Scan barcode
jenny_hedberg's review against another edition
5.0
Jag vet inte riktigt vad jag ska skriva, det tog ett tag att smälta den här boken. Den berör ju faktiskt ett hemskt ämne, Stalins utrensningar i Baltikum.
Det är en i alla fall en fantastisk bok Ruta Sepetys skrivit om den unga litauiska Lina. Boken börjar med att NKVD (senare KGB) knackar på hos familjen Vilkas och skickar dem på ett tåg till Trofimovsk. På tåget sitter de i boskapsvagnar tillsammans med andra litauer där de är fångar. De stannar flera gånger i arbetsläger där de får arbeta hårt. Sjukdomar drabbar personerna från tågvagnen som nu kommit riktigt nära varandra men det finns ingen hjälp att få.
I tolv år var Lina fången i Sibirien. Tolv år utan att ha gjort något fel och utan makten att kunna göra något åt det.
Allt fanns verkligen i den här boken. Kärlek, svek, rädsla, spänning, hopp, allt. Det är en väldigt tankvärd bok Sepetys skrivit om borde läsas.
Det är en i alla fall en fantastisk bok Ruta Sepetys skrivit om den unga litauiska Lina. Boken börjar med att NKVD (senare KGB) knackar på hos familjen Vilkas och skickar dem på ett tåg till Trofimovsk. På tåget sitter de i boskapsvagnar tillsammans med andra litauer där de är fångar. De stannar flera gånger i arbetsläger där de får arbeta hårt. Sjukdomar drabbar personerna från tågvagnen som nu kommit riktigt nära varandra men det finns ingen hjälp att få.
I tolv år var Lina fången i Sibirien. Tolv år utan att ha gjort något fel och utan makten att kunna göra något åt det.
Allt fanns verkligen i den här boken. Kärlek, svek, rädsla, spänning, hopp, allt. Det är en väldigt tankvärd bok Sepetys skrivit om borde läsas.
chrissypink80's review against another edition
5.0
I hope a million people pick up this book thinking it's about smutty sex. It's not. It's a beautifully written, heart-breaking tale that brings to life a story of WWII victims that were forced into silence and whose stories were never heard. Enlightening. A book everyone should read.
princessyue16's review
5.0
I'm re-reading books I loved in high school and this one was just as beautiful yet heartbreaking as I remember. I fell in love with the main character all over again, with her hate and spite quite literally driving her to stay alive.
The author knows to how put you in the character's shoes and feel their pain. I recommend everyone should humble themselves with a war story every now and again.
The author knows to how put you in the character's shoes and feel their pain. I recommend everyone should humble themselves with a war story every now and again.
babyv's review against another edition
3.5
i want to start by saying i think the concept and the history within this story is SO important. i’d never even heard of this part of history before and what a disgrace that is. i think for a young adult narrator, the story was overall pretty good. however, i did find that compared to a book like the Book Thief, this book was lacking a little bit of punch. i wish it had gone a little further, pushed the boundaries of storytelling a little more. not in a morbid way but just in an emotional connection with the reader way. I think i would recommend this to anyone even if as just a history lesson, but there’s similar books that impacted and stayed with me much more.
catherinelaurel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
digir's review
4.0
Completely unlike anything I’ve ever read before. This is my first historical fiction that wasn’t a romance, thriller or mystery and I enjoyed EVERY SECOND of it.
From the beginning, I was captivated by the author’s a writing.
It is by no means a happy story, although the author does try for a happy ending that while possible, would have been really difficult for the characters to have gotten in real life and I thank her for that. It placated something in me.
Although this is fiction and its historical elements happened years ago, this story feels very alive to me.
I’m deeply moved by the strength of the Lithuanians and I will be carrying out research on their history.
I look forward to learning more about them from their stories and art. To learning forgiveness and resilience from them and hoping somehow, people don’t make the same mistakes again.
From the beginning, I was captivated by the author’s a writing.
It is by no means a happy story, although the author does try for a happy ending that while possible, would have been really difficult for the characters to have gotten in real life and I thank her for that. It placated something in me.
Although this is fiction and its historical elements happened years ago, this story feels very alive to me.
I’m deeply moved by the strength of the Lithuanians and I will be carrying out research on their history.
I look forward to learning more about them from their stories and art. To learning forgiveness and resilience from them and hoping somehow, people don’t make the same mistakes again.
thesaggingbookshelf's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
votesforwomen's review
3.0
This is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and beautiful look at a part of history few people know about. Russia's atrocities were just as awful as those of Germany during the days during and after World War II, and the horrors inflicted upon the people of Lithuania are rarely spoken of. So I think this book raises answers about a crucial and oft-ignored part of history.
I love Sepetys' book "Salt to the Sea," which definitely tops my shelf as one of the best ones this year. However, I don't think this one is anywhere near as good. The writing style is flat, Lina has very little distinctive personality, and the other characters are more archetypes than real people. Sepetys uses this same technique to brilliant effect in SttS, where various characters with a defined character trait make up most of the cast and tell the story in a way no one else could. However, this being her debut novel, I think it can receive some grace. Not my favorite of her works by far, and not one that's going to soar to my favorites list, but definitely a worthy story of a forgotten part of history. 3.5 stars.
I love Sepetys' book "Salt to the Sea," which definitely tops my shelf as one of the best ones this year. However, I don't think this one is anywhere near as good. The writing style is flat, Lina has very little distinctive personality, and the other characters are more archetypes than real people. Sepetys uses this same technique to brilliant effect in SttS, where various characters with a defined character trait make up most of the cast and tell the story in a way no one else could. However, this being her debut novel, I think it can receive some grace. Not my favorite of her works by far, and not one that's going to soar to my favorites list, but definitely a worthy story of a forgotten part of history. 3.5 stars.
pam2375's review
4.0
This was absolutely fantastic! It is difficult subject matter, but it is something we should all know about and never forget. It never ceases to amaze me what was done during WWII. I don't know how anyone was able to survive the atrocities that was thrust upon them. This is not a feel good story but it sure is a good read.