By Ruta Sepetys
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 (Goodreads: 4.41)
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PART OF A SERIES? No
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
Set in Romania in 1989, this book tells the story of people living under the harsh dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu.
Cristian Florescu has fanciful dreams of becoming a writer, but, like all Romanians, has to worry more about everything he does, says or even thinks. Can he trust his best friend, his girlfriend or even in his family, in this oppressive climate of suspicion?
Who is betraying whom?
What price would you pay for freedom?
Opening lines: 'They lived in darkness. Breathing shadows.'
This tale is told in first person narrative, by Cristian, aged 17.
We really feel Cristian’s mental state and understand quite quickly why his precious grandfather (Bunu) says that the dictatorship under which the Romanian people are living does not just have a deep physical effect, but also a mental and emotional one. Almost immediately, I tuned into Cristian’s stress and anxiety (characterised primarily by the constant supply of questions racing through his mind), in this ‘empire of fear’. Underneath it all, though, you can also feel Cristian’s immense strength.
I really appreciated learning a lot more about this era in Romania; I confess I was quite ignorant of the appalling conditions under which the ‘ordinary Romanian’ had to survive.
Sepetys is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. She writes with beautiful, almost poetic, lyricism. She skilfully paints all her scenes so that you feel as if you’re right there, in that very moment.
For example, why write that people were struggling, when you can write: “I surveyed the passengers… wrinkled faces, wrinkled clothing, wrinkled spirits…”
And some more examples:
“…her chimney of patience began to smoke…”
“…rinsing torture from the cement…”
“Darkness and cruelty lived inside the building, belted tight by bars over each window.”
I thought this a very special book, and although marketed as a YA (Young Adult) book, I’d highly suggest this for any age.
Click here to purchase on Amazon
If you’d like to try either of the other two wonderful Ruta Sepetys books I’ve read:
Click here to purchase Salt to the Sea on Amazon
Click here to purchase Between Shades of Gray on Amazon
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