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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
“Red Famine” meticulously examines the tragic events of the Holodomor—a state-imposed famine in Soviet Ukraine during the early 1930s. While not an easy read, it is essential. Anne Applebaum’s expertise certainly shines through, especially given the current context of Putin’s historical distortions. Seeking truth in such uncertain times remains important.
This book was a lot. I'm glad I read it and I did learn quite a bit. I definitely benefited from reading a fiction book about the Holodomor before reading this. If I hadn't, I think I would have gotten lost several times. Having that story to constantly refer back to help me keep track of things.
There's a kind of sanity to Appelbaum's description of the utter madness of Stalin's regime and the lengths people would go to eat in the midst of famine that makes the unimaginable become comprehendible. She presents the facts and narratives simply, allowing the suffering to generate grief and rage in the reader. It is well-researched, well-written, and a good case study for those looking to enter into Stalinist history.
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Abandonment, Deportation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Suicide, Antisemitism, War
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
Well written and informative without feeling dense. I feel I gained a lot from reading this book.
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.5 ⭐
This was not my first Anne Applebaum history nor my first experience with the Holodomor genocide in Ukraine, but this really stands out as an excellent journey through the terrible history. It always takes me a few weeks to feel whole again after reading about the Soviet atrocities of ethnic cleansing. This story informs the entire struggle for sovereignty that still plagues Ukraine. It ends on a positive note that is hard to feel currently as all the trouble is once again stirred up.
I really appreciated the stories of Canadian resistance against the Soviet erasure of Ukraine. I didn't know those stories but they are powerful. The Holodomor is one of the least talked about genocides but one of the worst crimes of the modern age.
This was not my first Anne Applebaum history nor my first experience with the Holodomor genocide in Ukraine, but this really stands out as an excellent journey through the terrible history. It always takes me a few weeks to feel whole again after reading about the Soviet atrocities of ethnic cleansing. This story informs the entire struggle for sovereignty that still plagues Ukraine. It ends on a positive note that is hard to feel currently as all the trouble is once again stirred up.
I really appreciated the stories of Canadian resistance against the Soviet erasure of Ukraine. I didn't know those stories but they are powerful. The Holodomor is one of the least talked about genocides but one of the worst crimes of the modern age.
I will come back to this one someday, but for right now, it's too raw, too difficult.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced