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Voices from Chernobyl
Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster | Svetlana Alexievich, Keith Gessen
Winner of the Nobel Prize in LiteratureWinner of the National Book Critics Circle AwardOn April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history occurred in Chernobyl and contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown---from innocent citizens to firefighters to those called in to clean up the disaster---and their stories reveal the fear, anger, and uncertainty with which they still live. Comprised of interviews in monologue form, Voices from Chernobyl is a crucially important work, unforgettable in its emotional power and honesty.
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Booksbymybed
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Pickpick

Finally I‘ve read this very important book. So much sorrow from each tale, each personal tragedy. From the inability of humanity to learn and get better. Almost 40 years passed and we are no better off.

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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#Disaster ☢️ #BookBinge 📚❤️📚

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

Eggs Well chosen, sounds good 1y
Maggie_Reads Oh wow, that sounds interesting…🧐 1y
dragondrool Such an amazing book. 1y
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Jenken1998
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Pickpick

Ugh. Devestating and infuriating. A book of collected stories from those affected by the meltdown. Citizens, soldiers, scientists, and volunteers. Took me all month to read it. It was good.. just heavy. All the triggers btw..

KathyWheeler I read this when it first came out and you‘re right — it was all of that. It was so difficult to read, not because it wasn‘t good, but because it was so devastating. 2y
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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I completed the #Booked2022 Challenge! HUZZAH!! I likely wouldn't have found Voices or The Prettiest Star without these prompts, so thank you! They were some of the better books I read this year. Now on to 2023.

❄2 In a Dark, Dark Wood #TitleRepeatsItself

🌸8 Voices From Chernobyl #WrittenByAJournalist

☀13 Butterflies in November #IncludesARecipe

🍁19 Madam #DarkAcademiaNovel
🍁24 The Prettiest Star #MCHasAIDS

Cinfhen Yay🎉💜you can still fill out the form for fourth quarter drawing today. 2y
Cinfhen I also read and loved this book. So sad 😞 2y
julieclair Yay! Congrats! 🎉 2y
56 likes4 comments
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christhelesbian
Mehso-so

good

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Daisey
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Pickpick

This book has taken me longer to read than expected because I only wanted to read short sections at a time, but it is well worth the time. It‘s written in a way that continuously reminds you these are stories of individual people and retains a true oral history feel. It‘s both infuriating and heartbreaking. I‘ve read a few books about Chernobyl, but it‘s absolutely the one that feels the most personal.

#nonfiction #DeweyOct #Readathon

Liz_M Awww, puppy is the same size as the cat! 2y
Daisey @Liz_M Actually the puppy is still a little smaller. I‘m just glad they‘re starting to tolerate each other. 2y
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Daisey
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The temperature is dropping this week, so I cooked up a pot of chili yesterday afternoon. I feel like it‘s been a bit since I enjoyed a a book with my evening meal, so right now I‘m making a little time for a bowl of chili and a few more pages.

#ReadAndEat

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Daisey
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30 likes1 stack add
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Daisey
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I haven‘t had much reading time lately with a few weekend trips to visit family, plenty of school work, and the new puppy, but when she curled up in my lap for a nap this evening I decided I needed a few pages with my cup of tea. This book is a slow read for me because I only want to read a few pages at a time, but it‘s so worth reading.

#nonfiction #DogsOfLitsy

Graywacke Cute! 2y
Amiable This really was a phenomenal read! 2y
jlhammar Amazing book. Really devastating though. I watched the HBO miniseries Chernobyl shortly after reading this (so good). I also loved Alexievich's The Unwomanly Face of War and Last Witnesses. Still need to read Secondhand Time. 2y
Daisey @Amiable @jlhammar It really is an amazing read. I‘ve also read The Unwomanly Face of War, and that one has stayed with me as well. 2y
55 likes4 comments
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Daisey
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I‘ve had this book on my TBR for quite a while and finally borrowed a physical copy. I started it at school, but I think this is one I‘m going to have to read at home. It‘s too sad in some places and the constantly changing narrators require more focus than while reading and supervising students. The personal stories make everything you‘ve read or heard about Chernobyl so much more real.

