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kleonard's review against another edition
2.0
This memoir follows the work of the author in seeking out more information about a devastating photograph of the murder of Jews in Ukraine during the Second World War. The author's explanations and descriptions of the war and its various entities is often simplistic, and while her writing about the power of photography and its use during the war and after is more engaging and informative, she remains at a distance in the narrative, even as she sifts fragments of human bone from a mass grave. The writing is often stilted and in the passive voice. I don't know if this is to make the work seem more scholarly--it is non-fiction, but not scholarly at all--or because of her own lack of ease with the subject matter. Unfortunately, the book ends with tepid platitudes and is, as a whole, unsatisfying.
debandleo's review against another edition
5.0
I learned so much from this book. Although it was very difficult to read at times, I felt it was important to honor the victims of the horrific atrocities in Ukraine during World War II.
boggremlin's review against another edition
4.0
A meticulous excavation of one atrocity within the many atrocities of the Holocaust.
After Lowry is shown a photograph that depicts the execution of a woman and children from a Ukrainian Jewish community, she uses this rare photograph to examine the familial wounds created by genocide; examine the dichotomy of exhuming mass graves and honoring the dead; understanding the agenda of the photographer; and identifying both the victims and the perpetrators. Lowry’s writing is clear and focused, and each chapter brings the reader into a clearer, more painful understanding of the Holocaust in Ukraine. This is painstakingly researched and respectfully recorded.
Highly recommended; it’s also an important meditation on the reader and the historian’s duty to serve as witnesses.
Netgalley review.
After Lowry is shown a photograph that depicts the execution of a woman and children from a Ukrainian Jewish community, she uses this rare photograph to examine the familial wounds created by genocide; examine the dichotomy of exhuming mass graves and honoring the dead; understanding the agenda of the photographer; and identifying both the victims and the perpetrators. Lowry’s writing is clear and focused, and each chapter brings the reader into a clearer, more painful understanding of the Holocaust in Ukraine. This is painstakingly researched and respectfully recorded.
Highly recommended; it’s also an important meditation on the reader and the historian’s duty to serve as witnesses.
Netgalley review.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
A non fiction deep dive into a photo that is so disturbing as it recounts a firing squad in Ukraine as they kill their fellow men, women and children who are Jewish as they were advised that they needed to be eliminated so they can create the utopia they dream of.
As Wendy Lower takes a deep dive behind this photo to find out who is in it, who took it and if there can be resolution to these heinous acts. It was interesting to read a book (a shorter one, but a full one) that solely focused on one photograph and how these pieces of evidence were crucial when it came to finding justice for those who survived World War II.
Although a little dry at times, I would recommend this book to those who have read all of the historical fiction books to see a different side of this moment in time and to find out how those who were left were able to find an ounce of justice.
As Wendy Lower takes a deep dive behind this photo to find out who is in it, who took it and if there can be resolution to these heinous acts. It was interesting to read a book (a shorter one, but a full one) that solely focused on one photograph and how these pieces of evidence were crucial when it came to finding justice for those who survived World War II.
Although a little dry at times, I would recommend this book to those who have read all of the historical fiction books to see a different side of this moment in time and to find out how those who were left were able to find an ounce of justice.
jennie_cole's review against another edition
2.0
We have all seen photos from World War II but very few actually capture the atrocities mid act. After the fall of the USSR documents came to light regarding what the Nazis did. One of these was a photo of the shooting of a mother during a mass execution in Ukraine in October 1941. Wendy Lower goes on a search to find out who the woman was and who the Ukrainian and Nazi men were that committed this crime. Lower focused on where this shooting took place and who took the photo. She also talks about the investigations that the Nazi's did into the photo, the post war German's did into the Nazis, and the Communists Ukrainians did into the local police from the town.
It was an interesting story but just like most things from that time it is so difficult to truly find the answers you want. While I found some of the outcomes disappointing (although not unexpected) I enjoyed learning the history of post war investigations especially by the Soviets. So often we think of Nuremberg trials but the Soviets had their own reasons for looking into events like this.
It was an interesting story but just like most things from that time it is so difficult to truly find the answers you want. While I found some of the outcomes disappointing (although not unexpected) I enjoyed learning the history of post war investigations especially by the Soviets. So often we think of Nuremberg trials but the Soviets had their own reasons for looking into events like this.
momreaderh's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot from this book. However it wasn’t at all what I expected based on the book jacket.
rothieee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
Quite interesting … reads more like an academic paper but that’s ok.