Teresa
This is a difficult book to review. Not because it is hard to read, but because of the information given. This book is a history of state sponsored genocide (broadly defined) and famine. It covers some of the reasons for the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The Holodomor (as it is known) is little known in the West. The reason for this is because of the lack of information at the time (early and mid-1930s) and the cover-up by both the Soviet government as well as Western politicians and media who wanted to side with the Soviets against Hitler, admired the new communist government, or just did not want to be involved.
The scars are so deep that the results are still being shown today. The Ukrainians government is corrupt and the institutions are not trusted. The Russians still re-write history to lessen or negate any blame they might fall under. Many of their institutions are direct descendants of those that carried out the orders and atrocities against the people of Ukraine. Sides are still polarized and might be for generations to come.
The Soviets/Bolsheviks were a minority of the Russian people that came to power through violence and propaganda. They maintained that power through violence and propaganda. Ukraine was one who suffered, probably more than most during this time. To push forward their agenda (the Soviet ideology and their collectivization program) the people were stripped of their belongings (farm equipment, farm animals, seeds), their institutions (government and religious), and later (as the famine spread) their food. All this was done as the Soviet Union exported grain and other food stuff to other parts of the world as their own people starved
This books paints a very vivid picture of death by starvation from adult to young children. It also tells of the disposal of the dead that resulted from the strict ideological beliefs of those in charge. Anyone who voiced displeasure of what was happening was labeled subversive or enemy of the state and was imprisoned or killed. The lucky ones seemed to have been killed quickly. The unlucky ones seemed to have slowly starved.
This is a time of history that should be remembered. Even though it is hard to face. The more we know, hopefully the less likely we are to repeat it.
This is a difficult book to review. Not because it is hard to read, but because of the information given. This book is a history of state sponsored genocide (broadly defined) and famine. It covers some of the reasons for the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The Holodomor (as it is known) is little known in the West. The reason for this is because of the lack of information at the time (early and mid-1930s) and the cover-up by both the Soviet government as well as Western politicians and media who wanted to side with the Soviets against Hitler, admired the new communist government, or just did not want to be involved.
The scars are so deep that the results are still being shown today. The Ukrainians government is corrupt and the institutions are not trusted. The Russians still re-write history to lessen or negate any blame they might fall under. Many of their institutions are direct descendants of those that carried out the orders and atrocities against the people of Ukraine. Sides are still polarized and might be for generations to come.
The Soviets/Bolsheviks were a minority of the Russian people that came to power through violence and propaganda. They maintained that power through violence and propaganda. Ukraine was one who suffered, probably more than most during this time. To push forward their agenda (the Soviet ideology and their collectivization program) the people were stripped of their belongings (farm equipment, farm animals, seeds), their institutions (government and religious), and later (as the famine spread) their food. All this was done as the Soviet Union exported grain and other food stuff to other parts of the world as their own people starved
This books paints a very vivid picture of death by starvation from adult to young children. It also tells of the disposal of the dead that resulted from the strict ideological beliefs of those in charge. Anyone who voiced displeasure of what was happening was labeled subversive or enemy of the state and was imprisoned or killed. The lucky ones seemed to have been killed quickly. The unlucky ones seemed to have slowly starved.
This is a time of history that should be remembered. Even though it is hard to face. The more we know, hopefully the less likely we are to repeat it.
A book about a young woman who works as a governess for upper class families. It touches on the themes of money and love in marriage; power and cruelty; religion (insincere and sincere); as well as education, authority, and class.
Agnes Grey works for two rich families who may have book smarts, but they have no moral foundation to their education or wealth. This leads to multiple forms of cruelty of both animals and people. Agnes's mother, and other women of the various families Agnes works for, are pushed into marriages only for money and status. If they don't comply, they suffer both familial and societal punishments. Being cut off from both they find it difficult to make their way with no safety net. Women have few options during this time in history that this book covers.
The upper classes have a great deal of power that comes from their wealth. This can lead to cruelty if there is no moral foundation to their education to anchor them. This foundation should come from their teachers and religious leaders of the time. However, the governesses have little authority to punish their students if they break any rules (the parents rarely do). The religious leaders are often insincere in their own beliefs and often follow the needs and desires of the upper class to ingratiate themselves to the rich. Those who do follow a moral code are often at the bottom rungs of society.
This book shows the dangers of power, authority, and money without good morals, insincere religious leaders, money over love, and a lack of options for women.
A book about a young woman who works as a governess for upper class families. It touches on the themes of money and love in marriage; power and cruelty; religion (insincere and sincere); as well as education, authority, and class.
Agnes Grey works for two rich families who may have book smarts, but they have no moral foundation to their education or wealth. This leads to multiple forms of cruelty of both animals and people. Agnes's mother, and other women of the various families Agnes works for, are pushed into marriages only for money and status. If they don't comply, they suffer both familial and societal punishments. Being cut off from both they find it difficult to make their way with no safety net. Women have few options during this time in history that this book covers.
The upper classes have a great deal of power that comes from their wealth. This can lead to cruelty if there is no moral foundation to their education to anchor them. This foundation should come from their teachers and religious leaders of the time. However, the governesses have little authority to punish their students if they break any rules (the parents rarely do). The religious leaders are often insincere in their own beliefs and often follow the needs and desires of the upper class to ingratiate themselves to the rich. Those who do follow a moral code are often at the bottom rungs of society.
This book shows the dangers of power, authority, and money without good morals, insincere religious leaders, money over love, and a lack of options for women.