#Nonfiction

Graywacke Your last sentence - yes! 2y
underground_bks Svetlana Alexievich is just a phenomenal historian! 2y
Daisey @underground_bks This is the second book of hers that I‘ve read, and I absolutely agree! 2y
coffees I love this author and been meaning to pick this one up 2y
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GatheringBooks
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#BookMoods Day 26: #MadeYouCry kind of narratives. Thoroughly heartbreaking.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💔🥲📚 2y
Eggs ❤️‍🩹📖 ☢️ 2y
jlhammar I thought about Last Witnesses for this prompt. Just devastating. Alexievich is amazing. 2y
47 likes3 comments
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GatheringBooks
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#BookMoods Day 23: There is #Silence in between the spaces/pages of this deeply affecting nonfiction account of what happened in Chernobyl.

DisneyFan I read this book after I saw the HBO series and it was haunting. 2y
RebL Oh geez with this photo! Now I want to skip out on work to read (pretty normal) AND eat. I'm about a chapter into The Blackbird Girls, which begins at the onset of the Chernobyl disaster. 2y
Eggs Don‘t know what that meal is but I want to have it anyway! 2y
59 likes4 comments
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GatheringBooks
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#MayMoms Day 31: One can be #Imprisoned in memories of what transpired in Chernobyl.

Eggs Mmmmm 2y
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Megabooks
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I agree with @vivastory that there are some quotes from this oral history of the Chernobyl disaster and its aftermath that I will never forget. I connected much more with her interviewees than I did with Midnight in Chernobyl. Aleksievich spoke to families who fled or were resettled, soldiers that were deployed there and their wives, and even the children being raised in its wake. Deeply moving. Thank you, Scott. 5⭐️ #NYWD22

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘ve had this one sitting on my shelf for awhile, looks like a good time to read it. 3y
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Hooked_on_books I‘ve read three of hers, including this one, and am blown away every time. She‘s so good. 3y
Cinfhen I was gonna use Midnight but maybe I‘ll switch to this book if I can #BorrowNotBuy - great review 🧡 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen midnight is good to but this one has 💜💜💜 big time! 3y
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books what other(s) would you recommend? Thanks 👍🏻 3y
Cinfhen I prefer 💜💜💜xx will look for it 😘 3y
Hooked_on_books The two others I‘ve read are Secondhand Time and The Unwomanly Face of War. Both are terrific, but if I had to suggest only one, it would be the latter. 3y
BarbaraBB This book broke my heart 3y
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books thank you! Apparently I‘ve already stacked it, but I should get to it. (edited) 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB me too!! 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I thought about you several times today. 💜💜 sending love to you all. 3y
vivastory Great review! I'm so glad that it had such an impact on you. I was looking for more works by her while book shopping today but no luck. 3y
Megabooks @vivastory I had to order this from Book Depository, so I may have to try there again for her other books. Thank you so much for the rec! 3y
vivastory I'm definitely going to look for the one that @Hooked_on_books also recommended. Will probably order on bookshop.org 3y
BarbaraBB Thanks. It was a tough day. Kids went to see grandma and say goodbye. They were very close to her and extreme sad. And we had to think about the funeral, music etc. Sad. Thank you so much for thinking of us 🙏🤍 3y
Daisey I‘ve read Midnight in Chernobyl and I‘ve read other books by this author, although this one is still on the TBR. I can imagine it is definitely more personal and impactful. 3y
Megabooks @Daisey yes, it really was. Midnight was good but very dry in comparison. I‘m excited to read more by this author! 3y
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist I find this book both horrific and fascinating ☢️

#BeginsWith 🥳📚 #Voice 🎤 #Chernobyl ☢️

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

DivineDiana I am impressed with your job title. Stacked this book. 3y
vivastory One of my favorite non fiction books that I read last year. Also, kudos to a fellow healthcare worker 👏 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 📚 3y
Eggs Sounds intriguing ❣️ 3y
Megabooks I just finished this today. Fantastic! 3y
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literateBee

I think everything by Alexievich is essential reading!

