Free: Coming of Age at the End of History

Free: Coming of Age at the End of History

Hardcover
3.96

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Beschreibung

Lea Ypi grew up in one of the most isolated countries on earth, a place where communist ideals had officially replaced religion. Albania, the last Stalinist outpost in Europe, was almost impossible to visit, almost impossible to leave. It was a place of queuing and scarcity, of political executions and secret police. To Lea, it was home. People were equal, neighbours helped each other, and children were expected to build a better world. There was community and hope.

Then, in December 1990, a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, everything changed. The statues of Stalin and Hoxha were toppled. Almost overnight, people could vote freely, wear what they liked and worship as they wished. There was no longer anything to fear from prying ears. But factories shut, jobs disappeared and thousands fled to Italy on crowded ships, only to be sent back. Predatory pyramid schemes eventually bankrupted the country, leading to violent conflict. As one generation's aspirations became another's disillusionment, and as her own family's secrets were revealed, Lea found herself questioning what freedom really meant.

Free is an engrossing memoir of coming of age amid political upheaval. With acute insight and wit, Lea Ypi traces the limits of progress and the burden of the past, illuminating the spaces between ideals and reality, and the hopes and fears of people pulled up by the sweep of history.
Haupt-Genre
N/A
Sub-Genre
N/A
Format
Hardcover
Seitenzahl
336
Preis
24.49 €

Beiträge

3
Alle
4.5

Super spannendes Buch über das Leben im und nach dem Fall des Kommunismus in Albanien.

3

Irgendwie kann ich gar nicht sagen, wie ich das Buch fand. Aus der Sicht mehr über ein Land und den Zusammenbruch eines Systems zu erfahren zwar interessant, aber irgendwie hat es mich trotzdem nicht nachhaltig beeindruckt.

3

There are, in my opinion, three excellent ways to get to know a country's history and culture: 1. travel there 2. meet its people 3. read its books Now, pop quiz: How much do you all know about Albania? Albanian politics and society? Until about a week ago, my answer would have been "little to nothing", and I bet the same is true for many. Enter: "Free" by Lea Ypi. The book is a woman's memoir, so I kinda already had to love it. But it ALSO tells the story of Albania in times of political upheaval through the eyes of a young girl who grew up under Stalinism - isolated, indoctrinated, happy. Even though the discussed topics are heavy, the book is wonderfully readable and even - dare I say it - fun at times. The short chapters make it easy to comprehend and get through, and the writing is so wonderfully immersive that one really leaves this memoir feeling like having seen Albania with one's own eyes. Which is deception of the best kind. However, I have to say that I got a tiny bit bored towards the end and started skimming the last few chapters. I really can't say whether that was the book's or my fault, both is very possible. I wanted to give you a heads up nonetheless.

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