The Memory Keeper of Kyiv: The most powerful, important historical novel of 2022

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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. A stunning portrait of Ukraine and its people, of strength, of endurance, of the fight for survival during the forced famine, the Holodomor, but also a tender story of Katya, a grandmother whose hidden history holds the power to guide her granddaughter through the darkness of loss and grief, toward life and a limitless future. A remarkable read not to be missed." Lisa Wingate, author of *Before We Were Yours Despite the issues I had with the modern timeline, the historical part of the book was enough for me to be a satisfied reader. ( In fact, the book might have worked better as a historical story focussing only on the Holodomor instead of having the dual narrative.) It is a great debut work and I will surely love to read more by this author. In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing 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 the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story. Litteken explores the citizens’ response and readers are aware of the pervading fear as people start disappearing in the middle of the night and rumours circulate about neighbours being deported. The fear escalates when people don’t know who to trust and they start turning on each other. As we start to understand a little of the history of this country, the author reveals Stalin’s increasing control using anything he can to crush them and take away their spirit. Readers will learn about the power of the Twenty-Five Thousanders, the elimination of kulaks, OGPU henchmen, and The Law of Five Stalks of Grain. Most well examined is the horror of Holodomor - a man-made famine that would result in nearly 28,000 Ukrainians dying each day. As I read, my outrage increased at what bullies and their anti-Ukrainian policies achieved. If you are as unfamiliar with any of the above as I was, you need to read to become better informed.

Heartbreaking tale of the Homodor or Murder by Hunger, a man made famine that killed millions of people in Ukraine during Stalin's forced collective farms program. This was a horrible time in history and it has been covered up and forgotten. It should never be forgotten. When productive farms were taken over by the government and people killed or shipped to Siberia for simply disagreeing with the government or for trying to find food to survive. When people are reduced to eating earthworms and grain from the burrows of rats to survive and they are still dying. When a woman drops dead in a food line to receive a slice of bread. When people work all day on farms that are not their own and not allowed to work their own farms being paid only with a slice of bread for the day's work, the system is wrong, cruel and broken.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. The Holodomor (literally death by hunger) was another horrific time in the history of Ukrainia. It was a time of famine, terror, deportation, and death. The famine was manmade by Stalin and the Soviets as they stripped the country of its food. As the author said “everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it.” In the author’s notes, Litteken reports that 1 in 8 Ukrainians died during this time and the country lost almost 13% of its population. And yet, the famine/terror was denied by the Soviets and even by western journalists for years. A stunning portrait of Ukraine and its people, of strength, of endurance, of the fight for survival during the forced famine, the Holodomor, but also a tender story of Katya, a grandmother whose hidden history holds the power to guide her granddaughter through the darkness of loss and grief, toward life and a limitless future. A remarkable read not to be missed."

The Politically Speaking Hour is sponsored by the Sue & Lynn Schneider Charitable Fund. Share Your Questions collectief roept een afschuwelijke hongersnood over het land af. Buren verdwijnen, voedsel wordt schaars en verzet wordt betaald. Toch lonkt er zelfs in de donkerste tijden liefde voor Katya. I never imagined the release of my novel on a past assault of the Ukrainian people would coincide with such a parallel tragedy.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.” A compelling and intimate story of love and survival. Harrowing and haunting . . . yet, at the same time, it is sensitive, beautiful and inspiring. Everybody should read this story, especially now. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo