jonbot666's review
3.0
This book took me a while. Sometimes things just come up that make books a longer journey. Reading about the first days of disbelief about the war and wartime in general is always an interesting but difficult exploration of the dark side of human nature. The blanket historical accounts tend to veer away from how personal the experience of war is. These are not numbers of casualties and displaced populations. These are stories of artists, teachers, sousing, parents, sisters… it will keep happening and until it affects us or we feel we can exact any change on an individual level, it will keep happening. This book provides no answers but holding a record of life lived is necessary nevertheless. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
marshlaand's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Important to read and understand an internal perspective of the war in Ukraine
madameroyale's review
4.25
A slim and moving little volume, full of outrage and fear and the everyday boredom that comes with surviving a civilian life under war. It took me a few entries, but I soon became appreciative of the photography as well as the writing. The photos appear very simple at first, but the longer you look, the more you can see evidence of the war even in the most innocuous images. In hindsight, it’s impressive she could photograph so much with the constant restrictions.
Besides telling her own story, Belorusets included a lot small stories from friends and strangers she met on the streets. It was fascinating to see all the different ways people managed to survive each day.
Throughout her account, it was always the quotidian details I found most fascinating: utility companies sending bills accompanied with a text asking for payment only if it’s feasible, cleaning an apartment in the dark just to keep up a routine, covering windows with duvets and finding some comfort in being surrounded by your own blankets.
I hope to find more diaries like this one. And I hope people don’t overlook War Diary because of its cover.
Besides telling her own story, Belorusets included a lot small stories from friends and strangers she met on the streets. It was fascinating to see all the different ways people managed to survive each day.
Throughout her account, it was always the quotidian details I found most fascinating: utility companies sending bills accompanied with a text asking for payment only if it’s feasible, cleaning an apartment in the dark just to keep up a routine, covering windows with duvets and finding some comfort in being surrounded by your own blankets.
I hope to find more diaries like this one. And I hope people don’t overlook War Diary because of its cover.