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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
sad
medium-paced
In this book, Applebaum tackles a subject that many know little if anything about. Reading this book while keeping in mind the current terrible conflict, helped me understand so much and deepened my grief for the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine.
Although Applebaum does not limit her work to the specific years of the famine, the majority of the book chronicles the man-made famine that the Soviet Union inflicted on the people of Ukraine that lasted primarily through 1932-33. The history that bookends this major portion helps contextualize the famine as well as the famine's absence from most major works of history for significant periods of time. As someone who has studied the Armenian genocide and the concerted efforts by generations of leaders in Turkey to obfuscate the events, the chapter on the matching actions of the Soviet Union had a particularly poignant impact. This chapter also helped contextualize so much of the murky, complicated relationship between Russia and Ukraine both before and during the current conflict which in reality started back in 2014 or even earlier.
I highly recommend this book.
Although Applebaum does not limit her work to the specific years of the famine, the majority of the book chronicles the man-made famine that the Soviet Union inflicted on the people of Ukraine that lasted primarily through 1932-33. The history that bookends this major portion helps contextualize the famine as well as the famine's absence from most major works of history for significant periods of time. As someone who has studied the Armenian genocide and the concerted efforts by generations of leaders in Turkey to obfuscate the events, the chapter on the matching actions of the Soviet Union had a particularly poignant impact. This chapter also helped contextualize so much of the murky, complicated relationship between Russia and Ukraine both before and during the current conflict which in reality started back in 2014 or even earlier.
I highly recommend this book.
informative
tense
fast-paced
dark
informative
slow-paced
An informative read about an under-taught part of history. It had important discussions of what makes a genocide and how misinformation and discrimination can devastatingly affect a country. This book provided a lot of context to what is currently happening in Ukraine which makes this a must read.
Stylistically the writing and prose was a little dry and I felt like something was missing. But that may be due to the availability of primary sources.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is quite harrowing in places but it provides context for the current invasion of Ukraine & all gives a potential rationale for Putin’s approach & why he uses the term de-nazification.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad