2018 - book 20

Pages: 360

5 million people in Ukraine died in the 1932-1933 famine. It was one of several that the USSR used to purge Ukraine of its history, language, and leaders. This one was the worst. 

It was a little slow getting into this book. There was a lot of background information about Ukrainian and Russian relationships in the years leading up to the famine and of several earlier famines caused by Russia. But after that everything else is fascinating, tragic, and awful. Awful in a way that you can't stop reading and wish you could stop what is happening.  

Russia still denies the famine happened today. The last two chapters on the effects of the famine on future generations and politics today is some of the best information in the book.  It really helps frame some of the events that happen in the world today and makes them easier to understand. 

As a side note: This is also the second book this month (April) that I am reading that mentions FDR in a negative light... maybe I should read more about his presidency.