What book are you reading right now?
“Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets” by Svetlana Alexievich. Wow.
Composed of interviews and snippets of conversations with Russian folks about life between the First World War and today, this is an eye-opener. Very dense, and at times very tedious reading; then, in the midst of pages of boredom, a sentence will punch you in the face with its brutal honesty. The anguish and sadness of the interviewees is palpable; their humanity laid bare. Such a great exploration of the difference between governments and the people they claim to serve.
It won the Nobel for literature, and for good reason. Not a beach read, but recommended if you’re interested in the human toll of government decisions and their effects on life in the USSR.
Not for the squeamish; humans can be horrible beasts.
Recommend.