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Lindy
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Highlights from my reading in March are now on my blog: https://lindypratch.blogspot.com/2021/03/march-2021-reading-round-up.html?

Megabooks Great month! 4y
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Lindy
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Pickpick

Nobel prizewinning journalist Svetlana Alexievich has curated a profoundly moving chorus of voices, of people talking about their experiences after the nuclear power plant disaster in Chernobyl in 1986. It portrays a particular time in post-Soviet history, a time not only of political & social change, but also of shifting inner landscapes, of how people viewed themselves. #Translation by Keith Gessen. Heartbreaking, humane & utterly compelling.

underground_bks I was so blown away by Secondhand Time—I need to read all her books! I read Midnight in Chernobyl a couple years back and it was a mistake—I should have read this one. It was so dry and detached. Alexievich really puts us in the perspective of and honors the experiences of the people who lived and survived such events. 4y
Lindy @underground_bks You expressed Alexievich‘s genius well: she honours the people and their humanity, giving them dignity. 4y
underground_bks @Lindy thank you so much for saying that! 4y
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Mitch
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Oh wow - two parcels came today @Come-read-with-me - thank you so so much. I feel so bad that you did this. But also so happy to get two wonderful titles. I‘m mega grateful and will enjoy them both. In the next week or two you should have a little parcel arriving too. ♥️

TheBookHippie Oh those are good!!!! Enjoy! 4y
Mitch @TheBookHippie soooo good ! 💕 4y
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Lindy
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There was a Ukrainian woman at the market selling big red apples. “Come get your apples! Chernobyl apples!” Someone told her not to advertise that, no one will buy them. “Don‘t worry!” she says. “They buy them anyway. Some need them for their mother-in-law, some for their boss.”

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Lindy
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We take the salami, we take an egg—we make a roentgen image—this isn‘t food, it‘s a radioactive byproduct.

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Lindy
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When people saw that the milk was from Rogachev, and stopped buying it, there suddenly appeared cans of milk without labels. I don‘t think it was because they ran out of paper.

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Quevedoes
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“You find yourself wondering just what this is: the past or the future”.

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emmaturi
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I have quite a lot of non-fiction books. I read one per month. Now with only two more months of 2020 left (thankfully) which two should I read? #nonfiction

Cathythoughts You have lovely choices there 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Traci1 I haven't read any of them, but I have 80 trains and Chernobyl on my wish list. 4y
Megabooks Oooo...I want to read Chernobyl, and I didn‘t particularly care for Lower Back, but comedian memoirs are hit or miss for me. 4y
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BarbaraBB Chernobyl! I just finished it. It‘s incredible sad to read but so good! 4y
emmaturi Well it sounds like I should pick up Chernobyl next month then! @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Traci1 4y
emmaturi Thanks! I difficult choice, but Chernobly seems to be the one! @Cathythoughts 4y
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

“You‘re a normal person. And then one day you‘re suddenly turned into a Chernobyl person. Into an animal, something that everyone‘s interested in, and that no one knows anything about.”

What can I say? The voices of Chernobyl are heartbreaking. People who still live there, people who lost all, cynical voices and hopeful ones. Googling about this nuclear nightmare makes my stomach turn 💔. What a world we live in. 😥

#ReadingEurope2020 🇺🇦

Librarybelle It sounds like a very powerful read 4y
Hooked_on_books Excellent book, but SA is fabulous, so no surprise there. I love how she gives people their voices. Another Chernobyl book that is more of a history of what happened but is completely fascinating is this one, if you haven‘t read it: 4y
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I haven‘t read it but I will, I‘m a bit obsessed at the moment! 4y
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BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 39/20

My forecast looks ambitious but I‘m almost finished with The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Afterwards I can finally start Revenge.
Also I have Alexievich lined up for #Ukraine in #ReadingEurope2020. I read she‘s missing in Belarus at the moment, she is active in the opposition. What‘s happening over there now feels like Soviet times all over again 😫😔
Last but not least will be The Murderess, recommended by @batsy 💕

