pickThe dissidents of 1960-1970s USSR were a small, complex, intelligent, and ambitious group. Nathans breaks down the individual personalities as well as the statistics of the groups. He doesn't pull his punches in regard to the blind eye shown to women in the movement or the glaring intensity focused upon those with Jewish ancestry. Beautifully written and thoughtful.
pickSlezkine introduces the reader into the homes and histories of the families living in the House of Government. Their fanatic idealism, close, almost familial, ties to their fellow political revolutionaries is as inspiring as it is melancholy as their friends were behind their downfall and/or death.It is with astonishing to realize many of those who lost everything still considered Stalin their friend and savior. the font is almost painful to read.
bailedNope couldn't get into it.
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/mzuf-azZtb0?feature=share
pickYelchin's memory tale of being a child behind the Iron Curtain is beautiful but harrowing as he navigates the everyday experiences of growing up, along with a crushing regimen of state surveillance, old family secrets, vicious antisemitism, and pressure from his parents to excel so that he may one day escape his circumstances. His art is his solace, and the illustrations throughout are gorgeous and interspersed creatively among the text.
so-soVery dry to begin with but then gains traction.
Today, I made Karelian pasties, using mainly this recipe: https://www.saimaalife.com/recipe-finnish-karelian-pies/ I was very bad at shaping them 😞
I served them with mushroom soup, which although not specifically Finnish I thought would go well with them. Quite nice.
#Finland #FoodandLit
@Catsandbooks @Texreader
pickMark Galeotti provides a detailed analysis of the combat in the Panshir valley during the Soviet Afghan war, offering insight into the Soviet 40th army and the Mujahideen fighters, accurately portraying the events leading up to and following the campaign. This work is recommended for Cold War enthusiasts, military history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history of Afghanistan.
pickSvetlana Alexievich's “Zinky Boys“ offers a firsthand perspective on the experiences of Soviet veterans from the war of the 1980s. The English translation effectively conveys these accounts, providing American audiences with valuable insights into the Soviet experience during the conflict.
Readers who enjoyed this might also enjoy "The Tunnels" by Greg Mitchell, and "Stasiland" by Anna Funder.
