The Memory Keeper of Kyiv: The most powerful, important historical novel of 2022

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The ending felt rushed. After a long dilly-dallying by Cassie wondering about the past, the climax felt like it covered too much within a single chapter.

Breathtaking. Devastating. Erin Litteken’s The Memory Keeper of Kyiv chronicles a defining but forgotten moment of Ukrainian history.” Amanda McCrina, author of The Silent UnseenBreathtaking. Devastating. Erin Litteken's The Memory Keeper of Kyiv chronicles a defining but forgotten moment of Ukrainian history.” Amanda McCrina, author of The Silent Unseen In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbors disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Denk ich an Kiew" von Erin Litteken - eine Geschichte, die nicht nur durch die Thematik sehr bewegend ist, sondern auch durch den Erscheinungstermin... Erin Litteken timely debut novel "The Memory Keeper of Kyiv" does just that by telling, in dual time frames, the story of 16 year old Katya and her survival of the Great Famine starting in 1930 and her granddaughter, Cassie, gradually learning her "Bobby's" history she had kept hidden. I read this novel in one day because Katya's story is an example of indomitable spirit, courage and love in the face of unimaginable horror. Cassie's story's weaker but was a relief as she has also known loss that is put in perspective as she learns the hidden history of her grandmother. A compelling story that kept my attention (and caused some tears) right until the end. Ukraine is fertile and plentiful, and Stalin thinks we should be the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. To achieve that, he wants us to give up our land and join collective farms. This has been going on in villages all across Ukraine for months, and they could arrive here at any time.” The story is certainly informative – Erin Litteken does an admirable job bringing attention to Stalin's horrific hunger purges – but the romance that develops between Katya and her childhood friend ended up overpowering the story. The romance eventually expands into a love triangle, which felt incredibly unnecessary. The heavy emphasis on the romance detracts from the dark and harrowing historical setting.

Cassie and Anna carried on some family traditions, but they’re unaware of many other facets of their family’s heritage. How much of your family history do you know and what traditions do you carry on? How important are these things to you? One of the wonders and delights of travel is that we can arrive anywhere and feel a bond and a welcome. Ukraine reminds us that freedom is very precious and can be taken away with a moment’s notice. As experienced travelers, we see the best and worst in the world. We understand that travel is a privilege and that we must do all we can to support human decency and freedom anywhere in the world. As Ukraine fights for its freedom and sovereignty, an understanding the history of this region can remind us that their liberty and ours is connected. I strongly encourage you to read this book about Ukraine as a book club. As you know, history repeats itself and the parallels of the historical events in the novel to current events is harrowing. The Author's Note at the end of the book describes some interesting parallels between her own family's history and the book's story. Here's a link to a message from the Author: In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, promoting the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by this, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is told in a dual timeline fashion with alternating PoVs; Katya in the 1930s in Tetiiv Raion of the Kyiv Region and Cassie, 2004 in Illinois. This story is not for the faint of heart. It is a heart-wrenching story of starvation, loss, and death. Both Katya and Cassie experienced varying degrees of loss, but they learn to move forward in life and make the best of it. Whether you choose something from this list or try your own option, I hope these food ideas will get your creative juices flowing to host your book club for The Memory Keeper of Kyiv! The Memory Keeper of Kyiv – A novel about Ukraine A few tips on cooking Ukranian Borscht:

Toys

A compelling and intimate story of love and survival. Harrowing and haunting . . . yet, at the same time, it is sensitive, beautiful and inspiring. Everybody should read this story, especially now. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” — Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo Zeventig jaar later. Omdat Katya’s kleindochter Cassie jong weduwe is geworden, trekt ze tijdelijk bij haar oma in. Daar ontdekt ze het dagboek van haar grootmoeder, dat het schokkende verhaal achter haar familie onthult: een verhaal over hoop, doorzettingsvermogen en liefde onder de meest barre omstandigheden. I never imagined the release of my novel on a past assault of the Ukrainian people would coincide with such a parallel tragedy.