Scan barcode
daeus's review
4.0
Fascinating journey across the western border countries of the former USSR. Cool anecdotes, historical context and insights along with the author's personal experiences on the trip. I almost wish there were less personal perspectives (since it felt almost like a travel blog book at times) but it did add a lot of information about the interactions between people (eg you can sense the fear in some places and travel uncertainties). I found the stories about Albania, Azerbaijan, and gay men in East Berlin particularly interesting.
Quotes/notes:
- "For them, the battle between east and west is evidence of the wider truth, that any powerful group oppresses weaker groups unless it is kept in check."
- "to cross [the iron curtain] was always a political act."
- "They more than followed the rules, in important ways, they became the system."
- Borders are where adults start to act nervous and where countries often exert their control and show their force. Especially how much permanence they exude (eg the Berlin wall before it fell).
- A lot of the effort in the GDR was keeping their citizens from fleeing/defecting to the west. And ultimately it worked and kept the economy more stabilized with less brain drain.
- "No one can escape their world."
Quotes/notes:
- "For them, the battle between east and west is evidence of the wider truth, that any powerful group oppresses weaker groups unless it is kept in check."
- "to cross [the iron curtain] was always a political act."
- "They more than followed the rules, in important ways, they became the system."
- Borders are where adults start to act nervous and where countries often exert their control and show their force. Especially how much permanence they exude (eg the Berlin wall before it fell).
- A lot of the effort in the GDR was keeping their citizens from fleeing/defecting to the west. And ultimately it worked and kept the economy more stabilized with less brain drain.
- "No one can escape their world."
sigfig's review
4.0
Fascinating perspective. He does a good job covering all communities along the wall and some interesting stories from each area. Great cast of characters he meets along the way.
There are a lot of countries I need to go learn some more about.
There are a lot of countries I need to go learn some more about.
bekahdb's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This book was a wonderful overview of so many different countries, ethnicities, cultures, and stories from the iron curtain. There were so many places and forces I was totally unaware of (Denmark, GDR, Albania, Corfu, etc.) that convicted me to learn more. The personal travel component was also great - I felt in a way like I was along for the trip.
sarahtokar's review
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed listening to this on audio, though I probably should have read a hard copy so I could remember the place names better. Also, I could have used some maps and pictures to enhance the experience. Overall some great new tidbits of history to add to my decent understanding of the topic. Like the little Danish island which was liberated and controlled by the Soviets at the end of the war (unlike the rest of the country); the tiny piece of West Germany -- a popular seaside getaway - which lay in East German territory; the dozen or so smaller versions of the Berlin Wall; the outrageous numbers of Stasi personnel (and the correspondingly large # of files on GDR citizens); the bizarre features of Albanian communism; the Corfu Strait event (British Bay of Pigs); the also bizarre nature of Azerbaijan geography and current cult of personality.
More...