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Stasiland
Stasiland: True Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall | Anna Funder
Stasiland tells true stories of people who heroically resisted the communist dictatorship of East Germany, and of people who worked for its secret police, the Stasi. Internationally hailed as a classic, it is fascinating, entertaining, hilarious, horrifying and very important (Tom Hanks) and a heartbreaking, beautifully written book. (Claire Tomalin). East Germany was one of the most intrusive surveillance states of all time. One in 7 people spied on their friends, family and colleagues. In the most humane and sensitive way (J.M. Coetzee) Funder tells the true stories of four people who had the extraordinary courage to refuse to collaborate with the Stasi, and the price they paid. She meets Miriam Weber, who was imprisoned at 16 after scaling the Berlin Wall. She drinks with the legendary Mik Jegger of the Eastern Bloc who was disappeared. And she finds former Stasi men who defend their regime long past its demise, and yearn for the second coming of Communism. Stasiland won the Samuel Johnson Prize for best non-fiction published in English in 2004. It was a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award, the W.H. Heinemann Award, the Index Freedom of Expression Awards, The Age Book of the Year Awards, the Queensland Premiers Literary Award and the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature (Innovation in Writing). It is read in schools and universities in many countries, and has been adapted for CD and the stage by The National Theatre, London.
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LapReader
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Today‘s scores from the 📕 swap on the way 🏠 from my 3 hours of 🩰 this morning. I‘m more sore than usual today perhaps because I‘m tired as I stayed up for a my stepdaughter‘s 13th birthday slumber party last night. She was having so much fun with her friends she wasn‘t interested in her 🎁 & was too full from her favourite pasta her father makes, to eat the 🎂 her sister & I made her! Early to bed tonight. I collect the 🍊 🐧. I ❤️ a good mag.

jlhammar Stasiland is so good! 7mo
Jeg Stasiland took me to Berlin. Your copy of Mice and Men is in the edition that I‘m collecting at the moment. Finding them hard to find in op shops here. 7mo
39 likes2 comments
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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Ausgezeichnet! Glad I finally got around to reading this “masterpiece of modern journalism.” Intimate, compelling and incredibly fascinating.

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Rissreads
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Pickpick

I‘m not sure what this photo has to do with the book? It‘s very bright and colourful not like the picture painted in this book of life behind the wall in East Germany where everything and everyone was grey. The story‘s are fascinating, horrific, baffling and devastating. Imagine living where 1 in every 6.5 people are either a Stasi agent or informer! Where everything you did or said was documented and manipulated to control you or others. ⬇️

Rissreads The most heartbreaking story was of a couple whose baby boy, only weeks old, was so sick he was transported to a hospital in the west and he lived there until he was almost 5yrs old before joining them again. His parents only saw him a couple of times. All because his Mum refused to be a part of a kidnapping plot. Wtf! 10mo
Suet624 So frightening. 10mo
Jeg This book inspired me to visit Berlin. 10mo
Rissreads @Jeg it‘s always fascinated me and I‘ll get there one day! 10mo
Rissreads @suet yep! Sometimes fact is weirder than fiction! 10mo
36 likes5 comments
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Billypar
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#SummerHeat
I'm (once again) behind on my reading and posts so I'm on page 76 of the novel and have no steamy playlist created. So I'm going to cheat and recommend an artist called Stas THEE Boss (Stasia Irons). She is formerly one half of the Seattle-based duo THEESatisfaction and is an exceptional beat maker who really deserves a much wider audience. Her lyrical content is diverse, but when she does a steamier track, trust me, it is 🔥 🔥🔥

Billypar During the pandemic she also started making a series of playlists called 'Late Night Sauce' that are amazing. Great blend of hip hop and soul, popular and underground artists. For some of the playlists she also partnered with other artists to make the selections. They make for great reading soundtracks: https://open.spotify.com/user/1274906161?si=56zsi1AVSO2JCTIGwBpATg&utm_source=co... 2y
BarbaraBB Wow, I am very interested. I‘m gonna listen to it tomorrow, when I‘m spending time driving! 2y
SRWCF I am a music fiend 👽 and love finding new artists to listen to. Thanks for the recommend! 2y
Billypar @BarbaraBB Music is what makes long drives tolerable for me - hope you enjoy! 2y
Billypar @SRWCF Yeah, I'm always looking for the next band or artist I can get excited about. Stas was definitely one of my recent favorites and her playlists introduced me to so many more. 2y
32 likes5 comments
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jenniferw88
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Mehso-so

4 ⭐

#lmpbc @ElaineR are you still OK for doing this? If not I'll send it straight on to Claire.

