An interesting dive into the world of Polish "Covid deniers" in the first two years of the pandemic. It was also horrific. Yet, today, I could read itAn interesting dive into the world of Polish "Covid deniers" in the first two years of the pandemic. It was also horrific. Yet, today, I could read it with less anger than I would have two years ago.
Of course, not all was new to me. Nonetheless, I have been avoiding the deniers, as a rule. So, some connections, and aspects were new to me.
I liked the author's irony (even his bitterness), although I am surprised that some people wanted to speak to him after what he told them.
Engrossing, knowledgeable research about that short part of German history (Weimar Republic) that was full of contradictions. Brocken, invalid IWW vetEngrossing, knowledgeable research about that short part of German history (Weimar Republic) that was full of contradictions. Brocken, invalid IWW veterans vs. mania of a healthy body. Old-fashioned values vs modernism like from the XXI century. Big cities vs countryside. Starving poor vs ostentatious wealth. And many others. Those years brought ideas and art that were often appreciated later, much after IIWW. Sadly, those years also created nazism and the IIWW.
Because you box and jazz and dance the foxtrot on a powder keg. (...) A fuse smolders underground. There's a crash in the middle of the foxtrot and night falls.
I was reading this book constantly taking breaks to check out the mentioned buildings, paintings, etc. I got a brilliant lesson in German history. I think, that nowadays, the Weimar Republic and those Germans aren't known. Most people see Germany in the first part of the XX century only as a country that was responsible for IWW and IIWW. And, although it is true, there are also many truths that we forget because of anger and a sense of injustice.
People who still think that all Germans were responsible for nazism (and what it did) should read this book.
Just listen to three of the most popular songs of that time: "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte" (If I could wish for something), "Irgendwo auf der Welt" (Somewhere in the World), "Das gibt's nur einmal das kommt nicht wieder" (This only happens once and won't happen again) - to understand how far the true is from popcultural image of Germans of the 20. XX....more
This book was even more shocking, it rocked to the core.
First of all, it is a must-read for everyone who values human rights, humanity, etc.
Then, it is a must-read for everyone interested in the history.
Also, it is a must-read for everyone who loves literature.
And, lastly, everyone should at least know the message and Sven Lindqvist's understanding of genocides.
To me, it was one of the most impressive and the most important books I have ever read.
It allowed me to better understand Joseph Conrad and his novels (especially Heart of Darkness), and a few other writers, e.g. H.G. Wells.
It showed me the parts of history that most people (with help from some historians) are trying to not remember.
First of all, it put into my head questions that I want now to ask everyone:
Which guilt and debts the new generation should inherit, which not, why and who (and why) decides about it? Who started the idea of genocide? How did and does the Western world hide so efficiently the genocides of the XVI-XIX century? And many others.
In other words, it is one of the books that changes the reader. There is no way to not feel impacted. Even, if (almost impossible) one doesn't agree with Sven Lindqvist....more
In this collection, some stories were more interesting, some less. Most of them were a great start for a discussion, about our society, about humans, In this collection, some stories were more interesting, some less. Most of them were a great start for a discussion, about our society, about humans, about law, about guilt, etc.
There wasn't a "wow" for me, yet, the simple style allowed a fast read, concentrating on the story and then on thinking through what I thought about what happened.
It wasn't a fully objective study of Irish Catholic history, I think. The author (like probably most Polish readers) is too deep A very gripping read.
It wasn't a fully objective study of Irish Catholic history, I think. The author (like probably most Polish readers) is too deep in our own Catholic culture to be able to be calm on this topic. Still, Marta Abramowicz didn't hide her opinions, so one could easily separate her anger from facts.
I am not sure you can read it without emotions. I couldn't. The oppressiveness, the unfairness, and the violence were too overwhelming to stay calm. I had to make often breaks in listening to an audiobook.
Ireland got up from her knees, I hope Poland does it too. In Poland, there were no Magdalene Laundries or Industrial schools, and for a half-century of the Polish People's Republic (being one of the Eastern Bloc countries) the Roman Catholic Church was blocked from growing in power, still, for the last three decades the RCC has been trying (with some success) to turn the country back a century or two.
Believe in what you want to, just allow others to do it too.
This book consists of reportages telling the stories of people who lived in the Chech part of Czechoslovakia (independent from 1918 to IIWW, and beingThis book consists of reportages telling the stories of people who lived in the Chech part of Czechoslovakia (independent from 1918 to IIWW, and being a part of the Eastern Bloc until 1989). I knew a little bit about Czechs because it is hard not to know at least something about neighboring countries. Yet, there wasn't much. Now, I know and better feel Chech's soul and their attitude toward life.
I loved the author's wit and the way of storytelling.
Another reportage by Tochman, another genocide. This time the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred in 1994. I like Tochman's style, which is simple toAnother reportage by Tochman, another genocide. This time the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred in 1994. I like Tochman's style, which is simple to the point. He wasn't creating desolation or despair per se, it just is in the book because of the stories of people....more
Wojciech Tochman has his own way of telling the story of real people. His way is rough, without sugaring, yet with melody, and rhythm - that make the Wojciech Tochman has his own way of telling the story of real people. His way is rough, without sugaring, yet with melody, and rhythm - that make the book into an old fairy tale.
It wasn't my first book about Cambodia, what and why happened in the 70s of the XX century, and what consequences it has to this day. Still, every time I remember it, I am totally wretched, angry, and broken.
