Scan barcode
emmaccate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
_georgierose's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I am so glad I found this book.
I visited Bucharest with a friend knowing nothing about Romanian history. We did a walking tour which I found fascinating, learning more about the communist history and 1989 revolution.
I was really keen to learn more, and had unsuccessfully searched for a book to help me do this, until I found Paul Kenyon’s ‘Children of the Night’. I LOVED it.
I’m not typically a non-fiction reader, and definitely not a history book reader, but this was written so brilliantly. Real story-telling throughout, interesting and enough detail to feel like I learned a lot but didn’t get bombarded with dates or facts.
Really recommend for anyone with an interest in Romania, European politics or communism (or just anyone with an interest in a good book!)
I visited Bucharest with a friend knowing nothing about Romanian history. We did a walking tour which I found fascinating, learning more about the communist history and 1989 revolution.
I was really keen to learn more, and had unsuccessfully searched for a book to help me do this, until I found Paul Kenyon’s ‘Children of the Night’. I LOVED it.
I’m not typically a non-fiction reader, and definitely not a history book reader, but this was written so brilliantly. Real story-telling throughout, interesting and enough detail to feel like I learned a lot but didn’t get bombarded with dates or facts.
Really recommend for anyone with an interest in Romania, European politics or communism (or just anyone with an interest in a good book!)
arriannegavaghan's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
melbsreads's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Trigger warnings: death, antisemitism, Holocaust, murder, execution
I read a book last year about the fall of Communism in Romania - I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys - and it made me realise that I know very little about Romania's history despite having been there and despite having read that book already. So I picked this up on a whim, determine to find out more.
And more I did find, although I will say that though this starts out with Vlad Dracul, it predominantly focuses on Romania in the 20th century, from a monarchy closely tied to the rest of Europe's monarchies through Queen Victoria's seemingly endless number of grandchildren to the Second World War to a Communist dictatorship. Again, I knew nothing about Romania's involvement in the Second World War, so that was fascinating (and horrifying).
All in all, I'm really glad I read this and I enjoyed how the author included the story of his wife and her father in telling Romania's story, adding the story of ordinary people to the story of the country's political changes.
I read a book last year about the fall of Communism in Romania - I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys - and it made me realise that I know very little about Romania's history despite having been there and despite having read that book already. So I picked this up on a whim, determine to find out more.
And more I did find, although I will say that though this starts out with Vlad Dracul, it predominantly focuses on Romania in the 20th century, from a monarchy closely tied to the rest of Europe's monarchies through Queen Victoria's seemingly endless number of grandchildren to the Second World War to a Communist dictatorship. Again, I knew nothing about Romania's involvement in the Second World War, so that was fascinating (and horrifying).
All in all, I'm really glad I read this and I enjoyed how the author included the story of his wife and her father in telling Romania's story, adding the story of ordinary people to the story of the country's political changes.
snivets's review against another edition
4.0
Brutal, tragic, and page-turningly compelling. Great fun history, even better than China Mieville's story of the Russian Revolution, this is dark stuff. I read it while on a trip through Romania with my partner (and in fact bought it from the small English section at Carturesti in Bucharest) and it really gave wonderful context to the country.
Prior to reading this, I thought Yugoslavia was the most interesting Communist country, but now I feel it's Romania! Trades of Jews for technology, dancing Richard Nixon, Gorbachev's explicit disapproval - what more could you want in an Eastern Bloc country's story!
I did pick this up hoping it would give more perspective on the post-1990 timeframe, but that is decidedly not what this book is. Would love recommendations for what that book would be in English!
Prior to reading this, I thought Yugoslavia was the most interesting Communist country, but now I feel it's Romania! Trades of Jews for technology, dancing Richard Nixon, Gorbachev's explicit disapproval - what more could you want in an Eastern Bloc country's story!
I did pick this up hoping it would give more perspective on the post-1990 timeframe, but that is decidedly not what this book is. Would love recommendations for what that book would be in English!