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jenniferw88
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#bookreport week 19/9/20 @Cinfhen

Started tagged
Continued Pride and Prejudice
Finished other 4

Ruthiella Stasiland was eye opening and fascinating! Hope you enjoy it too. 😀 4y
LeeRHarry Thought Stasiland was fascinating - enjoy! 😊 4y
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Decalino
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Pickpick

In Stasiland, the author seeks out the stories of those whose lives were warped and damaged by East Germany's insidious surveillance state, implemented by the infamous Stasi; she also sits down with former Stasi, who cling to dead ideologies, rationalize their treachery, or find new ways to apply their skills in a united Germany. A powerful, nuanced, empathetic look at a society once riddled with betrayal.

KCofKaysville Fascinating to me. 3y
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Eva_B
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Pickpick

This book was brilliant! I had put off reading it for so long because I thought it would be grim and depressing. Whilst there was some truly disturbing and distressing stories of people‘s lives behind the wall, it was written wonderfully and still managed to have some humour. It is one the most intriguing and bizarre times in history that makes compelling reading

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Eva_B
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Started this one last night. Good so far!

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Sharpeipup
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#blameitonlitsy snagged a chair to read outside in the rain.

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veritysalter
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Can I temp you with any of these? The tagged book is non fiction, a collection of interviews from those living in East Germany. I‘ll tag the others in the comments. Would love your opinions and feedback. #lmpbc

veritysalter This is Algerian/French - a Classic that I have never managed to get around to 4y
veritysalter A collection of stories (French) 4y
veritysalter American (author of The Talented Mr Ripley), about a ‘perfect murder‘ and is also a Hitchcock film. 4y
See All 8 Comments
jenniferw88 The tagged one sounds good, but happy with anything! 4y
ElaineR @jenniferw88 same here. Stasiland would be excellent but any would be grand 4y
klarusu Any of these are great. Haven‘t read them yet. 4y
klarusu Off to find 4 tomorrow to post! 4y
veritysalter Fantastic @klarusu, I‘m looking forward to seeing your choices. 4y
52 likes8 comments
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Chronic_Reader
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#QuotsyMay18 ~ May 12|Rhythm ~ I don‘t think I‘ve ever found a quote that so perfectly describes the feeling of content I get when traveling, whether by train or plane. There‘s a peace in knowing we can‘t make time go faster and just have to relax on the ride. Heading out for a 9 hour train ride this weekend, and I‘m looking forward to it!

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Moray_Reads
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Pickpick

I first read this in 2004 when studying Russian and Society history at school but I'd forgotten how good it is. Anna Funder's into the GDR contrasts the terrible and the ridiculous in a way rarely found outside of satire. She builds a story at once personal and wide-ranging that tells of Stasi officers, informers, loyal Communists, dissidents and many people just trying to live within a repressive state and the difficulties of reunified Germany

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Mitch
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Switched it up - a few hours of non fiction. But my brain hurts now- need to sleep (perhaps with cucumber over my eyes!!) #24in48

Andrew65 Wow! 🙌🙌🙌🙌 6y
73 likes1 comment
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Mediaevalgirl
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Today's read. Starting this over a cup of tea.

Mediaevalgirl It's amazing. If you want to know what life was like in the GDR, you must pick up this book. Couldn't love it enough! 7y
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REPollock
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Really just posting this picture of a rabbit checking out a Little Free Library. Awww!

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REPollock
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Rereading this for research. Pic is of a building that reminds me of Eastern Bloc television sets.

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EvieBee
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It finally arrived in the mail! #bookmail #bookhaul #TBR

Moray_Reads This one had stayed with me for years 7y
charl08 Another fan here. 7y
vivastory I was unfamiliar with this. Added to TBR. 7y
See All 12 Comments
EvieBee @Moray_Reads I'm so glad! Thank you for recommending it. 7y
EvieBee @charl08 Thank you for recommending it! I knew i had to have it right away. 7y
EvieBee @vivastory I hope you like it! Can't wait to get started on it. 7y
Moray_Reads I hope you enjoy it, I read it when I was studying Russian and USSR history for my A levels so it was quite a long time ago! 7y
EvieBee @Moray_Reads Lol so that means it was memorable! 😁 7y
EvieBee @RadicalReader I own this one! Haven't read it yet but I'll be sure to bump it up. Thank you! 7y
Moray_Reads @EvieBee84 It definitely made my visit to Berlin even more interesting! 7y
RadicalReader @EvieBee84 no problem loved the book and got it signed by the wonderful author himself a true treat because there aren't many holocaust survivors anymore 7y
72 likes5 stack adds12 comments
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Duobond
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For #NonfictionNovember I am reading Plutopia and Stasiland. It kind of helps that I am reading them for one of my classes, but they are actually interesting!

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MariettaSG
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If you ever thought 1984 or The First Circle was far-fetched, reading this may help you.

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Karenmartinreads
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Karenmartinreads.blogspot.co.uk for a full review of this eye opening book. Literary non-fiction, it is well written, with hooks and strings to keep the telling of separate stories cohesive.

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Millmj
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Powerful