Litsy

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Another YA from the TBR pile. this was stark and unrelenting in its portrayal of the experience of life for those forcibly removed from the Baltic states by the USSR during WW2. Lina is a wonderfully drawn protagonist - at times selfish, at times incredibly brave she is well rounded esp for a YA even if I did want to shake her! If I had a criticism, it‘s the end. Incredibly abrupt with a postscript as though the author ran out of steam or words

51 likes

OutsmartYourShelf

Young Stalin | Simon Sebag Montefiore

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Out of Churchill, Hitler, & Stalin, I know the least about Stalin so decided now would be the perfect time to read this first book in the two part series. How did Joseph Dzhugashvili from Georgia become the megalomaniac ruler of Russia & preside over millions of deaths of his own people?

OutsmartYourShelf Even from the start Stalin seemed to have innate confidence in his own abilities & judgment & a powerful personal charisma. This book deals with his life from his humble origins to just after Lenin took power. It's informative but it's very verbose & therefore the text seems very dense. It also seemed a much longer book than it actually was & there are lots of footnotes. 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf Stalin comes across as a sociopath or even psychopath at times: manipulative, able to walk away from those he professed to love without a backward glance (including some of his own children), & an astounding lack of empathy with others. I'm thinking the second book will be very interesting. 4🌟

TWs: adult/minor relationships, animal death (moderate). 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4376133899
Read 1st - 5th Jan 2025

#192025 (2007) @LibraryBelle
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#WinterClearDown @puddlejumper 2mo

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Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 2mo

PuddleJumper Nice! 2mo

Librarybelle Montefiore‘s books all seem a bit verbose. I have a discarded library copy of this one to read some day:

The Romanovs: 1613-1918

2mo

OutsmartYourShelf @Librarybelle Oh yes, I‘ve got that one too. 2mo

dabbe Wowza. Those eyes just scream to me: psychopath. 😱😱😱 2mo

DieAReader 🎉🤓Great!! 2mo

37 likes9 comments

Princess-Kingofkings

Between Shades of Grey Signed Edition | Ruta Sepetys

Thanks to Litsy encouragement, I surpassed my goal of reading 12 books. Started the tagged book on Monday ~ the writing is easy to read while the content is heartbreaking. 🩶

MemoirsForMe 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo

33 likes1 comment

RiversEve

Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

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4 stars

Deblovestoread Welcome to Litsy! 5mo

RiversEve Thank you!! 5mo

3 likes1 stack add2 comments

RiversEve

Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

The fuzzball is my brothers dog. He‘s my reading buddy a lot of times #pets #dogs #readingbuddy #kindle #libby

7 likes

Princess-Kingofkings

Between Shades of Grey Signed Edition | Ruta Sepetys

@Readergrrl The wrapping paper was rich! The delicate sunflower bookmark is one of a kind. I‘m thrilled with the sunflower book sleeve. I‘ve wanted to read Where the Lost Wander for some time. Discovering that Ruta Sepetys was born & raised in Michigan was a sweet surprise. I am desperately looking forward to reading the tagged book, acknowledging it will cost me emotionally 😔#FallingForFallSwap

Chrissyreadit, Avanders

Avanders 😍♥️🍁🍎🍂 5mo

Chrissyreadit 🍁🍁🧡🍁🍁 5mo

Deblovestoread Both books are excellent! 5mo

Readergrrl I am so glad that you liked your package! I really enjoyed both books and I hope they transport you as they did me. And I agree, the Ruta Septys is a heartbreaker and stays in my thoughts forever! 5mo

35 likes4 comments