever since I was in high school. More than a passing phase, I devoured all I could about these countries, their histories, and their cultures. It's been hard. Everything is blockaded in untranslated volumes or watered-down for the West by the West. There's no real interest in covering or learning about these atrocities so many people are still reeling from. For years I basically only had Ruta Sepetys. That's why finding a book like this was a breath of fresh air to me. Reminiscent of the very same things I hope to write someday soon, how could I not love this?
It destroyed my emotions. That's the best and perhaps only thing I can say about this book. Despite being fast-paced and thus simple to read and easy to get through, it's by no means a light book. It's heavy and hard, even moreso because it happened to real people, inspired by what her grandmother went through, an event that has actual photographs taken of it. It's raw, harrowing, and stark. The reliance on cannibalism, the people dying in the snow from exhaustion, the woman collapsing and dying in a food line. As someone familiar with going hungry, forced to eat old food or non-food stuff to get energy, a lot of those scenes resonated with me and made me relate. I felt for them. I knew about the Holodomor before I read this book, yet I was still horrified by everything that happened. I couldn't imagine what it'd be like to have this be your first exposure to the event.
I've read so many books about Russia and other Slavic countries written by Americans who don't know anything about the people they're writing about and usually don't care to do proper research. Reading something from a third-generation Ukrainian was almost therapeutic for me in a way. The names were Ukrainian despite being easy to remember for Westerners, not Russian names, the traditions were correct, nobody gets drunk off kvass, the surnames aren't gendered because Ukrainian doesn't do that....it was all so wonderful.
Of course, the book isn't without its flaws. Namely, the stuff in the present day. I feel bad ragging on it because I did like it, but I'm just burned-out on every historical fiction novel I read lately having the dual timelines. It was a unique gimmick years ago but now I feel it's gotten stale. Another book I read earlier this year did the same thing and to me at least, the story set in the past is always more infinitely engaging and interesting than the one set in the present. And funnily enough, both books are inspired by events in the authors' lives. It wasn't bad, they had the same themes and the ending was very sweet, but I also felt the characters were flatter and the stakes much lower. Not unnecessary, I wouldn't go that far, but it really needed some tightening up.
However, despite the weaknesses, I still think this book is deserving and worthy of my coveted five stars. To give it anything less feels like an insult to it and the stark horror it portrays a real event with that even today still too little here in the West know of. Something that sadly will just keep repeating until enough are willing to educate themselves, learn about these people, and stand up to say enough is enough.
Glory to Ukraine.
I've been interested in the ex-Soviet sphere ever since I was in high school. More than a passing phase, I devoured all I could about these countries, their histories, and their cultures. It's been hard. Everything is blockaded in untranslated volumes or watered-down for the West by the West. There's no real interest in covering or learning about these atrocities so many people are still reeling from. For years I basically only had Ruta Sepetys. That's why finding a book like this was a breath of fresh air to me. Reminiscent of the very same things I hope to write someday soon, how could I not love this?
It destroyed my emotions. That's the best and perhaps only thing I can say about this book. Despite being fast-paced and thus simple to read and easy to get through, it's by no means a light book. It's heavy and hard, even moreso because it happened to real people, inspired by what her grandmother went through, an event that has actual photographs taken of it. It's raw, harrowing, and stark. The reliance on cannibalism, the people dying in the snow from exhaustion, the woman collapsing and dying in a food line. As someone familiar with going hungry, forced to eat old food or non-food stuff to get energy, a lot of those scenes resonated with me and made me relate. I felt for them. I knew about the Holodomor before I read this book, yet I was still horrified by everything that happened. I couldn't imagine what it'd be like to have this be your first exposure to the event.
I've read so many books about Russia and other Slavic countries written by Americans who don't know anything about the people they're writing about and usually don't care to do proper research. Reading something from a third-generation Ukrainian was almost therapeutic for me in a way. The names were Ukrainian despite being easy to remember for Westerners, not Russian names, the traditions were correct, nobody gets drunk off kvass, the surnames aren't gendered because Ukrainian doesn't do that....it was all so wonderful.
