I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written (good thing since the author was a journalist) and it gave me new insights on life behind the iron curtain. I remember all of the events she discusses, and her perspective (unfiltered by the American media) was refreshing. She gives a fascinating peek at daily life and times under harsh dictatorships and war, and lays bare the risks people were willing to take either get out or affect changes. I have several friends from the former Eastern Bloc and now have a least a little bit of a better insight into their various experiences.
Ms. Viets' story starts out in London, with the presentation of an opportunity. Then moves to Hungary, where she witnesses a mass exodus of East Germans to Austria just before the border rules changed. Next she moves to Kiev while it is still a part of the USSR. So she has the opportunity to know that city, and the Ukraine quite well, and thus be in a position to fully appreciate the changes that took place after the collapse of the Soviet Union. During this period, she has the chance to see Chernobyl, visit the abandoned city, and meet some villagers in a seemingly idyllic place. She also managed to get to Chechnya during this time so we get a peek at what was happening there. Ms. Viets also spends time in Sarajevo during the war, and is able to return to Kiev for the Orange Revolution. While the political events themselves are interesting, it's the relationships she has with the local people and her daily interactions that provide the most interesting context for the events she describes.
Ms. Viets was very lucky, in my mind, to have been able to live and travel in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, especially at such a pivotal time in history. She sets a great example of exploiting an opportunity, adapting to different world-views and maneuvering through oppressive bureaucracies.
I recommend this book! You might ask why only four stars if I liked it so much. I personally reserve the five stars for those books that are above and beyond.
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