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emilija_kava's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
diadorim's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating account of a dark chapter in the history of the Baltics under Soviet oppression through the eyes of a young teenager and her uncompromising resolve to survive. Beautifully translated, this memoir finds the balance between the factual description of daily life and personal introspection, resulting in a deeply intimate portrait of suffering, resilience and survival in the unforgiving indifference of the Siberian tundra.
rifmelody's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
5.0
There's no other option but give this five stars. Not because of how it's written or something, but because by writing this down, Dalia kept the memories alive and got the knowledge of this happening out there. This is too important.
katyoctober's review against another edition
5.0
Another incredible woman's memoir from total hardship. A story of unforgivable abuse against Lithuanians, Finns, Estonians (and more).
Completely inspiring will to survive and to share her story!
Completely inspiring will to survive and to share her story!
qwjfbdj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
ipb1's review against another edition
4.0
More from the horror-show that was the 20thC. Visceral and moving.
Still at least 21stC is shaping up to be a utopian... - oh, bugger.
Still at least 21stC is shaping up to be a utopian... - oh, bugger.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Visit locations in the novel
This is such a heartbreaking read, it took me ages to be able to sit down and write this review. I honestly don’t think there are any words to do this book justice. It made me cry, think, want to sit silently for a while and let it soak in. How this woman and her family survived this horror, how Dalia managed to write it all down. Then think of burying the evidence so the KGB wouldn’t find it. It deserves to be published , translated and spread far and wide.
We start off in Kaunas, the then capital of Lithuania where Dalia is just fourteen. She is forced to endure a seemingly endless journey of deportation with her mother and brother. What makes this all the more remarkable is that her buried story was found in 1991. That’s not that long ago. Think of that as you read as it will make this even more poignant.
Moscow had ordered mass deportations from all the Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. I admit that I knew nothing about this and had never really thought about these countries during the war. We hear of stories in Germany, Poland and Russia but not the Baltic states.
The story and journey are hard to read at times. Dalia is transported like cattle in a truck, then by train. The journey lasts for days, weeks, months. The final destination is bad enough but along the way the train stops to unload some of the human cargo. The most valuable cargo travels on further to the working labour camp in Siberia.
This battle has many highs and lows. As the train stops somewhere, the people on board dream of where they might be. A new start. New hope. You can only imagine the dire circumstances, the stench of the train, the fear in the people. Few words needed to bring this across.
The journey as a whole is heartbreaking and cruel. How people can treat other humans like this is beyond me. Despite this, it was the humanity and friendships forged between the prisoners which really shone through.
I was barely able to read as I reached the part where the gulag is described, but am so glad I did. Dalia and her family showed courage and strength not many people ever have.
The setting of Trofimovsk Island and the workings of the gulag were heartbreaking to read about yet fascinating too. I admire Dalia so much for writing this down. Her voice is being heard and it’s a powerful one.