Of course, the book isn't without its flaws. Namely, the stuff in the present day. I feel bad ragging on it because I did like it, but I'm just burned-out on every historical fiction novel I read lately having the dual timelines. It was a unique gimmick years ago but now I feel it's gotten stale. Another book I read earlier this year did the same thing and to me at least, the story set in the past is always more infinitely engaging and interesting than the one set in the present. And funnily enough, both books are inspired by events in the authors' lives. It wasn't bad, they had the same themes and the ending was very sweet, but I also felt the characters were flatter and the stakes much lower. Not unnecessary, I wouldn't go that far, but it really needed some tightening up.
However, despite the weaknesses, I still think this book is deserving and worthy of my coveted five stars. To give it anything less feels like an insult to it and the stark horror it portrays a real event with that even today still too little here in the West know of. Something that sadly will just keep repeating until enough are willing to educate themselves, learn about these people, and stand up to say enough is enough.
Glory to Ukraine.
mariashute's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
markalkman's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful and horrifying novel at the same time. I never knew about the holodomor and it absolutely broke my heart. Ukranians have endured so much hardship, but they're still standing strong. Their resilience is admirable, we can definitely learn a thing or two from them.
chars_cats's review against another edition
3.0
Holodomor, Stalin's forced starvation of Ukrainians. This famine, unlike others throughout history, was man-made. 3.9 million Ukrainians starved to death. 16 countries now recognize this as genocide.
This book has dual timelines. In 1929, we follow 16 year old Katya and the tragedies that occur. In present day we follow her granddaughter who finds her journal and discovers the pain she holds. The present day perspective is alright but I was less invested in it than the past. It is good, though, having a breather from the tragedies we are reading about in Katya's timeline.
What those in Ukraine had to live through is tough to read, this story will make you cry; especially if you are like me and had no knowledge of this beforehand. I appreciate the author sharing details that she changed at the end of the book. I like a historical fiction that teaches me something about a time and place I am unfamiliar with and it seems she does this with a lot of accuracy.
This book has dual timelines. In 1929, we follow 16 year old Katya and the tragedies that occur. In present day we follow her granddaughter who finds her journal and discovers the pain she holds. The present day perspective is alright but I was less invested in it than the past. It is good, though, having a breather from the tragedies we are reading about in Katya's timeline.
What those in Ukraine had to live through is tough to read, this story will make you cry; especially if you are like me and had no knowledge of this beforehand. I appreciate the author sharing details that she changed at the end of the book. I like a historical fiction that teaches me something about a time and place I am unfamiliar with and it seems she does this with a lot of accuracy.
celtic67's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fictionalised account of the enforced famine inflicted on the people of Ukraine by Joseph Stalin. It tells of the Holodomor and the scars and the echoes from the past to the present. The tale is told in two points of view; one Katya an Ukanian teenager in the early 1930's and Cassie a grieving widow in early 2000's America.
Katya is witness to the life and everything she knows being stripped before eyes and Cassie, though knowing she comes from Ukranian stock knows nothing of her family history, culture or the language of Ukraine.This powerful tale skillfully weaves these two narratives together and we explore how Cassie learns through her grandmother's decent into dementia and memories that surface makes Cassie confront her families past and secrets that have been kept secret for decades.This is a book that urges you to read it and will take a range of emotions.A superb piece of writing that I think all readers should enjoy. Highly recommended and commended. Grab a copy and read it!
Katya is witness to the life and everything she knows being stripped before eyes and Cassie, though knowing she comes from Ukranian stock knows nothing of her family history, culture or the language of Ukraine.This powerful tale skillfully weaves these two narratives together and we explore how Cassie learns through her grandmother's decent into dementia and memories that surface makes Cassie confront her families past and secrets that have been kept secret for decades.This is a book that urges you to read it and will take a range of emotions.A superb piece of writing that I think all readers should enjoy. Highly recommended and commended. Grab a copy and read it!
thepagelady's review against another edition
4.0
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv was a wonderful and heartbreaking story! The way the author blended the memories from her family, facts and some fiction together was wonderful and makes for a powerful read! It has a dual timeline but it moves smoothly between them. It was hard at times to read about some of the events but I also enjoyed the love between the characters and their determination. This was a wonderfully written and heartbreaking historical fiction novel that will truly be with you long after the last page!
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Erin Litteken for sharing this beautiful story with me!
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Erin Litteken for sharing this beautiful story with me!
lottiemorris's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
So Intresting and heartbreaking. Must read to understand about the horrible things that happened.