CrustaceousCrab reviewed Zinky boys by Svetlana Aleksijevitš
From 1979 to 1989, a million Soviet troops engaged in a devastating war in Afghanistan …
Review of 'Zinky Boys' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A very interesting and oftentimes depressing read. What I love about the book (and Alexievich's other works) is how much of a human face to the individuals that were part of the Soviet-Afghan war. I also really liked that my particular edition (I don't know if others did as well) included letters and conversations for when Alexievich was brought to court because the book was considered libel by some. The outpour of reactions, both positive and negative, was really interesting to read. It shows how much of these stories don't just exist in a vacuum. The people that went to Afghanistan had very different lives before and after Afghanistan, and Boys in Zinc has also had some effect on the lives of these people. Definitely one of my 'favorites' of this year, as far as you could call a book like this a favorite.
A very interesting and oftentimes depressing read. What I love about the book (and Alexievich's other works) is how much of a human face to the individuals that were part of the Soviet-Afghan war. I also really liked that my particular edition (I don't know if others did as well) included letters and conversations for when Alexievich was brought to court because the book was considered libel by some. The outpour of reactions, both positive and negative, was really interesting to read. It shows how much of these stories don't just exist in a vacuum. The people that went to Afghanistan had very different lives before and after Afghanistan, and Boys in Zinc has also had some effect on the lives of these people. Definitely one of my 'favorites' of this year, as far as you could call a book like this a favorite.
