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A review by kanjimanji
Journey into the Whirlwind by Eugenia Semyonovna Ginzburg
5.0
I find it amazing that such books survive and reach us. First of all, the author survived by the skin of her teeth. Second, she wrote a book about people who lose their lives by knowing someone who writes books like these.
It seems that the acutely paranoid Stalin turned against his own most trusted lieutenants, which later convoluted into a nationwide murder program, dooming the fate of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. This story has the emotional charge of Camp 14 and is eerily reminiscent of 1984 (published only about a decade later), especially the part about prison language and interrogations.
Eugenia shares a bone-chilling first-person experience with strong resonating post-effect that will take a while to settle down. It might never settle down.
I don't believe anyone who wasn't there will ever "get it." The book brings a powerful reminder that there are a few things in life that are beyond words. We haven't yet invented a language that accurately delineates feeling.
Although severely restricted to using words only, the author obliged and did a masterful job at approximating her massive and heroic endeavor.
It seems that the acutely paranoid Stalin turned against his own most trusted lieutenants, which later convoluted into a nationwide murder program, dooming the fate of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. This story has the emotional charge of Camp 14 and is eerily reminiscent of 1984 (published only about a decade later), especially the part about prison language and interrogations.
Eugenia shares a bone-chilling first-person experience with strong resonating post-effect that will take a while to settle down. It might never settle down.
I don't believe anyone who wasn't there will ever "get it." The book brings a powerful reminder that there are a few things in life that are beyond words. We haven't yet invented a language that accurately delineates feeling.
Although severely restricted to using words only, the author obliged and did a masterful job at approximating her massive and heroic endeavor.