A review by srm
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexiévich

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

A brutal, difficult read, and absolutely worth it. Alexievich somehow gets these remarkable personal stories from people, and then presents them in such a compelling way, that no matter how painful, you just have to keep reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abortion, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, and Xenophobia

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Trafficking