It is but obvious to connect this book with the situation in Ukraine right now. It is quite surreal, almost absurd that this book has come out in a year where history seems to be repeating itself. Wonder when leaders will learn from past mistakes and focus more on living in harmony than on satisfying their hunger for more power and control. Bobby and Anna disagree on whether their loved ones visit after their death. Do you think Birdie spoke to Alina or did Bobby’s stories cause Birdie to create an imaginary friend? 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. My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Erin Litteken’s passion for Ukrainian culture and history is evident through this sensitive, impactful tribute to a little-known, deeply important time. Heart wrenching and heart warming, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is a story of unwavering courage and unyielding hope.”

Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother's journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family's haunted past. Im zweiten Erzählstrang lernen wir Cassie kennen, die im Haus ihrer Großmutter ein Tagebuch findet und eben dieser schmerzlichen Vergangenheit auf die Spur kommt... 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 Unseen It is a sour soup, although I didn’t find it all too sour. The beets in the soup turn the soup a bright red and create its unique flavor.

Meet author Erin Litteken at our book club meeting on January 25

Ukrainians today are fighting for their country with a strength and tenacity that has captivated the world, but it is impossible to deny that history is repeating itself. It’s horrifying, and we must do better. I’ve provided book club questions and delicious food ideas for The Memory Keeper of Kyivand Erin Litteken’s special recipe for you! So if you are looking for book club ideas and more, keep reading! The Memory Keeper of Kyiv 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. Publishing is a business with a years-long trajectory, so when a book comes out with subject matter that coincides with current events, it feels propitious. Inspired by her great-grandmother’s story, Erin Litteken decided to write a novel based on her life in Ukraine before and after World War II. She had no idea the book would be published just as Ukraine fell into crisis once again. As the world admires the strength of the Ukrainian people, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv highlights the roots of that strength.

That it depicts the nation’s suffering as a result of Russian meddling is less coincidence than, well, history. The granddaughter of a Ukrainian refugee, Litteken grew up hearing about the difficulties of life in Eastern Europe during, and after, World War II. That led her to the Holodomor, a time when Stalin’s heavy-handed attempts to force Ukraine to collectivize left an estimated 13% of the nation dead. This is a story of fictional characters based on true events during the Homodor. The characters are based on people that lived during that time and either gave testimony or wrote about it. The story is heartbreaking and tear jerking. I cannot fathom how anyone could treat people in such a manner. I also do not know how anyone survived during this time of great famine. Denk ich an Kiew" von Erin Litteken - eine Geschichte, die nicht nur durch die Thematik sehr bewegend ist, sondern auch durch den Erscheinungstermin...Although not pictured, it is almost always served with a large spoonful of sour cream on top and some people mix it in to the soup before serving. This novel is very timely to what’s happening in the news regarding the political issues going on between Ukraine & Russia. This novel hits all the right notes–historical fiction about a subject most people don’t know about, romance, family bonds and secrets, and a beautiful, cathartic ending.

I definitely liked all the characters and felt like I came to know them. In my view, Katya was the most compelling character throughout her life. As the world once again witnesses Russia’s attempt to exterminate the Ukrainian people and their culture, this work of historical fiction provides a view of this tragic period of Ukraine’s history.

Visit our sister blog!

As sparks fly between the young widow and the hunky neighbor, they learn the truth about Bobby’s harrowing early life. In 1929, Katya was 16, in love with the boy next door, a doting daughter and younger sister who worked on the family farm. But when Stalin’s men arrived, they insisted the local farmers join the collective and punished anyone who resisted. As the Russians take more and more from the Ukrainians, the impossible starts to unfold—starvation in the land of plenty. And help seems impossible. Katya broke the law again and again to get food for her family, even after Alina’s death. Did she make the right choice? Why do you think Alina sacrificed herself and took the blame for Katya’s theft?