Cinfhen I didn‘t know that about Alexievich ☹️I hope she‘s ok 4y
squirrelbrain I didn‘t know that either about Alexeivich - also hopeful that she is OK. 4y
TrishB Good plan 👍🏻 Belarus is a right mess at the moment ☹️ hope she‘s ok. 4y
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Kalalalatja That‘s crazy ☹️ so many scary things going on in the world 4y
LeahBergen I hadn‘t heard that either! 😬 4y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain @LeahBergen I must double check my source now that you all haven‘t heard about it. 4y
Hooked_on_books Oh goodness, that‘s awful! Hopefully she‘s safe. 4y
70 likes7 comments
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nikirtehsuxlol
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Pickpick

After reading this (in Pandemic, USA), I am confident America would have treated a Chernobyl-like-incident very similar to the Soviets.

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NatalieR
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Pickpick

I‘ve always been curious about Chernobyl, especially how the community was affected in the aftermath. I‘m fascinated by abandoned places; how did it happen and where are the people now? This is a heart wrenching book about the people, animals, and nature impacted by Chernobyl. Very tough read as the author provides a voice for the victims. #MountTBR

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 💜💜 4y
Qpri I loved the HBO doc and had no idea there was a book behind it! 🙈🙈 4y
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NatalieR @Qpri Oh, I haven‘t seen the HBO documentary! 😳 4y
Qpri @NatalieR Haha perfect! The show was great- highly recommend. And I‘ll check out the book 😀 4y
NatalieR @Qpri Thanks! I‘ll check out the documentary! 4y
eeclayton @Qpri I second that. The show is very heavy stuff, but it's absolutely fascinating. 4y
NatalieR @eeclayton Thanks! 👍 4y
Qpri @eeclayton Totally agree! It was Well-made and I was on edge the whole time, even though I knew how things went down 🤷‍♀️ 4y
dragondrool This is one of the very few books that have ever made me cry.
4y
NatalieR @dragondrool 😭It ripped my heart out. 4y
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nikirtehsuxlol
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nikirtehsuxlol
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I loved HBO‘s Chernobyl and it‘s hitting me different during Covid.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

An oral history from those directly impacted by the Chernobyl disaster, this slim volume was a slow read for me due to its heavy emotional burden. It‘s so vital that Alexievich has recorded these narratives. They are harrowing and should not be lost or forgotten.

#ReadingEurope2020 #Ukraine

BarbaraBB I am looking forward to my first Alexievich 4y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I wonder if that‘s the same book, only titled differently for Europe. I‘ve also read another by her about women in WWII. It‘s fantastic. 4y
BookishRedhead @Hooked_on_books it's the same book :) I got confused too 4y
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Hooked_on_books @BookishRedhead I don‘t understand why some books have different titles in different places. I find it a little odd. 4y
BarbaraBB @BookishRedhead I didn‘t know! How weird indeed, and why?! 4y
Librarybelle I own at least one of her books and hope to read it one of these days... 4y
BookishRedhead @Hooked_on_books I know right?! It's kinda annoying. I liked the name Voices From Chernobyl 4y
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throwmeabook
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Pickpick

Absolutely heartbreaking accounts of the individuals who witnessed first hand the Chernobyl disaster. If you haven‘t watched the HBO series ‘Chernobyl‘, which was based on this book, I definitely recommend you do. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #ReadingEurope2020 #Ukraine #LitsyAtoZ #abecedarianTBR #V @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB @BookishMarginalia

Librarybelle I would imagine this would be a hard read. But, I‘m definitely interested in reading it. 5y
BarbaraBB I am planning read another one by her for Ukraine: 5y
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IReadThereforeIBlog
Pickpick

Svetlana Alexievich is a Nobel Prize winning writer who uses interviews and testimony to chart Russia‘s emotional history by reference to critical events. Written in 1997 and revised in 2013, this intensely moving book (translated by Ana Gunin and Arch Tait) returns Alexievich to her native Belarus to collect testimony from those affected by the Chernobyl disaster (both the immediate and long-term aftermath) as they struggle to make sense of it.