Is there a sense to read it? Yes, if you don't know about the Khmer Rouge regime - you must catch up. If you know - listen this time to the voices of people mentally ill, that survived the regime to end in cages......more
In the beginning, it was gripping and fascinating. Yet, nearing the middle I got bored. It isn't that it wasn't interesting, I just think that for nowIn the beginning, it was gripping and fascinating. Yet, nearing the middle I got bored. It isn't that it wasn't interesting, I just think that for now, I have enough of the Italians ;-) Perhaps I will read the second half some other day....more
Time travel to the times of (mostly) my young adult years. A few phenomena were outside my bubble, but most I knew and experienced.
I listen to the autTime travel to the times of (mostly) my young adult years. A few phenomena were outside my bubble, but most I knew and experienced.
I listen to the authors' podcasts (most topics in this book they also spoke about in podcasts), yet it was still worth listening to because they gave shorter versions here. (For those who want to know more I recommend listening to the podcasts).
If you love (like me) The Moomins you should definitely read this memoir. In this bunch of short stories from Tove Jansson's childhood, you will find If you love (like me) The Moomins you should definitely read this memoir. In this bunch of short stories from Tove Jansson's childhood, you will find the source of the world she created in her fairy tales. You will also understand why it was possible.
Was Tove Jansson's childhood happy? What about her relationship with her parents? I think that she had a childhood full of magic, although not without feeling loneliness and sadness. But she had a superpower that allowed her to cope with the bitter parts of life and give us characters that will live forever....more
An interesting study of the personalities and stories of those women's lives.
Definitely worth reading for everyone interested in the topic (Nazis, IIWAn interesting study of the personalities and stories of those women's lives.
Definitely worth reading for everyone interested in the topic (Nazis, IIWW, etc.)
The book unmasked many legends and propaganda.
And most of all, it showed humans. James Wyllie didn't justify anyone, yet he didn't demonize them either. The facts spoke for themself.
My suggestion: Read the paper copy or ebook (not an audiobook) otherwise you can get confused (like me) because the author jumps between characters....more
An autobiography or memoir is always risky. The writer is also the main character, and it is especially hard in such caseA sad story.
Not a good book.
An autobiography or memoir is always risky. The writer is also the main character, and it is especially hard in such cases, to be more objective than subjective. Still, even obviously subjective self-stories can be interesting, fascinating, enjoyable.
This memoir wasn't even favorable for her (although for a few things, I am really sorry for her, of course), and the parts I found the most interesting were touched only on the surface.
The life of Britney Spears (one of the biggest icons at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries) is worth a deep study because it is not only the story of a girl, but also the history of modern Western culture.
I am not rating Spears' life, her emotions, her version of her life, etc. But as kimberly said: I'm left with more questions than anything....more
An interesting biography of (probably) one of the first Polish ecologists fighting for animal rights in Poland. A woman born into a famous family of PAn interesting biography of (probably) one of the first Polish ecologists fighting for animal rights in Poland. A woman born into a famous family of Polish painters (in four generations), who didn't fit into the family but in the end found her own passion.
As always, I am not rating the human, the hero of the book.
I am rating the way the author told the story of Simona Kossak. I knew nothing about her, so I wasn't bored. I learned quite a lot. Yet, I got the feeling it lacked some part of her life (as a scientist), and I have just checked out that is true.
An absorbing investigation (as the author called it) of a specific group of poor families who lived in London a few years before IWW. It was made metiAn absorbing investigation (as the author called it) of a specific group of poor families who lived in London a few years before IWW. It was made meticulously, substantively, without influencing the respondents.
It was a precious book mainly for two reasons.
Firstly, as a recollection, a view of the life of those families. Done carefully and thoroughly.
Secondly, as an example of how to do such research, what errors to avoid, how easy it is to draw wrong conclusions, etc.
I don't agree with a few of Maud Pember Reeve's opinions (put at the end), but it didn't matter. She gave us a priceless time capsule in this book.
Some fragments could be boring because she gave us numbers (data). But it made the book more precious today....more
The beginning (one, two first scenes) was great. I hoped it would be such narration the whole time. Yet, save that beginning, the narration was differThe beginning (one, two first scenes) was great. I hoped it would be such narration the whole time. Yet, save that beginning, the narration was different. On the one hand, it was a bit annoyingly chaotic. On the other hand, it most probably allowed me to feel Zofia Stryjeńska.
Do I understand Stryjeńska now? Yes, I think so.
Could her story be told differently (and more explanatory)? Yes, I think so.
So, the form wasn't my cup of tea, but I admit - it was one of the ways to achieve the goal. [3-3.5 stars]
Zofia Styjeńska was definitely a colorful, fascinating artist (just look at her paintings on the Internet). She also lived in very troubled times (the two world wars in Poland). She fought with woman's needs, artist's desires, and human dreams. And to add to it, she had (in my opinion) big mental problems. I can't diagnose her, of course, but it was obvious there was something more, deeper than just personality features....more
Barbara W. Tuchman was a brilliant author of non-fiction/history books. I have read this 200 hundred-page piece about the politics behind the AmericanBarbara W. Tuchman was a brilliant author of non-fiction/history books. I have read this 200 hundred-page piece about the politics behind the American decision to join the IWW with fascination, without feeling bored.
I admit, that I got confused many times with all those politicians, but I didn't bother much with remembering them. It didn't matter much, in my opinion.
The author stays as one of my favourite writers of non-fiction. No matter what topic, or what part of history she analyzed.
To me, it wasn't as affecting as Chłopki: Opowieść o naszych babkach by the same author. But definitely, it was fascinating, well-researched, and infoTo me, it wasn't as affecting as Chłopki: Opowieść o naszych babkach by the same author. But definitely, it was fascinating, well-researched, and informative.
By the way, I have read a few books about English servants, and I can say that quite a few aspects of the life of maids of all work in England and Poland in the first half of the XX century were similar.
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