A review by adriannagrezak
The Angel of Grozny: Orphans of a Forgotten War by Åsne Seierstad

4.0

It's difficult to rate a book like this given the subject matter. There's some confusing parts to an outside reader, but most of the context is clear if you're familiar with 20th century Russian history. I read all of Seierstad's books and her writing is the best when she focuses on an individual's story or places herself into the contextual information. The thing I struggle with the most is her account of incest/child rape. It's similiar to the debate in Mark Jacobson's The Lampshade - he acquired a lampshade made from the skin of a Jewish prisoner during the Holocaust. He was shocked that Holocaust memorials/museums turned it down and labeled it "pornographic." I think Seierstad is toeing a similiar boundary here. Is it fair to focus on the monstrosity of one individual in the midst of a severely damaging and inhumane war? Maybe Seierstad is aware of this in her final chapter, when Hadijat recognizes how much attention she places onto the emotionally damaged and disobedient Liana when other damaged children managed to persevere.

Overall it's difficult subject matter, but it's neccessary to be recorded.