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Wow, this was eye-opening, raw, powerful and heart breaking. I had to read this in bits and pieces, some was hard to get through. I‘m glad I read it, I learned a lot about this slice of time in our collective environmental history and the particular history of Belarus and Ukraine. #ReadingEurope2020 #belarus #ukraine

charl08 Amazing book! 5y
Cortg I have Midnight in Chernobyl lined up for my next audiobook but this looks good, too! I‘m adding it to my TBR. 5y
57 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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tristen.harvey
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Voices From Chernobyl is a non-fiction narrative written by Svetlana Aleksievich, who was a journalist at the time of the Chernobyl incident and the author interviewed many witnesses' of the tragedy. The narrative shows the tragedy from multiple witnesses' points of view, and their stories show the still remaining effects of the disaster; from radiation illness, and fear to sadness and rage. If you like history and science, you'll love this book!

MissYaremcio Good review Tristen! I would have liked to see a more defined POV but otherwise well done! 5y
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

I started this book about a week ago. It‘s an amazing read as far as stepping back in time during a terrifying experience and hearing from those who lived the nightmare. Had to put it down a few times as it was just so heartbreaking. But their voices deserve to be heard and their stories told. I highly recommend this non-fiction read.

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Olivia306
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Pickpick

I‘ll be honest: I‘ll be haunted for years to come by this raw oral history of this terrible event. The depth of these people‘s suffering, the horrible consequences of what they went through, the love, the recriminations, the pain. I cried so many times. Their raw and unflinching testimonials are painful in their sincerity. By interviewing them, Ms. Alexievich manages to never fall into trivial thus giving voice to those that needed one the most.

TrishB So I just went to buy this based on your review! And I brought it on my kindle last year. Now I just need to read it. 5y
Olivia306 @TrishB Hehe, I‘m actually proud that I corrupted you into buying this book 🤓. I promise you won‘t regret it. It‘s not an easy book by any means, but well-worth the read. (edited) 5y
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cajunsyd
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“Chernobyl-we won‘t have another world now. At first, it tore the ground from under our feet, and it flung pain at us for real… There‘s nowhere to turn to. People returning from the war were called a ‘lost‘ generation. We‘re also lost. The only thing that hasn‘t changed is human suffering. It‘s our only capital. It‘s invaluable!”

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cajunsyd
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After recently watching the excellent HBO series on the Chernobyl disaster, I am looking forward to this read.

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Jari-chan
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Pickpick

It's hard to make me cry - this book did. It's unbelievable what those people had to go through and might still do. It's like they're talking directly at you and this just broke my heart.

Chernobyl shall not be forgotten!

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Pcavendano

Ooo

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Mitch
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Debblyliz
Pickpick

A powerful, sad and often difficult read. An oral history account from those who lived and are continuing to live through this disaster. Full review here: https://thecuriousmagpie2018.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/review-chernobyl-prayer-by...

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TrishB
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#likeaprayer #movember
Have a couple of Chernobyl books on my kindle that I haven‘t got to yet!

Cinfhen That‘s going to be a subject I plan on tackling in 2020. #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime #LiveAndLearn 5y
TrishB @Cinfhen great idea 👍🏻 I‘m going to get some planing done once I get to my holidays! Still one more to finish for #booked2019 5y
Cathythoughts Planning sounds like a good idea. I‘m completely without a plan ... 🤔... maybe a Litsy diary for 2020 💡 5y
TrishB @Cathythoughts me too! I want to plan when I feel relaxed and less stressed with work! 5y
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Lynnsoprano
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@Alisnazzy has been incredibly busy, received a nice promotion, and is in the process of transitioning to her new job. She doesn‘t have time to post, but those of you who are her friends know that she will always find time to read. She took her book along and joined her brother, her dad and me for UCF football. But this is her version of pregame 😂

ValerieAndBooks Good luck with everything @Alisnazzy! 5y
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