The Memory Keeper of Kyiv

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The Memory Keeper of Kyiv- Erin Litteken- historical fiction/dual timeline  

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The author began this story after the Russian invasion of Crimes in 2014 and today it is even more poignant.

Set in two timelines this alternates between 1930’s Ukraine and early 2000’s in Wisconsin USA. In modern day  a little girl,Birdie lives with her mother and hasn't spoken in over 14 months. 18 months ago she lost her father in an accident when she was in the car with him. They have moved in with Birdie's grandmother Bobby, who is getting rather forgetful- but remembering things from her past that no one knows about. In the 1930’s, Stalin is trying to make all the farmers pool their resources- together they would be better- an early stance for communism and the villagers are understandably not happy about this. Anyone defying the rules is likely to be shot- people are disappearing in the middle of the night, no one knowing where they are taken to or even if alive.  Alina and Katya are sisters and are due to be married to brothers whom they have known since they were very small. Everyone is short of food as more and more things are belonging to the state and many are dying of starvation. There are spies everywhere. some having joined the ranks out of fear for their lives so stealing even potato peelings is risking life. Look up the Holomdor- I wasn't aware of it prior to this book and it's something many more should be aware of in my eyes.

Oh wow. I quickly found myself immersed in this and couldn't help but feel for how the innocent were being treated through a system of communism, fear and dictatorship. Of how they could see piles of rotting potatoes guarded whilst all around there were people dying of starvation. As the author herself says “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.” Kudos to Erin for writing this. A incredible (but very credible) debut read of history, determination and a little romance and more. Brave, emotional, honest- stunning.

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